2011 U2 360 CONCERT IN ST. LOUIS - I'LL GO CRAZY

The title of the song was supposed to be "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" but on Sunday, July 17th, as we were sitting in our seats at Busch Stadium waiting and waiting for more than 1.5 hours, I wanted to scream "I'll Go Crazy If Bono Doesn't Get on Stage Soon!" The concert started half an hour late at 7:30 p.m. with the opening act by Interpol. Bono and the guys did not come out until after 9:00 p.m.

The Claw was so big that you could actually see it from outside, far away from the Stadium. The top photo was taken from where we parked three blocks away. I said to my husband we should have brought our lawn chairs and listened to the music from across the street instead of paying for the full price tickets!

It was a sold-out concert with 53,000 in attendance. Hotels and restaurants in downtown St. Louis were packed. We were told the wait was 1-2 hours and it was at one of those "greasy cheeseburger" places that would normally be empty! It was a lot of fun walking from the garage to the stadium among the fans ranging from geezers like us to young people who could not be more than 20 years old but appreciate great music by U2. Bono mentioned during the performance that the last time he was in St. Louis was 30 years ago.

As you might already heard that the stage nicknamed "The Claw" was set up like a space ship with giant green legs supporting the Mother Ship when landed. Above is a good photo showing the crowd gathered around the stage. These people started standing in line on Saturday night to purchase General Admission tickets so they could be in the hot sun for 3 hours and endured 6 hours of standing (or dancing). The photo below was taken with my cheesy camera showing the stage and the space ship aglowed. The photo turned out pretty good and I like that the Arch was shown in the background.

You could read all about the concert and the hi-tech stuff at www.livedesignonline.com/u2360tour. It was nice that the fans were allowed to bring in small personal cameras. (When we were at Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones concerts, no cameras were allowed.) I will be sharing additional images in future posts. It was a hot and long night but we had a great time. Once the concert started, everyone was on our feet. By the time we got home at 12:15 am, we were so tired. And It was a Beautiful Day!

SLEEPLESS ON LINCOLN HIGHWAY - ROCHELLE, ILLINOIS

We had a good rest but I could not resist "copying" the title from the movie, "Sleepless in Seatle". Thanks to the excellent direction from the young lady at Lincoln Way Cafe in Franklin Grove, we found plenty of choices of motels in Rochelle. When we used to have a few extra dollars, I insisted that we stayed in luxury hotels. My husband disagreed because he did not wish to pay high price for a few hours of sleep. He said as long as it was in a safe area, all we need is a clean bed, good water-pressure shower and a working television! We noticed that there were a lot of families with kids stayed at these budget motels. So far we had good experience with not-so-fancy accomodations and the hole in our pocket did not get bigger!

A train was going thru town while CP took photos of his Mustang in front of a 1918 Standard Gas Station. The good people of Rochelle has renovated the station and turned it into a Lincoln Highway visitor center.

It was the same dilemma we encountered on our Route 66 adventure that most of the places were closed when we got there because it was too early in the morning or too late in the evening. And also because it was on the weekends, especially on Sundays.

Near the Standard Gas Station was a Railroad Park where two main rail lines cross.

We were getting hungry since the motel did not provide much in term of continental breakfast. We continued on to the next town in search of a good place to eat.

LINCOLN HIGHWAY HEADQUARTERS IN FRANKLIN GROVE, ILLINOIS

Here I am - back to posting about our recent road trip on Lincoln Highway.

After dinner at the Basil Tree Restaurant in Dixon (Illinois), we continued to follow IL38 to Franklin Grove.

The Lincoln Highway Association Tourism Headquarters is located in an 1860 building. We could not stock up on maps, book or any souvenirs because it was closed since it was already 7:30 p.m.

Across from the LHA building was the Lincoln Way Cafe. As we walked thru the door, we were told that the cafe was closed for the day. (Good thing we already ate dinner.) We said we just wanted to know if there was any Bed & Breakfast in town. A nice young lady said there was no accomodation in Franklin Grove but gave us a good direction to the next town where there would be many motels near the interstate.

Then I asked if I could use their restroom. When I came out, the young lady told me that my husband had to use the Men's Room. She said I could wait in the cafe. We really appreciate the fine hospitality of the people at Lincoln Way Cafe. We definitely plan to stop by the next time we are in the area.

The cafe has a very nice map of Lincoln Highway but I could not capture the image in one shot.

NEWS FROM MY LOCAL LIBRARY

No, it is not an assembly line from my favorite show "Unwrapped" hosted by Marc Summers, a program broadcasted by the Food Network. This is the latest equipment recently installed at a local library branch in an attempt to be fully automated.

Since Qaptain Qwerty mentioned about NYPL Donnell Branch library, I am taking a break from posting about my recent road trip on Lincoln Highway to give an update on the changes at my local library. Instead of the traditional return box, library patron will slide the items in the slot (the slot will automatically open by sensor) as shown in the above and below photo. The items would be "sucked" in and then go along the conveyor belt (top photo). The machine reads the bar code and immediately records that the items were returned. Books/magazines would be dropped into the side bins while DVD or CD would travel all the way to the end to be deposited into a separate bin.

Hey Qap, this is the library branch (the Asian Center in the lower level) we went to when you were here. I am all for modernized and efficiency. The draw back from this automated return system is the misleading that the items might be recorded that they were returned and available for check out but they are not on the shelves because they are still in the bins waiting to be sorted and put back on the shelves.

No, I am not giving anyone "the finger" - just pulling the lid open to show the old system where you normally would drop the books/magazines and other items to be returned. The items would remain in the receptacle waiting for the librarian to take them out to record that they were returned and put back onto the shelves.

Only if the wall could talk, what interesting or boring stories would it tell?

ALL THE PRESIDENTS IN STERLING, ILLINOIS

Well, not in person, just their images painted on a mural in the town square as we arrived in Sterling, Illinois.

As expected that there would be many statues of president Lincoln along the highway named after him. The above statue of the young Lincoln as a volunteer soldier in the Blackhawk Indian War of 1832, was on display at Propheter Park in Sterling, Illinois. It is thought to be the only statue of president Lincoln in uniform (The Lincoln Highway - Coast to coast from Times Square to the Golden Gate, Michael Wallis and Michael S. Williamson).

We saw many other statues but either could not safely turn around or unable to stop because it was getting late in the evening.

According to the plaque (photo below) in front of the house that on July 18, 1856, Abraham Lincoln spent the night in this house as the guest of William Manahan. I wonder if they had to built a special bed just to accomodate Mr. Lincoln.

After Sterling, we continued on Route 2, then Illinois 38 to the next town, Dixon.

Illinois is the Land of Lincoln but in Dixon, it is all about its presidential son, Ronald Reagan. The above sculpture of Dutch riding a horse, his favorite thing to do besides chopping wood. It was late in the evening so we did not get to tour his boyhood home. We did not see the 14,000 red, white and blue jellybeans that made up a portrait of Mr. Reagan in the Dixon Historic Center. Besides, seeing the portrait would make us even hungrier!

After driving around town, we decided on Basil Tree Restaurant for dinner. It looks cute and simple from the outside but the decoration inside was sort-of fancy with display of extensive wine collections. The paintings and artifacts gave the diners a feeling as if they were sitting in the vineyard. The hostess was friendly when we mentioned that we might not be appropriately dressed. She understood that there are visitors traveling thru town. We had a nice dinner that included cheese ravioli for CP and a ground beef ravioli for me. The meals came with salad and plenty of fresh bread. We were full and ready to a good night of rest!

WINDMILL WELCOME CENTER - FULTON, ILLINOIS

After crossing the Mississippi River, we entered the town of Fulton, Illinois, where in 2000, the town people built a windmill to honor their Dutch heritage. We arrived after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday (July 2nd) so the Welcome Center already closed. Visit www.cityoffulton.us to read more about the Windmill Cultural Center and schedule of educational tours.

I took photo of Lieke wearing his wooden Dutch clogs, all smiling, extended a warm welcome to all visitors. He must be tired from working so hard at the Dutch Days Festival (May 6 & 7, 2011). The festival is always held in the first weekend in May.

Hey Leontien (www.fourleafcloverdairy.blogspot.com), I thought of you when I took these photos and this post is dedicated to you :)

I also would like to compliment the people of Illinois for the excellent placement of the red, white and blue signs. It was specially helpful when the road signs were right next to the "L" signage. The above photo showing Illinois 136 route ended and US 30 began whether we turn left or right was one of the great examples assisting motorists to quickly find out where we are.

Next to the Windmill was a nice park featuring interpretive panels (above) about Fulton and a dedication plaque (below). There was a walking path up to the top of the levee. We were able to see the Mississippi River and a nice view of the town.

We were getting tired and hungry so it was time to look for a nice place to eat and overnight accomodation.

STILL IN IOWA

Our road trip would not be completed without a few hundred of photos of CP's pony. (Strangers, mostly men, still engaged in important discussion with CP about the Mustang but not as much as when we drove the T-bird). Above is the Lincoln Hotel in Lowden, Iowa. It opened in 1915, had 12 small rooms with one common bathroom at $2 per night. The hotel is currently operated as a bed and breakfast. We did not go inside so we could not tell you how nice it looks. Visit www.lincolnhoteliowa.com for details.

Clinton is the last town in Iowa before we crossed the bridge over the Mississippi River to enter Illinois. I always like these welcoming signs. CP was being such as good husband. He patiently turned around so I could take a good photo since I did not know about the sign and missed it the first time.

At first look, there is nothing special about this building on Main Street in Lowden, Iowa. That was what CP said to me, "What are you taking picture of this ugly building for?" After I told CP to look up to see that it was an Opera House in 1895, he acted so surprise, "You are so observant. How the heck did you see such details?" How else would I spend my time and energy until hockey season starts again in 88 days!

A very nice mural on the side of the building of the American Legion Post 356.

Time stood still - we found "the red, white and blue marks: sometimes painted on telephone poles" exactly the way Effie Gladding described in her book, "Across the Continent by the Lincoln Highway" published in 1914. The above mark must be painted when the road was re-aligned in 1931.

Here is a one lane (and only one vehicle crossing) bridge somewhere in Wheatland or Calamus, Iowa. We slowed down upon approaching carefully crossing the bridge even though there was no vehicle anywhere as far as the eye could see!

I really enjoyed my visit to Iowa. It helps that it was sunny with comfortable temperature. Our next Lincoln Highway road trip will be going West from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming.

FRIDAY "CLARENCE, IOWA" SKY

As promised, here are a few photos from Clarence, Iowa.

One of the things I enjoy when we travel is taking photos of murals and sculptures/statues. I especially love murals painted by local artists because it shows the pride the people have of their town. The murals also serve as lessons in history, not only about the town but also the changes as the country became modernized and America continued to expand.

THE PEOPLE OF IOWA WELCOME YOU

On Saturday, July 2nd, we began our Lincoln Highway Adventure with a 5-day road-trip from St. Louis to Iowa - Illinois - Indiana - Ohio, then a visit to my husband's family in Michigan. We packed on Friday evening as to get on the road at 8:15 a.m. the next morning after bagels and coffee. We filled up the cooler with ice, water bottles and mocha drinks. We headed west on I-64, then north on US-61 and after a few stops for photos, we arrived in Hannibal, Missouri. We had 15 minutes to order breakfast at the Mark Twain Dinette (they stop serving breakfast at 11:00 a.m.) We filled up the gas tank on the Mustang (the T-bird is not comfortable for long distance). At 12:18 p.m. we were in Lee County, Iowa.

There is a Vietnamese expression, "Di Mot Ngay Dang, Hoc Mot Sang Khon" meaning {A person gains an education when travelling} or something like that :) Up until July 2nd, I never knew about the Avenue of the Saints. Visit http://www.iowadot.gov/ for more information about this important highway connecting St. Paul, Minnesota, running thru Iowa to St. Louis, Missouri.

I would like to compliment the people of Iowa for the excellent coordination of the red, white and blue signs. We purchased a handy glove-compartment guide, "Lincoln Highway Companion: A Guide to America's First Coast-to-Coast Road" by Brian Butko. The guide provides charted maps, must-see attractions, places to eat and interesting facts along the highway. Iowa did a great job at strategically placing the familiar big L signs at intersections really helped us to stay on the right track without a need for constantly looking at the guide.

We enjoyed driving along the endless fields of corn. Far and between the fields are homes and red barns dotting the landscapes. We stopped a few times to take photos of decorated barns, especially those painted with the American flag.

After Cedar Rapids, we drove thru Mount Vernon, Lisbon, Merchanicsville, and stopped in Stanwood for a cup of coffee and homemade pies at Ditto's. CP had a raspberry cobler and I had the usual coconut cream pie. We highly recommended Ditto's when you are in Stanwood, Iowa.

The next towns were Clarence (look for interesting photos in the next post), Lowden and Calamus. At 4:41 p.m. we stopped in Grand Mound to add more gas before crossing into Illinois. The price per gallon was around $3.89 for mid-grade.