Day 2: September 29, 2007
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Charley Parker's, Springfield, IL Charley Parker's, Springfield, IL Because they have a good restaurant on the premises, the Route 66 Hotel and Conference Center doesn't offer the free continental breakfast that many motels do. But today I had something much better. Liz & Don provided door-to-door service to Charlie Parker's, "Home of the Horseshoe Sandwich". I had never had a horseshoe and, technically, I still haven't. A horseshoe is a Springfield specialty that is more like a meal than a sandwich. It consists the meat of your choice (I understand a 'burger is the most authentic.) on toast covered with french fries and cheese. A less than full sized horseshoe is called, naturally, a ponyshoe. Breakfast versions have been developed and that's what I had. It, too, starts out with toast and meat with all the normal breakfast choices - sausage, ham, bacon - usually being available then cheese or gravy is added and the whole thing covered with hashbrown potatoes. So I no longer have to say no when asked if I've had a horseshoe but I can't quite say yes, either. I can say I've had a breakfast ponyshoe which is just one size and one mealtime away from the real thing.

Food Network viewers can watch for Charlie Parker's appearance since the network's Guy Fieri recorded a shoe...er, show there last week.

Lincoln's Tomb, Springfield, IL Lincoln's Tomb, Springfield, IL Lincoln's Tomb, Springfield, IL Lincoln's Tomb, Springfield, IL Lincoln's Tomb, Springfield, IL After my benefactors returned me to the hotel, I picked up my car and headed for a couple of Springfield landmarks that I have not worked in on previous visits. The first is Lincoln's Tomb near the northwest corner of town. I and a bus load of British tourists arrived at just about the same time. Rubbing the nose of the bust in front of the tomb is supposed to bring luck but you must already be lucky enough to have been born with some amount of height. Not everyone from the bus was able to reach the nose so left with no more luck than when they arrived.

The President is buried many feet beneath the tombstone and several tons of concrete. His wife and three of their sons are buried on the other side of the passage. Son Robert is buried in Arlington. There is a copy of the statue in the memorial in Washington, DC, in the entrance rotunda. I took this picture on the way out when it was no longer surrounded by Brits.

Shea's Museum, Springfield, IL Shea's Museum, Springfield, IL Shea's Museum, Springfield, IL I had also hoped to visit Shea's Museum on this trip but missed it by that much. Saturday hours are 7:00 to noon. Strange but true.

As it had been a year ago, Lincoln's New Salem was also on my list for this trip but time was too short. Shea's & Salem will top the list next time.

Visitor Center, Springfield, IL Visitor Center, Springfield, IL Visitor Center, Springfield, IL I parked near the train station turned visitor center and took a look inside before heading to the festival area. Very nicely done both inside and out.
Route 66 Festival, Springfield, IL Route 66 Festival, Springfield, IL Route 66 Festival, Springfield, IL Route 66 Festival, Springfield, IL Route 66 Festival, Springfield, IL Route 66 Festival, Springfield, IL As someone said, the Springfield festival isn't so much a Route 66 Festival as it is a car show that happens to be on Route 66 and that's OK by me. An announcement said there were over 1000 cars registered for the show and more that 1100 in last night's parade. Folks who are better judges than I thought there were less cars than last year and that not all of those registrants were attendees.

I don't know how many cars were parked in downtown Springfield but I do know it was a lot. There were scads of Mustangs and Camaros and Corvettes and street rods and sharp customs. The pictures I've included show some vehicles you just might not see the like of in other shows.

Roadies at the Alamo, Springfield, IL Roy Jone's Newest Tattoo Toward the end of the day, a group of roadies convened at the Alamo Bar & Grill where a professional (she was compensated with an almost new Route 66 brochure) photographer captured this fine tableau. That's Kent (Bliss) Sanderson, me, Liz & Don (RoadDog) Hatch, Pat (RoadMaven) Bremer, and Carl Johnson.

Ron "Tattoo Man" Jones was in town and had been a big part of last year's Alamo gathering but Carl informed the group that Ron was otherwise engaged. Pat & I ran into Ron a bit later at the Cozy Dog so I'm able to show the result of that engagement. Ron was talking of getting a picture of Art's Motel on his way home so he will be ready for the next addition.

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