It looks like planning on the proposed Route 66 bicycle trail in Logan County, Ill., is proceeding again after a hiatus.
The county board this week discussed the possibility of leasing a gravel road parallel to the railroad tracks from AmerenCILCO to use as part of Logan County’s portion in the statewide, north-south bike route, reported the Lincoln Courier. The towns of Williamsville and Springfield entered into similar agreements.
The trail’s organizers seek to link the Logan County trail to Williamsville’s.
Organizers hope the road would be converted into a concrete trail, but an oil-and-chip surface may have to suffice for a few years. Sen. Dick Durbin has offered to help make the trail a reality, if possible.
— Campingroadtrip.com recently posted an interview with Sandi Wheaton, the Canadian woman who lost her Detroit job and decided to use the down time to photographically document Route 66. Wheaton’s excellent blog is here.
— The upcoming March issue of Texas Highways magazine will feature Route 66 on the cover and focuses on Texas tourism, according to KAMR in Amarillo. The content isn’t online yet, so be on the lookout for the magazine at bookstores in the Lone Star State.
— McClatchy News Service has posted another story about Marshall Lee and his dog, Antigone. Lee, after losing his job, contemplated suicide but stopped his self-destructive thoughts when he considered that he would be leaving his dog alone. Lee and Antigone have been bicycling from Chicago to San Francisco — much of it on Route 66 — to raise awareness for suicide prevention and Basset hound rescue.
— We’re pleased to add the Three Roses Bed and Breakfast of Pontiac, Ill., to the list on the Lodging Page. A number of roadies have stayed there, and the B&B is just a short walk from the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown.