Day 3 - Turkeys on the Road

Paul Mullan
Sep 21, 2017
2 min read

We circled the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington before heading to Funks Grove Maple Sirup Farm to discover the art of tree tapping.

Through Atlanta we met wood carver Bob Ford who had keys to the old museum that's for sale and normally shut up.

We got a look at what Bob thinks is a very valuable poster for the performance Richie Valens, Buddy Holly & The Big Bopper were due to perform in February 1959 when their plane crashed in Iowa en route. A day many considered "the day the music died".

Cherry Pie was the order next door at Palms Cafe and then it was on to.

We tried hauling Ab Lincoln's stage coach but there was a connection missing...

... but nothing like that was missing at Cliffs on 5th. Cliff and wife April along with mates Dave and Jack make a point of looking after our guests and treating them to a special blend of local and moonshine history.

We had an entertaining hour but stayed too long and had to beat a quick track to the original home of the Cozy Dog in Springfield, to gulp down a less than healthy lunch before heading south to Girard via the Auburn Red Brick Road.

This original piece of the Mother road is showing the signs of wear and tear but not bad for nearly a decade.

Almost as old is Bill Deck, the last remaining link to Deck's Pharmacy where he, his brother, father and Grandfather ran the family business dating back to 1884 until the last of them retired to allow a new generation of folk to continue as a Soda Fountain outlet.

Bill entertained us with stories of worms, constipation and other health issue he helped 'fix' with his magical blend of natural and somewhat now ancient medicines .

Karen figured the cold remedy wouldn't help her sore throat issue judging by the expiry date!

Just as old are the Turkey tracks immortalised in the 1920's pavement a dozen miles further on down the old road.

On through Carlinville toward Edwardsville and our overnight stop where Shawn entertained us with his faith in Donald Trump and stories of the the rebirths and rebuilds he and his family have been doing for thirty something years at the Mustang Corral... and let's not forget the Pony graveyard out back!