We’ve been trying to visit our daughter, Kathy, in Nebraska for a few years but with RV and other issues we have yet to make it, so this year we decided to go if at all possible. We tried to accomplish killing several birds with one stone (explained as we go) so we took a pretty convoluted way of getting from our place to Hartington, NE. I’ve always been a get from point A to point B traveler but for this trip, and taking a clue from friends Laurie and Dave (Big Daddy Dave we took a more leisurely pace (except coming home) and stopped for lunch vs. our usual of one stop for gas, fast-food, and bathroom. While Dave and Laurie generally take the back roads, I did mostly interstate as we had a bit of a time schedule to meet.
Our travel plan was as follows:
Day 1: Home to Murphysboro, IL. (388 miles)
Day 2: Murphysboro, IL to Madison, WI. (409 miles)
Day 3: Madison, WI to St. Cloud, MN (346 miles)
Day 4: St. Cloud. MN to Rugby, ND (397 miles)uneventful
trip with lots of crops and high winds – sprung door Day 5: Rugby, ND
Day 6: Rugby, ND to Sioux Falls, SD (464)
Day 7: Sioux Falls, SD
Day 8: Sioux Falls, SD to Hartington, NE (87 miles) Days
9-12: Hartington, NE Day
13: Hartington, NE to Mt. Vernon, IL (531 miles) Day
14: Mt. Vernon, IL to Home (407 miles)
For our trip planning, I booked our lodging and picked restaurants for lunch and supper looking first for Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives places, then for food we don’t normally eat such as Indian or food that represents the area we are in. Our first day was a drive of 388 miles (vs. our more normal 500-600 miles) with a stop for lunch in Clarksville, TN. For this meal, I selected Old Glory Distilling for its nice-looking menu and as a bonus, it was near the interstate. The large building has the distillery on one side and the restaurant on the other with a demonstration still in the center.
We got there a little after one and the lunch crowd was clearing out.
They cleverly uses old barrel staves for their light shades.
While still at home, I had picked out my meal of two appetizers – brisket burnt ends and duck fat fries – I see them on DDD frequently and have wanted to try some.
The burnt ends were very good as were the fries. They had a little different flavor and the duck fat makes them dark in color. I’m glad I tried them and would order them again but not at much of a premium. Old Glory Distilling was an impressive place but we declined to take a distillery tour. The service was excellent and I was impressed with the bars whiskey supply but what else would you expect.
I’m confident that the nearby large Ft. Campbell Army Post will ensure the place has success and I would definitely stop there again.
Our route for the day was I-40, I-24, I-57, IL-148, and IL-13 for a
stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Murphysboro, IL and I’ll pick up from here
on the next post.
Photos can be slightly
enlarged by clicking on them and the blue words are links.
Have a great day
and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.
Larry
9/27/24 event date
Looks like a pretty tasty meal! I'm glad your are meandering a bit and stopping off at tasty DDD places on this road trip! Safe travels.
ReplyDeleteLove your post pics were really good
ReplyDeleteThe food looked so yummy and beautifully plated.
Cindy
I'm proud of you. Learning to meander when you're a Point A to Point B type of person isn't easy. And some really great looking food.
ReplyDeleteHope you’re having a great trip. Keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteNow that sounds like the way to travel and those fires look really tasty. Karen
ReplyDeleteLooks like a nice trip, We love to go on the back roads when possible. Did you get a new RV--or just driving by car?
ReplyDeleteBetsy
Just the car and staying in hotels which you can tell we don't know how to do very well.
DeleteYou and Beverly took a fabulous picture. You both look so young. Kathy
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you're still rollin' Big dude!
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of you and Bev. Those fries look amazing. Did the dogs get to go?
ReplyDelete