If you go to Fast Eddie's on a motorcycle, note there is a special parking lot for bikes. Its blocked off from the car parking lot - much safer. I don't know how to describe this place. It was packed with people of all ages (no children - they card you at the door - must be >21 y/o). Several people celebrating their birthday - including one young 70 y/o lady. Lots of bikers.
When you get inside, you join a line to the grill where you place your order. There aren't a lot of food options but enough to make it difficult to decide what to get.
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| The grill at Fast Eddie's (Photo borrowed from Chuck) |
There were five us and between us we tried: the beef tenderloin - $2.99. Big chunks of beef on a stick (Big Ellwood). Delicious! Cold "peel your own" shrimp. ( 29cents/shrimp.) Yum. Chicks on a stick (chicken wings - and they actually were on a stick). 99cent cheeseburgers and pork kabobs. The food is cheap! You have to pay attention to announcements over the intercom so you can go pick up your order. A waitress serves the beverages. This, I think, is where they make their money. $2 soft drinks - no free refills. Not complaining, though, as the food was so inexpensive.
We left Alton and headed toward Grafton. Very pretty ride along the river. It was about this point that I broke away from the other riders and headed off on my own. Those who know me know well know I like to combine my photography hobby with my riding hobby, so I'm always looking for photo opps and not everyone likes to make stops along the way.
So off I go on my own, smugly thinking I had my Iphone, so access to maps. Didn't think about the possibility of no cell service along the way (me who travels for a living - go figure). So I took my direction from the sun (figured I need to head northeast) and the river. At one point I saw this sign and at first thought someone with a sense of humor was messing with me. Who knew there was a Detroit IL?
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| For a minute, I'm thinking - Detroit, as in Detroit MI? |
I'm still riding along the Illinois River through teeny little towns. I see a Shell gas station sign in Pearl, IL. Population 200. This is where I thought I'd better check my location - no cell service. I go into the little gas station to get directions and the store clerk (cute little lady) says "Champaign? I don't know where that is" - so I say "I need to head east". She says "if you keep driving up the road a ways, you'll come to Milton and then Detroit. There's a road headed east - so maybe take that". So I continue on - with a minor side trip to Nebo and Vin Fiz road. Interesting history and very scenic - worth the detour. If you're down in that area, add that to your destination.
On to Milton and Detroit where I did find the intersection where I could head east. And then I come across this sign out in the middle of nowhere (and when I say nowhere, seriously, I went 20 minutes or more without seeing anyone)
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| Looking back at the bridge |
One last stop - "Historic Winchester". I confess I still didn't know where I was when I saw the sign "Historic Winchester". I drove into the small town and found this lovely old building.
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| I'm standing across the street, my back flat up against the building, trying to get a full photo. Bad/crooked view but you get the gist - its a lovely old building. |
One of my longr day trips. I think maybe the lack of a map and no cell service was a good thing - going with the sun and the river made for a beautiful ride in a part of the state I've never been in - so a great day! Returning to that river road and the Nebo area is on my list for later this summer.
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