DAY 2 – April 8
Marshall, IL – Marshall, IL 4/8/2016
~145 miles
After my late arrival on Thursday, I grabbed some convenience store grub to chow on while I caught up on email, weather, etc. before bed. I was disappointed and a bit disconcerted to learn that some fellow New England Riders had gotten blocked off by the storms on their attempt to make it to Moonshine. They did the prudent thing and stopped when conditions got untenable, which my early departure apparently allowed me to avoid. I realized how lucky I was to have made it through, as I hadn’t really known anything about the severe cold winter weather approaching that area of the US until I was already in it.
The most pressing order of business on Friday, would be to check in to officially end my Saddlesore ride, back in Casey at the Days Inn. But first things first. After a good full 7 hours sleep, went down for a leisurely breakfast in the hotel lobby where I met several other Moonshine riders and exchanged tales of travel. Met a couple guys from Long Island who had also made it through before the worst weather and got to talking about a return strategy to the northeast. My original plans were now out the window due to the weather. My two compatriots were discussing Roanoke VA as a viable layover for the first night of a two day trip back home, around the overall weather pattern. The weekend looked like the best weather window before rain was due to sock in New England again. I decided I’d check on the forecasts again later that evening and prepare a new route home on my laptop.
I suited up and headed into downtown Marshall for a look-see, and to capture a couple bonuses for the Americana Grand Tour:
This guy appeared to be a pretty big deal around these parts:
Then I pointed the bike south for a relaxed victory lap back down I-70 to Casey, where I had the pleasure of exchanging congratulations with some fellow Saddlesore riders as we presented our paperwork and received our certificates, license plate placard and assorted paraphernalia from the ride organizer, Rick Martin.
We exchanged travel tales briefly until I mentioned that I was planning to stop for a Moonburger at the Moonshine store that day, before all the crowds on Saturday. Rick told me that I’d better get myself over there by 12:30pm SHARP if I wanted a burger because they shut off the grill at that time every day, no exceptions. I looked at my phone and it was just before noon. I asked him if I could make it, and he looked at his watch and said something like “if you get going NOW, and briskly!” Don’t have to tell me twice, especially with it looking like I would not be able to attend the big gathering at the store the following morning. Gathered up my stuff and got my butt back on the bike, next stop…Moonshine Store!
Headed through Casey and out into the farmland roads. This store REALLY is in the middle of nowhere. A three way crossroads with cornfields all around it:
My quarry:
I arrived with about 15 minutes to spare. Far from the madness that apparently ensues with crowds of hundreds of riders, there were just a couple bikes leaving when I pulled up and a few locals were inside to get their supplies before the crowds on Saturday. I asked where to order my Moonburger and was directed to the counter in the rear of the shop, where I asked for a medium-rare bacon cheeseburger. The nice woman hesitated, stating they were all well done, but the cook came by and said however you like it! Pink in the middle? No problem! Waiting for my burger, I walked around the store taking a few photos and looking at all the signs and assorted bric-a-brac that fills the shelves and wall space. This is truly a special moment in time perfectly preserved. I chatted up a local farmer and he confirmed that he’d been coming in the store 60 years and it really hadn’t changed all that much in the intervening years.
The burger at last and boy was it good!
The staff closed up the store and began working on their preparations for Saturday while I munched my burger contentedly – they told me to take as much time as I wanted as they’d be there a while yet. I chatted a bit with Danny about his mom (the store’s owner who was in the hospital and who would miss her first Lunch Run event) and everyone pitching in to help run the store. It’s clear this family loves what they do and love the fact that so many people come from all over the country to stop in for a conversation and a burger. They took a big delivery of Sunbeam hamburger rolls and I chatted with the delivery guy for a while as well. He said this wasn’t even his biggest delivery to the store, they get so many bikes through there all year long and sell so many hamburgers. Everyone walking in that door was ready to just stop what they were doing and chat, it seemed. I relished the laid back pace of it all, after the intensity I’d felt the previous day trying to get here. Eventually, I finished up and took my leave so they could continue with their preparations for the big day.
I had a little 100 mile or so loop planned out for the immediate area to snag some Americana bonuses and to take a gander at the Illinois roads:
The weather was still cold and boy does that wind blow hard across those open fields! You could see dark rainclouds scattered here and there, but I avoided them for the most part and actually saw some blue sky and sun interspersed with the very active cloud activity, as the day drew on. While cruising through Mattoon IL, I noticed a little restaurant with a big white sign and black block letters “BURGER KING”. Hmmm, I mused, that’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. I passed it again on my way back and afterwards thought that maybe it was like the first Burger King or something odd like that. Sure enough, checked roadsideamerica.com and that is the original BK location. Should have taken a photo, but here is one from Google:
Eventually made my way back to Casey. I was still an hour or so early for the big group dinner to be held at Richard’s Farm restaurant that evening, so first I rode around town a bit to take in the sights. Yes there are sights to see in Casey IL! Such as the World’s Tallest Wind Chime:
the nation’s biggest rocking chair (or chair of any kind…Gardner MA has nothing on this one):
and the World’s Biggest Golf Tee.
After my little sight-seeing tour, I parked myself at the Days Inn (ground zero for a lot of the event regulars and organizers). Lots of bikes there, so I walked around looking, talking to folks, and listening in on tall tales of the road being told by grizzled veteran LD riders.
The dinner at Richard’s Farm was a 3-4 hour affair of great down-home food, interesting conversation with other riders at my table, and the traditional presentations by the ride organizers. The MC and gentleman primarily responsible for keeping Moonshine Lunch Run alive and kicking is Jason Garver, the local fire chief and friend of the event founder, Terry Hammond, who passed on a few years ago.
Jason no longer rides motorcycles, but keeps the event going in his friend’s name and as a huge benefit to the local charities and economy. It has to be an insane amount of work and organization, but obviously a labor of love. I learned a lot about the spirit of this wonderful event by being present at that dinner and it was the highlight of the trip. It was nice to stand up and be welcomed by warm applause with the other (many) rookie attendees, and then again for completing the Saddlesore to get there. Definitely a feeling of brotherhood and camaraderie amongst these riders coming all that way for a hamburger!
After the speeches and long distance awards were finally done, I rode back to the hotel for some Basecamp quality time. Carefully reviewing the weather and forecasts, I decided that going south to go north made the most sense in this case and planned out a route to the Roanoke VA area for the following day. I was hoping this route would take me far enough south out of the polar temperatures as well as the rain/snow going on in OH and PA. Used Yelp and AAA to find a Quality Inn in Troutville VA with decent rates and good reviews, then called and reserved a room for the following night. Just like that, my weekend plans were made: another two long days on the highway to get home before the rains and cold weather that was forecast for Monday. I had work off until Wednesday and toyed with the idea of riding around another day or so in VA or WV, but the weather window was what it was and I didn’t want to push my luck on this trip. I was a bit bummed to have to miss the big gathering at the store on Saturday, but couldn’t come up with a better plan and I had gotten my burger already after all.
Friday’s loop ride:
