Jim and Lyndi ZR-1 Road Trip 2019 - Back to Alaska

[QB93Z]

Originally Posted by secondchance

Remind me to install an antenna switch when you return. Dang Pioneer Nav has to be on at all times and that means antenna up at all times. A nuasance...

Hi Yun, I already have an antenna switch. I forgot to lower it. Thanks for checking on me.

Jim

[QB93Z]

Originally Posted by MarkSS

What time on Monday do you plan to come through the Rochester MN area. I live 5 minutes from I90... Might cruise with for a little bit.

Hi Mark, That would be cool! We will be leaving South Beloit, IL at about 7AM and will stop a few times along the way, so I figure we will be to Rochester about 11:00 or 11:30. We can meet where ever you want. How about meeting for lunch some where near Rochester. If you recommend a local place that would be great.

Here is my contact info:

Cell: 443-244-1347 (Text is great)
email: jim@gizmosart.com

Jim

[QB93Z]

Originally Posted by Jagdpanzer

Hey Jim
During this trip are you planning on coming across the UP 4014 Big Boy steam locomotive which was recently restored to full operation for the 150 year anniversary of the driving of golden spike at Promontory Point, Utah to commemorate the joining the rails of the first transcontinental railroad? I remember seeing one of UP Big Boys when I was around five years old and my father telling me it was the largest steam locomotive ever built.


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

Hi Phil, I am always interested in the Big Boys. I am not sure where 4014 is right now but I have been following the restoration process. We missed seeing it in Denver area by 1 day last summer. Riding behind that locomotive is high on my Bucket List.

Jim

[QB93Z]

Sunday, Day 2 Sandusky, OH to South Beloit, IL

Today was a serious art day. We drove west on I-90 to northwest Illinois with a nice stop in Chicago to spend time at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Early on Sunday, the traffic on I-90 was light, but it got congested later in the day:




When we got to Chicago, we parked at the Millennium Park and crossed the street to the Art Institute of Chicago. Here is the only photo we took of the Purple Z today:




We spent about 4 hours visiting the Art Institute of Chicago which is Trip Advisor's number attraction in Chicago. Lyndi and I agree that it has the best collection or art that we have seen. Here are some of the items that caught my attention:

There is a fabulous collection of advertising posters from early twentieth century London to get people to ride the electric buses and subways:



Edward Hopper's Nighthawks (1942) is a thrill to see in person:




I was fascinated by this Ancient Egyptian Statue of Horus, carved about 2300 years ago:




I liked the bright color and detailed life-like faces of Two Sisters by Renoir:




We had about an hour of rain today and paid a lot of tolls but the drive was not too bad.

Jim

[-=Jeff=-]

And you were only 2 blocks from the beginning of RT 66 as well

[Jagdpanzer]

Originally Posted by QB93Z

Hi Phil, I am always interested in the Big Boys. I am not sure where 4014 is right now but I have been following the restoration process. We missed seeing it in Denver area by 1 day last summer. Riding behind that locomotive is high on my Bucket List.



Jim

You can keep an eye on Big Boy 4014’s whereabouts this summer at UP’s steam web site
https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/

[WARP TEN]

Dede and I are members of the Art Institute and agree that it was a great place for you to stop. They have some spectacular exhibitions on a regular basis. Enjoy your trip. And Phil, thanks for the UP Steam link. I will watch to see if they ever plan to bring 4014 up through Chicago. A Big Boy would be an amazing engine to see running. We are taking the kids and grandkids up to the Illinois Railway Museum on July 7, a steam or diesel weekend. --Bob

[QB93Z]

Monday, South Beloit, IL to Luverne, MN

From Beloit, we drove north on I-90 to Wisconsin. We were on a mission to find a souvenir thimble from Wisconsin for one of our friends back home. We stopped a a lot of truck stops and gift stores and cheese stores:



Unfortunately we were not successful. There were no WI thimbles to be found. If any one can track down a WI thimble, Lyndi will gladly pay cost and shipping.

We followed I-90 and turned West toward Minnesota. We stopped in La Crosse, WI and had a good time sight seeing, shopping and getting Coney Island chili-dogs. La Crosse has a local Town Brewery that offers the largest six-pack in the world:










We crossed the Mississippi River into Minnesota and continued west on I-90. We live in farm country in Maryland but we were amazed at how many beautiful dairy farms there are in Minnesota.






Near Rochester, MN we had the great pleasure to meet up with Mark (MarkSS). It was a thrill to see his excellent Red 1990 Lingenfelter 368 cubic inch ZR-1. It was fun to learn about the active ZR-1 community in Central MN. His Father, Brother and a friend each have ZR-1's. Mark escorted us for a while as we drove west. It was a thrill when he blew by us on his exit ramp:







As we continued on to Luverne, we were racing the clouds and caught on a few drops of rain:



Jim

[QB93Z]

Mark Flying By

https://youtu.be/BbuoWGNYYWE

I am learning how to use a GoPro camera and edit my videos and post them. Please bear with me as I experiment.

Jim

[MarkSS]

It was great to meet Jim and Lyndi and run a few miles with them on their Alaska adventure! Thanks for posting the video and pics as well!