Illinois

                                                                

I left Indiana Friday morning by Rt. 135 South to Rt. 50 by virtue of the country scenery that it promised. The advice of a few locals that I met at the Pine Room Tavern served to be accurate. They said it was a selected route for the bikers in the area. What choice did I have? The scenery was country, and included rolling hills and lots of small farms. I stopped at a general store for breakfast that was just off the side of the road. They mostly cater to the “horse crowd” and close up in winter as 135 is not an easy road in the snow. No snow today. Clear going except for a stop or two for road work, note the photo. The rest of 50 West out of Indiana was pretty much the same, hills and farm land which was totally contrary to what lay in store when I entered Illinois. There, the landscape was flat with very few hills. What bordered the road was fields of wheat. Wheat was there at one time, now just dirt. Just miles and miles of flat land with farmers tilling the dry earth that kicked up trails of dust. I suppose they were getting the land ready for planting or something like that. Whatever farmers do. I was headed to the US Army Corps of Engineers Rend Lake Campsite at South Sandusky Campground, located near the town of Benton, Illinois off of state road 57. Army Corps of Engineer sites are the same as national parks, in the sense that they are government controlled. As I have a, gulp, senior pass, I pay half price for camping fees. So, $8.00 a night isn’t too bad, electric included. When I arrived at Sandusky I choose site 125 which is abut 200 feet from Rend Lake. I was thinking I would do some fishing tomorrow, as it turned out Saturday morning proved way too chilly at the lake for fishing, so instead I drove around the lake to take a few pictures. I then headed into Benton to see what the little town had to offer. It is an interesting town that has the distinction of the last hanging in the country, a local crook. I was told that by the guy at the RV supply store. He said he was related to him. I told him I could appreciate that based on his prices. He thought that was funny. I was serious.

I also met Dan and Cindy Schmechel who own The Smoke Break. Cindy was born in Benton but then moved to Portland, Oregon. She and Dan moved back when their little girl was deathly ill and Cindy wanted to be near family. As it turned out, all is well with their daughter and they decided to stay in what they call the redneck town of Benton, although they both claim to have the “best customers in the world”. They have only been open about 6 months and have been received very well. Cough, cough….I guess there is a need for their product too. I was also given some great advice about seeing the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Dan promised I would not be disappointed.  I liked those guys.
I couldn’t stop myself from going into Toot’s Barber Shop just to check it out. It is in an old building and something told me there was a story there. Toot’s Barber Shop really has a Toots. He is not an old Toot like the building but a Toot never the less. He’s the Toot cutting hair. Turns out his dad was Big Toot and he was Little Toot, but when he got bigger than his dad, he became Big Toot. You see the confusion that might cause for all the people who weren’t sure which Big Toot you were talking about. So now he is just Toot and he’s the Toot you see. I’m not sure what they call his dad now. Anyway, the barber shop is not that old, although the building and the barber chairs are. The shop used to be a restaurant and a few other things but Toot and his six waiting customer like it just as it is. Toot charges $8.00 a haircut and he only cuts men’s hair. No women. It may have something to do with his wife and three daughters. I didn’t ask, after all he is Big Toot.
Not a lot going on in Benton. Enjoy a few pictures…TC