Riding On The City Of New Orleans

Good Morning America, How Are You

Don’t you know me, I’m  your native son. 

I’m the train the call the City of New Orleans, 

I’ll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done. 

Many of you probably know the Steve Goodman song made popular by Arlo Guthrie and others, even Jimmy Buffett, “The City of New Orleans”. This song talks about the rail journey from Chicago to New Orleans on The Illinois Central Route named after the same. This 926 mile overnight trip links the three greatest music capitals in American history. Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans, the cities where the Blues were birthed and grew as a unique style of truly American music.This is the music of the plantations which evolved as it traveled north to Chicago, yes the BLUES. 

Listening to this song for many years sparked the notion and desire to ride the “south bound odyssey”.  As a child living in Chicago we would sometimes travel to Missouri to visit family on the Santa Fe Rail Road. Rail travel is a days gone by mode of transport,   so plans were made to make this journey. Starting in Chicago area where I grew up and sorely miss the Chicago delicacies, like hot dogs, pizza, and Italian beef sandwiches, we will spend a bit of time there before we board the train.  Ride the City of New Orleans to New Orleans and enjoy a day or so there. 

Boarding the train at Chicago’s Union Station, we will have a sleeper car for the overnight trip and that includes a dinner, breakfast and lunch. There is even a Senior Citizen discount, and yes, we took advantage. When we get to New Orleans we will be staying at The Whitney Wyndham, which for us will allow walking access to various places we wish to visit. Well that is the plan and we will see how it unfolds. 

We left Cheyenne about 12:00 and dropped the pups off at Puppy Camp. They were happy to be there, went right into their kennel drank some water and life is good for them. I think they are looking forward to a break from all the walks. 

We then headed south on I-25 and saw warning that I-25 was closed 25 miles south of the boarder due to an accident. We navigated around the accident via the service roads and were set back about 30-45 minutes. We next made a stop at REI as we had a gift card and a 15% off coupon. We each scored new rain/wind pants for the arctic trip. Lynn got a new fleece top and I got another pair of travel pants. All but Lynn’s rain pants were from the clearance room. I think I would like to work at REI.

From there we headed to our hotel, we had been noticing that gas prices were better in CO than in WY so made sure to fill up at less than $3.00 per gallon. 

We checked into our room at the Days Inn on Tower Road near DEN. We had packed a dinner from home as this trip will be rather food intensive, we thought we should eat light for one last meal. . Batteries are being charged on the cameras and phones. Will head to DEN at about 5:00am. 

Went to bed at 10:00 so I woke up at 0130, hungry for a good hot dog I know we will get later today. 

Really did not sleep much after 0130, but did start getting the day together at 0430 and Lynn slept till 0500. We headed to The Parking Spot (great place to park in DEN) parked the car and shuttle into DEN. Security lines were quiet, Pre Check and a scan and we were in the UAL Club Room by 0600.  A light snack and coffee were had. 

Boarded the plane, a Boeing 757, and quickly settled in for the short flight to Chicago. We were a little bit delayed in our departure due to a push back tug issue. As usual a great UAL flight.  

Landed in ORD (Chicago) and with no checked bags we went straight for the rental car. Squirrely, our GPS is programed with the necessary locations.  First we drove by 9229 Robinson Road, the house where I grew up. Sadly, the statue of me has yet to be erected, and boyhood home National Historic Site has yet to be established. 

Next stop is Gene and Jude’s for a real hotdog. When we arrived at about 1230 there was a line of about 30-40 people. Thirty minutes thereabouts to order and when we left the line was even longer.  These are Vienna Hot Dogs with relish, onion, mustard, a hot pepper. The dog gets topped with a nice portion of fries. This is HEAVEN!!!!!!!! I remember them costing $0.50 when I lived there, now they are $2.59, but the size and the portion of fries are still healthy. The fries are fresh, they are cut right there, directly into the fry basket.  Should you go here, do not and I mean DO NOT ask for ketchup. Cash only no cards. 

Given it was a beautiful fall day, we took our hot dogs and went to Schiller Woods, a Forest Preserve, and had a picnic.  Living close by I would go here often, in the winter time there was a hill we would use for sledding. I am amazed at how worn down that hill is today. I know as a child it was at last 12,000 ft tall. 

We make our way to a Jewel Food store. One of my summer jobs was working at the  Jewel Warehouse, pulling orders for stores. Here we find Green River pop, or soda for you east coast folks. I remember getting this as a kid from a soda fountain at a local drug store. Interesting driving through an area I knew as a child, things now seem closer and smaller. Some buildings are still there and many are gone. Driving down Franklin Avenue, it was interesting to see all the Hispanic establishments. 

We also drove by my Grade Schools, and Jr. High School, and  High School. Again no plaques have been erected. :)   

We went back to our hotel and regrouped a bit and took a walk. This walk took us through the local neighborhood. It was great to see well cared for houses, some with Halloween decorations, fall colors on trees and a few squirrels running about. 

Before heading out for dinner we made plans for tomorrow. Basically wakeup, breakfast, gas up the rental and head to the airport, drop off the car and take the CTA into Chicago. At Union Station, store our luggage and then do a walkabout of The Loop and lake front. 

Pizza was on the menu for the evening meal. We went to Gino’s East just off of Higgins Road in Rosemont.  We got a supreme, pepperoni , sausage, onion, mushrooms and peppers. Deep dish takes about 40 min or more after one orders. Yes it is worth the wait.  After gorging ourselves on a piece each, we were able to eat about an other 1/2 of a slice before saying no more.  

With full tummies I am pretty sure I will sleep this evening. 

Seeing the old neighborhood was good, interesting to see the changes, but best of all was to see it in good shape, pretty darn well cared for with friendly people. Yep it was a good place to grow up, but glad I live in Wyoming.