travel plans

[mbgross]

Just got back from the “Land of Lincoln”!

Aussie Mick, I took your advice and went with the Debate route, and I am glad I did.

Roger you were right when you said I would learn many things. There is no substitute for getting a feel and understanding for history as to be there, where the history happened.

I will not bore you with all I learned as most of you already know 100 times more than me. It was fun learning about Lincoln’s associates and friends.

Two places off the debate route sites I enjoyed was Pittsfield with all the Nicolay and Hay stuff and all the original buildings, and Mount Pleasant, IA at the Harlan-Lincoln home.

Most moving/spiritual place I visited? Elijah Lovejoy monument and his grave at Alton. Going to Carl Sandburg’s home and Remembrance Rock in Galesburg, was special too, because my fascination with Lincoln started with Sandburg’s works.

The biggest treat was the people of Illinois. Without exception that treated me in the friendliest and kindness manner. One person who is a frequent contributor to these pages gave me his phone # and said if I needed anything to give him a call! A perfect stranger! Then, there was the construction worker who was helping tear out the brick sidewalk around Knox College. We sort of clicked in the short time we talked. He had a terrible hard luck story but had an optimism that was contagious. As I was leaving, he gave me a brick with Galesburg stamped on it! Finally, Heather Bangert at the History Museum in Quincy went way out of her way by offering to give me private tours of everything Lincoln there.

Did I catch the Lincoln’s spirit, and of his times, on that vast prairie? At times, I think I did, and that was a wonderful feeling!

It’s too hot here in TX, I’m heading back next week to the Land of Lincoln and travel the 8th circuit.