2012 Summer Tour - Day 5

Thursday was travel day. The current Mrs. Blythe boarded her flight from Florida and was due to arrive in Moline around 8:15 a.m. Initial plans called for a late lunch with her brother and his wife at 4:00, bu those changed to a more convenient 9:30 in Muscatine. This would allow for a stop at Jerry's for the World's Best Fricking Pizza, bar none. She then wanted to spend the afternoon with her friend Lisa, then over to Burgess. Let's see how that all worked out.

First off, breakfast with Daryl and Linda was pretty fine.  Linda is having surgery on September 5th on her spinal column to work on a tumor.  Sounds like a horrific operation and equally strenuous recovery.  Linda seems to e doing well with the upcoming struggle but, like anyone, seems also a bit anxious.  Just wanted to wish her well.

Sign in Jerry's restroom.  Not exactly sure how this is accomplished but I was as gentle as I could be.

Standing tradition is that we collect scratch lotto's from various locations across the run over to Mt. P, in such places as Middletown, New London, and Danville.  At one time Route 34 ran through these little towns, but now it is a mostly 4-lane drive that cuts the time by a quarter.  We then scratch and hope until the pizza arrives.  All we got from our efforts was a measly $2 dollar ticket, so not much excitement there.  

For those who have never experienced Jerry's, then here is a look.  The taste beats all other pizzas by a mile.  Davis Bros in Peoria comes kinda close, but it is Jerry's that is the winner every time.  If you ever get one, I must tell you that although they have all kinds of toppings, the only one I have ever had, and ever will have is sausage, and cannot vouch for any other kind.  One square - one sausage ball.  That's the rule.

Back when I was at Iowa Wesleyan, there was Jerry's and Pizza Hut.  Oddly enough, there was signage outside in the lobby commemorating the 45th year of operation.  They were planning a celebration later in the day.  This is a picture of Jerry, far left, and his crew preparing and posing for a picture in 1967.  Jerry is still around, and although not there today, yet, he was there in April when i was back.  He takes pride in the number of alumni who return for a Jerry's.

I like to think my money (well, Dad's money) helped Jerry stay in business 45 years.  It is every bit the important college memory as ST Hall, or Cuckoo Robinson, or Hell Week, or the many other memories one obtains while in the perfect bubble of college.

The current Mrs. Blythe wanted to check out the Iris Lounge, which was the place to dine with the folks.  Upscale, nice rich dark decor, this was the classy place to enjoy a fine meal and tell your folks how well your grades were.  And this was the place folks went to show other parents how to spend money on meals and drinks.  Poor Herb walked away with high bills on more than one occasion.  Graduation meal here was a particular fun time, with the grandparents and Aunt and Uncles, and a drunk Tom Ross-Barnett passing out in the hallway.  But that's another story.

The Iris Lounge, sitting empty.  Ah the memories. 

The Iris Lounge is no more.  If I knew it I'd forgotten, so it was a bit of a shock to see it empty with weeds growing all around.  This was the best place to go at one time, and wondered how it had fallen on hard times.  Anyway, it was sad, but behind the place we noticed a bench.

What a memento to take!  If only Mark was with me.  If only I had my crowbar and hacksaw, from previous larceny.  It was rickety bench that had Iris Restaurant on the top board and Mt. Pleasant on the second back rest board.  We tried to take it, really we did, but for the want of a phillip's screwdriver, broad daylight and a running business next door, we decided to do this job some other time.  

Hmmm.  So close, yet so far.  Another day for this prize.

Before heading back to G-Burg, we did drive around Gulfport to see the flooding devastation and see what was still there.  I was amused at the Welcome to Gulfport/Illinois Clark Law office sign as drive in.   Its kind of like saying, "Yeah, so you found yourself in Illinois, huh?  Well, jot down this attorney's number in case you get drunked up and need help getting out of jail.  Oh, and have yourself a nice visit." We also got melons at Oquawka.  

  Once there I dropped Mrs. Blythe off at Lisa's under the watchful eye of Marty next door, and headed to Brickyard for a tenderloin with the Johnsons: Pat, Shelley, Brittany, Christa and Justin.   

The final meet of the day was at Budde's with some dear friends I worked with at the Mary Davis Home.  Stewart Nyi who has since left is working with DCFS right down the street and Jeff Sutor and his wife Carol, and Pat who I insisted join us.   We talked of fantasy baseball, work, old days, new jobs, bikes and biking.  Cold beer, old friends,  never any pregnant pauses.  Good time.

We also stopped in Burlington to drive down Snake Alley.  We also found the old Taco House which was a regular stop for Mrs. Blythe back in the day.  It's still there, amazingly enough.

Tomorrow we get down to some riding.  Woo hoo!!