Elizabeth and Gary's Magic Bus Tour: RED BAY HERE WE COME ----

Roll in and out of the Chicago area we did – Orland Park to be specific. We were able to see our friends' - the Stinson’s - new home where we spent many hours eating, drinking, catching up, telling stories about whoever was not there and watching Da Bears! A round of golf at Cog Hill was also on the agenda. What more could any one ask for?? Oh yea – there are NO pictures of all these events to post as “what happens in Orland Park stays in Orland Park”;-)

When we could not handle any more of such a good time (and the calendar dictated that we move on) – Magic wandered into Springfield to a wonderful spot at the Illinois State Fairground under a BIG old oak tree –

Thank goodness for the shade.

Loved the shade as still no air conditioner in the rear and temps in the 100’s with equal humidity. This weather was a definite incentive to stay inside and the Lincoln Museum and Library were just the answer.

Abraham Lincoln moved to Springfield in 1837, the year it became the state capital. A self-taught lawyer with only one year of frontier schooling, Lincoln rode his horse into Springfield with all his belongings in two saddlebags. He married Mary Todd in 1842 and in 1844 the couple bought a small cottage at the corner of Eighth and Jackson streets for $1500!! They occupied the home for the next 17 years – until they moved to the White House in 1861. Over the years the house was enlarged to accommodate their growing family including the “raising of the roof” to add the full second story in 1855 – 1856. Between Mary’s entertaining and the mischief of their boys this was a lively house!!

The Lincoln home

Although they rented the house while in Washington in anticipation of returning at the end of Lincoln’s term in office – sadly Lincoln did not return. His only surviving son Robert became sole owner of the home, which was donated to the people of Illinois in 1887 and then to the US in 1972.

Most of the current Presidents begin planning their Library as soon as they are elected. Lincoln’s Library and Museum were ‘planned’ 100 years after his death. The Library opened in 2004 and the Museum in 2005 – and we spent the morning touring both (no pictures allowed here). Must see sights when in the area - along with his law office, the train depot from which he departed after his election and his tomb. An unrelated item – there is also a Frank Lloyd Wright house to see in town.

Red Bay was calling so we moved on to Memphis for a quick stay. But, on the way the Mighty Mississippi provided a lunch stop with a view –

Love our Lunch stops;-)

And a picturesque bridge –

Dinner down on Beale St. was good, entertaining and lively!!

Beale Street in Memphis - and this was a Wednesday night!!

Fried pickles...really??

Magic arrived at “The Mother Shop” on Thursday for an appointment on Friday the 13^th!! In case you don’t know the history – Tiffin bought the local airport and turned it into its service center. The “parking spots” are lined up along the runway –

The queue at the Tiffin Service Center - Runway 8

- - and the hangars became the service bays. At 11 AM on Friday we got the call to report to Bay 35;-) (This was MAJOR progress as many of the 100+ coaches had been here for two weeks before they got that call!!)

Magic's service bay for the next several days (hopefully).

No work for Magic on the weekend, so E & G headed to Muscle Shoals/Florence and two of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses – The Schoolmaster and Fighting Joe. Somehow the weather Gods smiled on us and a cool front came through making the two mornings just beautiful! We especially enjoyed Sunday on Fighting Joe. They aerated the greens last week and no one wanted to play that course. So – we had it completely to ourselves AND invoked the ‘two putt’ rule. A really fun round of golf;-)

The Schoolmaster Course at The Shoals schooled us well!

But it was beautiful

Fighting Joe gave us a good fight also!

18th hole - Bring us home;-)

Florence also happens to be home to the only Frank Lloyd Wright designed structure in the state of Alabama – designed and built in 1939-1940. His works are truly remarkable. The pureness and functionality are something to see. We both figured that with his use of space he would have been a great coach designer!!