Here we are at Springfield Illinois, 185 miles from Joliet after traversing one of the longest stretches of Route66. The last 30mile stretch was on the I55 covering 30 miles of wind buffeting riding.
On the way we passed through Atlanta home of one of the 3 Giants around the area, before eventually stopping at the Route66 Hotel and Conference Centre full of 66 memorabilia
Tomorrow Cuba Missouri
Wonderful Route 66 town it has the feel of an old style mom and pop kind of place.
Even better, as we arrived the skies cleared and wonderful hot sun has broken up the dark clouds.
We found a small cafe called Lydia’s Cup (odd name) and are now sat here with as much clothing removed as we legally can be in the sun to dry our bits( quite literally drying our bits)
We have proves quite the novelty so far. English nutters who drive through the rain and who leave shoes outside the cafe!!
We’ve even met a local shop owner who on finding we are English has gone off to find the major to introduce us to.
I love small town America
Drying out from here.
What a varied day, up and put to the Route66 Welcome centre on US 53, where we met John (shown in the picture with us), this was the guy who guided Billy Connolly on his Route66 tour, So out on the 66 to Wilmington to see the Giant and that’s when it went down hill outside Gardner where the heavens open to an almighty 20 mile bath. When we stopped at Dwight I was able to tip 2 cups of water out of each boot and poor Mrs Fogg found water in places that she hasn’t seen for years!
So eventually it started to dry as we stopped at the Odell petrol station on 66.
And then onto Pontiac…..
Awoken this morning to yucky tipping it down weather, not nice to ride in but only 160 or so miles to cover.
A wonderful restful night at the Hampton Inn, Joliet with free WiFi and breakfast and swimming pool, well worth a visit to this chain elsewhere in the US.
So today is a poodle to Springfield, home of Spider Pig, Doh!
Last night saw a thunderstorm hit Chicago for about 1.5 hours, but nothing like the devastation in Oklahoma.
Have no fear I will be riding with my common sense sat in the pillion seat just to keep me in check.
So by 9pm UK time we will have covered our first 40 miles of Route66 to Joliet, “it’s dark, we got half a tank of gas, sunglasses, waterproofs and 2,100 miles to drive, let’s hit it”.
The journey starts from here.
Another fun packed evening up the John Hancock tower to the observation deck for 360 degree views of Chicago, topped off with a trip to Ginos on Superior, where the funky bit is you get a permanent marker and leave your mark, so we did, Foggy’s on Tour!
And the last picture, well we did find the phone box on Wabash and Lake, but no sign of Mr Anderson.
The park has a number of other sculptures and a fab arena, plus great big water towers that spray water out you can stand in and paddle. The guide says its aimed at pre teens but we did not see many of these- just adults playing in the water!
A fun city.
History warning: Millenium Park by the way used to be a cemetery but was already in the process of being cleared of bodies when the great fire struck in 1871. Those fleeing from the flames were saved by jumping in the empty holes that had been dug.
A Full Fun Packed walking tour, in low 80s temperatures. A walk to the start of Route66 for a photo stoppirtunity on Adams and Michigan, before walking part of the route up to the Sears (Willis) tower at 1,454ft high it takes the elevator just 60seconds to cover the 104 floors at an ear popping pace.
Once in the tower you have the oh so funky Skywalk, which is a glass room that hangs out a meter from the side of the building, oh so cool.
On the way back we walked under the ‘L’, past the apartment blocks from the Blues Brothers, down side roads features in the French Connection, alleys that look as though they are from every familiar movie you have ever seen (I came her to chew gum and kick ass, and I’m all outta gum) and lastly we stood on the corner of Wabash and Lake but couldn’t see a telephone booth (The Matrix has you Neo). And all of this before lunch time.
Don’t forget we’re not in Kansas anymore.
We are staying on Magnificent Mile so right in the shopping district. We walked up Michigan Avenue and came across the quirky Tribune Tower building that Billy Connolly visited on his Route 66 trip. the building is very ornate, almost gothic, with insets of stones from other buildings the owner collected (ie stole) from all over the world. This includes from pyramids, Edinburgh Castle, House of Commons. A truly odd building but somehow beautiful.
After a lovely wander we retired for the night listening to hundreds of ambulance sirens (well Mr Fogg did as I was sound asleep).
So a beautiful rise this morning to glorious sunshine. And then we put the weather channel on. Oh Boy. There have been tornadoes across the midline, following the exact path we are going to take – Oklahoma City, Tulsa. Turns out there is a storm front sat right on us. We can expect thunderstorms later today, however tomorrow it’s worse. Full on high volume heavy flood causing rain. Thunderstorms and risk of more tornadoes.
Did anyone mention that tomorrow we are getting on a Harley??? Should be an experience.
We’ll assess risks as we go. If its too bad we will sit tight somewhere and catch up the next day. So, based on the weather report that means staying in Joliet for a week!!
Meanwhile, off for a tour of Chicago while the sun shines.