On The Road - Day 2 - Joliet to Litchfield

 

 

7th May, 2012

A little earlier departure today - not a lot, and we have a lot of miles to cover to get to Litchfield.  As we depart Joliet we pass the Route 66 Raceway.

We are excited to recall the check points that we used when flying in the US - Joliet and Kankakee (the River we drove over) were both reporting points when Neville was doing his Instrument Rating.  

There are many GIANTS along Route 66 and we are going to try to capture them when possible. This is proving a little more difficult than it would seem. However our first one was the Gemini giant at the Launching Pad Drive In in Wilmington Il. This photo taking has required much clever car manouvreing and patience. 

One of the standouts for the day was lunch at the Polka Dot Drive In in Braidwood - spotlessly clean, the friendliest staff (and they asked us to sign their visitors book so they had to be special) and all the memorabilia that you would expect from the 50's. 



As the miles clicked slowly past we took many photos of old gas pumps and signs. From Dwight to Pontiac incredible displays from the past. It has been hard to imagine that a lot of Route 66'ers drive from Chicago to St Louis in one day.  We are running out of time as we want to get to the Ariston Cafe for dinner tonight. 

A collection of vintage petroliana displayed in Odell.

 ODell classic 1932 Standard Station restoration including a vintage gravity fed gasoline pump.   Next door a classic 1953 caravan restored in the same colours. 

On arrival in Pontiac we figured maybe half an hour to check out the museum there - we could have spent the entire day in the town.  There were so many murals that had been painted by the Wall Dogs and just magnificent pieces they were.  We took just a few photos of them but did collect a brochure that shows them all.

The day is getting on and I am getting worried that we have so far to go to get to our Litchfield destination in time for dinner.  We check our priorities - Funks Grove Maple Sirup is a must - due to the spelling of 'Sirup".  The lovely lady there advised that it was the original spelling of syrup and the Funks family had insisted on maintaining the spelling in the business name.  After a taste of the nectar from the local maples we just had to purchase a bottle.  The owner advised that she ships to Australia at considerable expense - well it is very heavy, especially in 1/2 gallon jugs!!

Trying our best to maintain the Route 66 roads, hopping on and off the freeway, turning back when lost (just a little off track not really lost) we fly past the Dixie Travel Plaza no time to stop for photos.  However we have to do a quick stop to take the Giant Paul Bunyan with the Giant Hot Dog in Atlanta - he was previously in Cicero.  This is grain country.  We can see the huge water tower with the Giant Smiley Face but no time to situate ourselves to capture a photo.  This town has a magnificent clock tower wound by hand every 8 days and this town too has many murals. 

Another Giant in Lincoln - yes who else Abe!  Missed it!  However once we arrived in Springfield (the capital of Illinois) much too late to see anything after 5pm however there was yet another Giant Abe and the pursuit to find Gate One at the Fairgrounds was pretty darn smart and there he was in all his skinny glory.  We even managed a couple of fleeting photos of the magnificent Capital Building.  Nerves are getting frayed, its late and many miles to go.  I desperately wanted to get the next Giant the Lauderbach Giant but he went flying past and I missed him.  I am getting addicted to Giants.  Too late to stop for the Giant Surfer Dude at Gillespie.

Ok its panic time onto Interstate 55 (we are cheating) to get to Litchfield before closing.  Signs now for Ariston Cafe appeared by roadside.  Really looking forward to this very much recommended Cafe.  Almost there .....  pull in, its 7.30pm and no cars out front.  Main lights out front not on either, but some lights on inside.  Sign says CLOSED ON MONDAYS!!!  Nooooooo!  So we venture down the road to Stacey's Route 66 Cafe and had dinner, checked into the Hampton Inn, very disappointed and very tired.  We did have a great day however.  Staying at Hampton Inn.  Gas $3.46 per gallon 
PS and we didn't even get a photo of the Ariston cafe!

Goodnight.