20th April - On to Chicago

After settling down last night I Iooked out of hotel window and saw it was snowing hard and bike already white over so went down and put tarp over it – and was it cold. Slightly anxious then as although of course I have no real demands on me I had wanted to get down to Chicago today so that I could do all the starty things,seek out spot by Lake Michigan where Route 66 initially began (the original route out of the then much smaller Chicago is now a one way  - the wrong way!)  and then go to the sign at the start as it is now and get the obligatory photo of me under it without all the hassle of the city’s weekday morning rush hour traffic.

As it happened the snow had stopped when I woke up this morning but there was still a lot around and it was so cold it was going nowhere – and, I decided neither was I until much later.

When I did set off it was a cold, windy but dry drag across the whole width of Michigan, through a bit of Indiana and round the tip of Lake Michigan to Chicago, Illinois.

I would be easy to say it was mind numbing but riding along American Interstates with all the “ads” they have is more of an emotional rollercoaster ride as messages seep into your subconscious – which is exactly the point of them I guess. Some stimulate serious debate, or would do if you had anyone to talk to “The Supreme Court calls it Abortion. God calls it murder!” where do you go with that at 70mph in a crosswind? 

Others feelings of inadequacy “Smokey Bear says YOU can prevent Forest Fires” – how Smokey how, tell me. 

“Peace, Love and wine” – what’s that all about, really don’t know, but as a mission statement it gets my vote.

One billboard said “4 burger meals for $4” and then a bit later the same company claimed its meals were “Fiscally Delicious!”  Now, I may be being a tad judgemental – it has been known – but I struggle to accept that the word “fiscal” is going to be up there in the everyday vocabulary of anyone looking at buying burgers meals for a $1 each.

Finally, as I rode into Chicago I was advised “Don’t die with your teeth in a glass” – ok!

Talking of riding – as I should be – at one point I realised that for 300 odd miles I hadn’t seen another motorcyclist, not a one. It was cold, but it was weekend, come on. As I passed a nursery a huge electronic billboard stated “PANSIES”, obviously the owner and I shared the same view on some things.

Called in at a Harley dealers in Michigan City and saw this - perhaps when my balance goes ...

 

The traffic getting into Chicago was horrendous with queues in all lanes – 4 in each direction sometimes - and I was hesitant to filter as I don’t know the law or etiquette on that here, but I did eventually and where the gaps really were too small I had great conversations with drivers who rolled down their windows to ask where I was from.

BUT, I’m here and tomorrow I start Route 66 – a dream coming true….

Just one embarrassing admission – when talking to reception I felt slightly foolish when Irealised I had ridden through a time zone without realising it – well you don’t get many between Doncaster and Scunthorpe – and had gained a whole hour of life.  What to do with it – could get my teeth fixed and avoid that glass.