21st April - Route 66 Illinois

A lovely bright sunny morning – still only just above freezing – but better than the forecast.

Up early and rode along Lakeshore Drive by Lake Michigan to the extension of Jackson Boulevard where Route 66 originally started. It moved a block north when a one way system was introduced and now it ”officially” starts at East Adams opposite the Art Institute of Chicago.

I’m here at last and whilst the sign is, well, disappointing, it can’t detract from my feeling of excitement and anticipation as I get that photograph – note smug grin – can’t believe there was a parking space in exactly the right spot.

 

Set off and got immediately lost as there appears to be no more signs actually in Chicago – perhaps I just didn’t see them. Saw a lot of downtown Chicago though and in the sunshine it was amazing.

Chicago - and travel companion.

However when I got just outside Chicago I was surprised how well the route is marked with Historic Route 66 signs and how complete the route is in Illinois.

Drove through towns I’ve read so much about and really thrilled to actually see them. I guess the first “familiar friend” must be the Gemini Giant in Wilmington. 

 

Stopped here for a meal and when I came out the bike had made a few friends – oh yea coming out now it’s getting warmer!

 

From Wilmington Illinois opened up in its flat, see-forever vastness. Signs said that they were attempting to re-establish large areas as Prairie Grassland and one can only imagine what such an expanse of shimmering grasses must have looked like.  The old route was very nearly all intact although in places it where it had been upgraded to a dual carriageway way back only one side was now maintained as the Interstates had taken away the traffic. You therefore had this bizarre experience of driving for miles with a totally unused concrete road running alongside you.

Only the left hand lane is now used.

 

Then I came to a place that just had to be a photographed. 

 

 

 

 

 If you saw Bill Connely you will know that Godley was the site of the Railway Carriage which was pushed from one side of the County Line to the other as required to avoid police interference in its activities. See Billy’s book, he tells it much better than I can.

Nearly got myself a coyote as I pushed on to get to Litchfield for the night and hopefully a meal at the “famous” Ariston Restaurant. Didn’t get the Coyote and didn’t get the meal either – the Ariston was closed by the time I arrived!

 

 

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.