AUGUST 26, 2010 - DAY 22 - SPRINGFIELD, IL TO SPRINGFIELD, MO
Our morning started with a brief ride a few blocks away to see the Cozy Dog Drive In, the birthplace of the corn dog, and still a working restaurant. Luckily the Route 66 signs in Illinois are pretty good so we don't have any problems finding the next site, the Lauterbach Tire Man, who no longer holds a giant tire but an American flag.
As we cruise Route 66 we decide to follow all the signs that pointed the way to the brief sections marked for 1920-1937, which take us through some amazing little spots. There is a section of road that is made of brick and is just beautiful. Then there's the broken road surrounded by corn fields, quiet with no one else on the road, and only two farms mixed in with the corn. We stop in the middle of the road and park our bikes. Even though we can see the main highway just a short distance away we are amazed at the quiet as we stand there between the stalks of corn.
After we make the next gas stop and are saddling up to leave an old man rides up on a scooter. As he parks next to us we begin to chat with him. He is a character (big surprise, huh?) and a WWII veteran. We absolutely love the opportunities to meet new people and just talk with them.
We continue cruising along from town to town, just enjoying being out on the Mother Road and imagining what it had been like years ago. When we get hungry we stop at the Luna Cafe for lunch. Though it serves food "bar" would be the more appropriate term rather than cafe. But it's full of Route 66 memorabilia and a few locals. They are friendly and talkative and enjoy the fact that two women are out on the road. After the break we hit the road again. It's warm today and it was nice to be inside for a brief time.
As we cross into Missouri we look to our left out on the mighty Mississippi and see the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge where Route 66 once crossed. No vehicles are allowed on it any longer. As soon as we crossed the river we ride over to the bridge, stop and walk out to it. The bridge actually turns about halfway across. We could also look out across the river and see the city of St. Louis with it's arch.
However, when we pulled away we followed a Route 66 sign that took us away from downtown St. Louis and the Arch. Although it was a good thing time-wise in the long run we were not happy at missing the city. Especially when the roadway we were on was the frontage road to the interstate and we kept having to stop at every highway exit in traffic.
We ride on town to town and go past the Meramec Caverns where Jesse James and the Hole In The Wall Gang used to hide out. It's getting late and we realize we aren't getting into Springfield until after dark and we are very hungry. But before dinner we make a quick pit stop at the World's Largest Rocker. Yes, that's as in rocking chair, right there alongside the road. It is next to a souvenir store with all sorts of cute memorabilia, as well as an archery range that people are driving up to use as we are there. However, as we ready to leave the song "Hotel California" begins to play in my ear. I begin to sing out loud and Angel joins in. We sit there on our bikes, singing loudly off key till the song ends. We are certain the people at the range have bleeding ears and are grateful to hear our pipes roar knowing it means we are leaving.
We make it to Zeno's Motel and Steakhouse for a quiet, delicious dinner with lots of water. When we head back to the bikes the sun is getting going down and we start chasing the sunset. But no matter how hard we try the sky gradually gets darker and darker. By the time we got to the hotel it is late and we are tired once again, so we crash.
Today's stats: 359 miles and 13 hours
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