Get Your Kicks on Route 66

This trip was sort of 3 trips in one.  The Iowa and Chicago part was a renewal of friendships and remembering my pre-teen years. Michigan, the second part, was the focus of the original trip planning last fall.  The third part, Route 66, was something I added, sort of last minute and I saw Conrad roll his eyes when I said I wanted to do it!  Being the sweet guy we all know, he agreed and he said later that he really enjoyed that part too!

When I was a kid, I always wanted my parents to buy a station wagon and drive us to California on Route 66.  My younger brother wanted them to buy a convertible and drive to New York!  Well, they didn't do either one!

Illinois probably has the best preserved part of Route 66.  We started that adventure in Kankakee.  I had also read about all the barn quilts in this area so we saw quite a few of those while we were there.  

 Freedom Star

 Autumn Praise

 Harvest Star Block

 Patriotic Star

 Duck Paddle

 Double Wedding Ring

 Flower Basket

Grandmother's Fan

Maltese Flag

We had fun chasing down these barns and admiring the work.  I think it's a pretty neat idea. Anyway, on down the road...

Other than the original Route 66 road, I was interested in the diners, drive-ins and filling stations.  We had some extra time that first afternoon so we headed north of Kankakee to Braidwood to the Polk-A-Dot Drive-In.  I think it was one of my favorite spots!

 Polk-A-Dot Drive-In, Braidwood, IL

 We were greeted by Elvis

 Conrad hung out with the Blues Brothers for a bit!

 And, Marilyn Monroe!

 Betty Boop

And Elvis and I sang a tune!

 Loved the glass block walls inside

 Inside

Remember these?  There was one at 

each booth.

We drove through a couple of the neighborhoods the next morning.  There were some beautiful and unusual houses.

The next two pictures are the B Harley Bradley House.  It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1900.  It is next to the Kankakee River and is 12,000 square feet - 6,000 sq ft residence, 3,000 sq ft basement and 3,000 sq ft stable space that is connected to the main house by a breezeway.  

I loved these windows!

We also did a driving tour of churches but they seemed kind of plain compared to some we saw in other places.  We saw more barn quilts on the way out of town.  

 Quiltmakers Block

 Dresden Plate

 Pursuit of Happiness

 Uncle Sam

 Log Cabin

Corn Fed

The town of Dwight was interesting.  We stopped at the Ambler/Becker Texaco Station.  This historic 1933 filling station is identified as the longest operating gas station along Route 66.  It dispensed fuel for 66 continuous years until 1999.  

Ambler/Becker Filling Station

This station now serves as a Visitor Center.  They asked us to put a pin where we lived. They have had people from all 50 states and all over the rest of the world!  The guy told us that a lot of people from Europe come and rent motorcycles and ride the Mother Road.  We saw lots of motorcycles.

 Some of the maps

The famous logo painted on the road

The Pioneer Gothic Church that was built in

1858.  The Prince of Wales, King Edward VII,

worshiped here in 1860 while on a hunting

expedition in the area.

We were able to go inside the former Keeley Institute that was known for the Keeley Cure or Gold Cure, a treatment center for alcoholics from 1879-1965.  There was a set of 5 stained glass windows depicting the 5 senses.  Beautiful work!

 Standard Oil Gasoline Station in Odell.  It was built

in 1932 and served travelers until 1975.

This is a restored example of early highway

advertising.  Meramec Caverns are in Stanton, MO.

It is one of two remaining advertisement barns

along Illinois Route 66.

On our way to Pontiac, IL, we stopped for a picture of the original concrete of Route 66. The new 66 is to the left and I-55 runs parallel to the right of this picture.  It is so narrow!

 Original Route 66 concrete

This is one of the original bridges.

This was one of the places we saw the Burma Shave signs too.  They were hard to get pictures of but we tried our best!  I don't remember what it said but this sign says "Is Your Sport".

Pontiac was one of my favorite stops.  There were so many fun things there!  We visited the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum.  

I remember these old maps and the S&H Green Stamps!

Bob Waldmire fell in love with Route 66 when his parents took a trip when he was 17 and he spent the rest of his life traveling 66 in either a 1964 Mustand, a 1972 VW microbus or a converted 1966 school bus.  The next 2 pictures are of Bob's VW bus.  This bus was the inspiration for the character "Fillmore" from the movie "Cars".  Bob's dad is said to be the inventor of the corn dog!

 Bob also traveled in this converted school bus.  We got to go through it and it was amazing! You wouldn't believe all the stuff in it. It is just something you have to see to believe.  The bus had solar panels for electricity, rain water collection system, a back porch, storage loft/guest room, working toilet and shower and a sauna!  Bob supported himself by painting and drawing for clients along the Mother Road.

 Bus from the front

Bus from the back

The town also has a unique collection of more than 20 outdoor murals in the downtown area.  

 This mural was my favorite! 

You could drive up in front of this one!

Here are a couple more neat houses before leaving Pontiac.

We stopped at the Chenoa Pharmacy but being Sunday, it was closed.  While I was taking pictures, the owner came by to do some book work and invited us in to look.  It opened in 1889 as Schuirman's Drug Store.  The pharmacy has been in continuous operation since it opened.  The original wood floor and many original fixtures add to the ambiance and charm. The owners of these old buildings are very proud of their business and want to show it off!

Chenoa Pharmacy

A picture of the original pharmacy

The old cash register

I think I'll end this entry with Deadman's Curve.  This was a dangerous curve on Old Route 4, part of the original Route 66 before the 1940s.  (Route 4 was already built when it became Route 66.) This dangerous curve caught travelers unaccustomed with the curve often misjudged its sharpness and narrow width - just 18 feet wide for two-way traffic.  

Next time, I'll finish up with the area from Bloomington to St Louis.  

it's been a great trip!