Day Three
 Onward in the morning to Chicago, the start of Route 66. With little effort, Rick had worked in Chicago several years before, we found the start of old Route 66 at the corner of Jackson and East Jefferson. There is a controversy as to the exact spot, but for me, this was it. We started our trip with breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s Cafe, which signaled the start of our trip. |
We headed southwest through Cicero, Joliet, and continued on the old route being careful to keep away from Interstate 55. We drove past the Gemini Giant, a 50 ft. tall spaceman, holding a rocket, which stands in front of the Launching Pad Drive-In, in Wilmington.
Shortly thereafter we stopped for lunch in Braidwood, Illinois at the Polk-a-Dot Drive-In, where I parked next to a ‘56 Ford hardtop belonging to one of the customers.
What to have for lunch on Route 66?
How about a double chili-dog with cheese, raw onions, and a vanilla shake.
All of Route 66 harkens back to an older time. Some of it is preserved and picturesque, but the majority of it is rundown and showing the signs of neglect, low employment and a sense of dispair. The people of the “mother road” seem to be dealing with the conditions because the conditions have existed for so many years.
There are always photo ops along the way. An old Standard Oil station in O’Dell, Steve’s Cafe in Chenoa, the “sirip” factory in Funks Grove, where they had already sold out the year’s production. |
We continued on the McLean and stopped at the Dixie Truckers Home. There is a massive restaurant, gift shop, and a truckers’ Hall of Fame. There must have been 40 bigrigs parked in front and three-times that many people waiting to get into the restroom.
We drove through Springfield, the state’s capitol, and onward to Litchfield, where we would spend the night. We found a motel within walking distance of the Ariston Cafe, a place that was highly recommended, not only for the food, but because it has been in operation by the Adam family since the mid-30’s. I had the best chicken livers ever. Rick had a filet mignon and fries. Some people are meat and potatoes kind of guys, and some of us like chili dogs and liver. Another evening, sipping a Scotch or three and watching the Olympics. It doesn’t get any better than this. I won’t bore you with details, but breakfast on the road usually consists of wholegrain cereal, fresh fruit, unbuttered toast and decaf coffee. (Okay, my wife just left the room, so here is the scoop). Two eggs over easy, sausage, hashbrowns, rye toast with jam, and lots of coffee. Sometimes biscuits and gravy or cornedbeef hash with two eggs on top.
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