Before leaving Bloomington, we check out the Cruisin' With Lincoln on 66 Visitor's Center located in the historic McClean County Museum.
As it worked out... we had a flat tire. Fortunately, we noticed it before we got on the road and even more fortunately, found a tire man quickly. They went NASCAR pit crew on us and only delayed our departure by 20 minutes. Jesse's Tire Clinic was a life saver!!
Funk's Grove IL
Sometimes... you just have to take the road less traveled...
Just past Shirley IL is the family business of Funk's Grove who have been producing natural maple "sirup" since 1891. Really tasty stuff.
Atlanta IL
This small town hosts the second of three Illinois "giants".
Lincoln IL
Next up... the only town named after our 16th President while he was still alive. Just so happens, he is Delia's favorite president, and she was ecstatic to find his likeness sitting atop the recognized World's Largest Covered Wagon.
Springfield IL
The Illinois state capital allowed us a drive by of the gorgeous Capital Building and the opportunity to visit Lincoln's Tomb in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
We also visited the National Historic Site of Lincoln's Home, which won us validation stamps in Delia and my National Park Passport.
Before leaving the capital, we stopped for lunch at the Cozy Dog Drive-In. A staple of Route 66 since 1949, it is credited to be the creator of what we now know as the corn dog. Not much has changed in all of these years and it was quite the tasty stop,
Jerome IL
A photo-op with the last of the Illinois "giants"
Raymond IL
A quick stop to pay homage and say a protective prayer at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Highways, which has been looking over travelers since 1959.
Litchfield IL
Weary travelers need sustenance (or bathroom breaks) and what a cool place to seek both. We stopped in at the Ariston Cafe, which is the oldest active cafe on Route 66. Operated by the same family since 1924, we enjoyed a quick dessert before getting back on the road.
Mt. Olive IL
With two Shell Oil retirees in our group we really couldn't resist a stop at the restored Soulsby's Shell Station.
Staunton IL
While we arrived after they closed for the day (fortunately for some it seems), Henry's Rabbit Ranch is combination neon graveyard, souvenir shop and live free-range rabbit ranch.
St. Louis MO
Skipped the last several stops in Illinois in an effort to reach St. Louis before dark. Heavy rains have caused flooding on several of the rivers west of town and we were lucky enough to reach our hotel even though the Mississippi is rising. The Route 66 trip will take a break for a couple days as we tour St. Louis and hopefully, by then, the river levels will recede enough for us to continue west on Saturday.
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