9/25/14 - Day 11 - Starting down Route 66

We were off to breakfast first thing this morning,  It will be best to eat light, we thought, since we are planning to have a dog at Henry's Hot Dog at about 11:30. In anticipation, we pack up and head out about 9 am.  After examining all possible routes, I-290 looked best to get us right to Buckingham Fountain, and it turned out to be a great choice.  it took only about 40 minutes to get there instead of the 75 minutes that Google had estimated.

After parking, walking around checking out the park and fountain, we returned to the car to try to locate the starting point of Route 66.  It is supposed to be close to the fountain.  A gentleman noticed us looking at our maps, books and phones and stopped to ask if he could help.  The distinguished elegance of the T-Bird had attracted his attention, he said. His name is Dennis and he runs a tour company called See Chicago With A Cop.  He is a 30 year veteran of the police force and was able to tell us where Route 66 originally started before the city made the street one way the wrong way,  He said that it was moved a block over.  Just a short walk and we found the end of Route 66.

We talked to a lady there from Australia for a minute.  Her husband had rented a Harley and was riding it to the Harley plant to see them made.  While he did that she was catching a tour of Chicago and was off.   We took a few pictures at the original end of Route 66 and then moved over a block and found the new start.  Another minute or two were spent taking a selfie and more pictures.  The Joe went to get the car so we could try to get a pic with the car and the sign.

The best one has a bus between me and the T-Bird.  We left at about 11 am trying to get to Henry's Hot Dogs before the rush.  Some parts of Route 66 are marked well and others are a little vague .

South side - Where is Dennis when you need him?

We made it to Henry's about 11:30 and ordered.  Henry's is in the book titled, Route 66 and we brought it with us.  We asked the ladies behind the counter to sign our book and they all did.  We weren't the first to ask. 

After lunch we headed to Joliet, IL and had our pictures taken with Jake and Elwood,  We also topped by the old Joliet prison where Jake spent time.  Then we moved on.

Next was Pontiac, IL.  There are lots of murals and old cars. I didn't take pictures of the murals because no one can take a picture that will do them justice.  Then we continued on.  Route 66 in this area is like Oregon's Hwy. 99.  It is a rural road through farm country.  Route 66 is generally a two lane road with grass and fields on either side.  Some of the little towns have changed the route to include there main street. We visited a bank that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Dwight, IL.  It had his signature small entrance and recognizable outside lights. 

We missed a turn or a sign in the next town and had to ask how to get back to "Old Road" 66 (as it was marked there).  The fellow lead us there in his car, showed us the way, wished us well and then returned to where we first saw him.  We had followed the bike Route 66 sign by  mistake.  We encountered a number of detours to the larger and faster I-55.  These were usually only a couple of exits long and then we were back on the slower roads.

We decided to get to Springfield, IL a day early to try and get the leak in the transmission fixed.  It is a different leak than the one we fixed in Idaho.  We are losing about a pint or transmission fluid every 4 gas fill-ups,.  It isn't a horrible leak but it is a pain to keep thinking about it. Joe called someone from the National Street Rod Association member book who called a friend of his in Springfield that does transmission work in his shop behind his house. Hopefully, the parts are available.