Day 6 - Oklahoma City to Amarillo

A far more challenging day. The route 66 signposts almost all disappeared and where they were seen they were symbolic. The 'Here it is' route 66 map series was invaluable to guide me through the day. The sat nav is useful at times but cannot be relied upon to choose route 66 as the correct route, particularly if you program a destination more than one town / ghost town ahead. Parts of the road have fallen into bad repair and famously some parts were never paved. The below photo shows one such part and I even lost my nerve when I saw cattle grazing over the next section and turned back to find a safer route round this section.

Again many iconic route 66 sights today, although being Sunday most places were closed. Crossed into Texas at lunchtime.

everything is big in Texas -the tallest cross, although to be fair it is very impressive as are the gardens and monuments surrounding the cross

The Cadillac Ranch rounded the day off, near Amarillo. Great fun

333 miles travelled vs planned 251.

Posted with Blogsy

Day 5 - Springfield to Oklahoma City via Kansas

Longest planned journey today of the whole trip - 311 miles although actually drove 354 miles making nearly 1000 since I started. Weather in the morning was showery but still very hot but improved as the day went on. Long stretches of route 66 were still intact although the road on some of the more 'historic' parts had started to disintegrate. Easy to follow. After Missouri the road briefly travels for a few miles through Kansas before entering Oklahoma.

It was day of some fairly iconic sights and the guy running the blue whale reminisced about both Billy Connolly and Karl Pilkinton's recent visits.

Generally unimpressed with Oklahoma City, although the memorial to the City bombings is simple and very moving.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Day 4 - St. Louis to Springfield, Missouri

Back tracked a little this morning to see the Old Chain of Rocks bridge, by-passed by Route 66 a few years ago. Hire car is Jeep Patriot with a very dodgy automatic gearbox (might have to change the car tomorrow)

Again took a long time to get out of St.Louis as it did with Chicago. Big cities and even large towns pose a problem when you are trying to follow the route.

The road followed the service road of the interstate highway for many miles today but at times went 'inland' into the Ozark's. The Meramec caves were unnecessarily touristy playing up the Jesse James connection but still very impressive

The world's largest rocker but the shop was great.

Devil's Elbow - road still passable

Covered 316 miles today vs the 232 planned - wrong turns certainly clock up the mileage mainly because it takes some time to realise you have gone wrong.

Springfield is a largest town - pleasant enough - typically middle America

Posted with Blogsy

Day 3 - Chicago to St. Louis

Early start in Chicago this morning. Took a little time to get out of the city but once out the route was quite easy to follow at least until after lunch when I had to do quite a lot of backtracking to keep to the plan. 316 miles today vs the 298 miles it says in the guide books. The road had long straight flat stages through cornfields (heartland of America) but at times diverted to pick up very old sections of the road which were little more than farm tracks - see picture above. I thought I would average 50 miles per hour but I was nearly 9 hours on the road today.

Highlight en route today was probably Pontiac which has very much put itself back on the map by playing up to the Route 66 experience but tastefully and not at all tacky.

Late afternoon I crossed the Missisipi river over from the state of Illinois to St.Louis in Missouri. Just had time to visit the Gateway Arch. Interesting a ascent in a number of pods which seem to ratchet their way to the top to get around the elevators going round bends problem. Great view from the top of the Cardinals baseball stadium. I was planning to go to a game tonight but they played this afternoon.

Posted with Blogsy

Day 2 - Chicago

Spent the morning at the Willis Tower (Sears) which was great - spectacular views on a beautiful clear day. Rest of the day was spent just wandering around and I must have walked miles. Finished up at Navy Pier - spectacular views back to the city at sunset, live concert, firework display. Hitting the road early in the morning - first day of Route 66 and not sure how easy it will be to follow the traditional road.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Chicago - first evening

My first visit to Chicago and I was not sure if I was going to like it. Incredible queues at immigration and disorganisation at the airport but once I reached downtown things got much better. Spent most of the evening at the Millennium park. Very crowded with tourists but mainly lots of locals after work. The bean is a fantastic piece of architecture.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Research

Flying to Chicago in the morning for the start of my road trip. WIFI allowing out on the road, I am going to try and keep this blog up to date.

Posted with Blogsy