Bumping along Route 66 through Illinois we sadly realized our  adventure was coming to a close.  The cafes, the restored old gas stations, the wild roadside attractions in Illinois, the Lincoln State, proudly exhibits how much it cherishes the memories of the Mother Road.

 

 

            Everywhere we traveled in this state we were surrounded by endless corn fields, grain silos and water towers.  One of our favorite stops was hard to find because Route 66 splits up in old and new alignments plus by-passes, but find it we did! 

At Henry’s Ra66it Ranch in Staunton we enjoyed

 

chatting with the owner, Rick Henry.  The official greeter was Big Red, a plump bunny with nose-twitching talents.  His ranch is also the site of half buried VW Ra66its, a restored gas station and Route 66 memorabilia.

            Another favorite stop was the town of Mt. Olive where we walked through the Union Miners Cemetery and there learned about the riots in 1898 between workers attempting to join the United Mine Workers Union and the anti-union employers.  Union workers killed in the riot are buried here and a monument dedicated to a woman who supported unionism throughout her life, Mother Mary Jones, watches over the graveyard.

            In the town of Litchfield we wanted to eat at the Route 66 icon Ariston Caf, one of he oldest along the Mother Road.  It was closed and so was the Route 66 cafe.  We shot pictures of the nearby Route 66 icon Sky View Drive In Theater which is continues to show movies today.

Although the city of Springfield celebrates several Route 66 Icons, our favorite spot was the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library.  Through driving rain we found a place to park the trailer and spent a few hours in this fascinating Museum.  We still made time to investigate The Cozy Dog where the hot dog on a stick was purportedly discovered.

We loved the little town of Atlanta, the last community we visited before Chicago.  In just a few blocks this town has preserved several buildings.  Looming above Atlanta is a water tower painted yellow and sporting a happy face. 

The Palms Grill Caf was filled with a Christian Motorcycle group having a rather boisterous breakfast.  Across the street stands the giant Bunyon Man, holding a large hot dog. 

On a more serious note is the 1908 town library, home of the town’s 1909 vintage Seth Thomas clock on a tower that sits 36 feet above ground.  The clock must be wound three times a week, a requirement filled by town volunteers.

                    We knew at this point that the leisure travel through quaint towns was about to end.  Chicago, the end of our journey, was on the horizon.