The first thing to know is that there are multiple routes at some places. The national government designated some segments of highway with a U.S. number, but those segments shifted at various points in history. In certain areas there are three different routings, depending on the years. It was not unusual, for example, for the original Route 66 to go right through a town, and then a later alignment to skirt it. And then of course the whole thing was often later bypassed by an interstate highway. In the case of the Illinois segment of 66, I-55.
The "parallel" driving is pleasant, as there is less traffic, but it can be boring at times. The fun of course is in seeing historic sites and properties. But these grow fewer with every passing year. Illinois doesn't have a whole lot left, really!
But one of them is the Ariston Cafe, in Lichtfield, which is where we had supper. It is thought to be the oldest, or nearly the oldest, operating restaurant on 66. Another is the Cozy Dog, where we stopped too, on the south side of Springfield.
It has rained much of the day, as we knew it would. But, our adventure has begun! We are staying tonight at a Hampton Inn, largely because they have put some money into supporting Route 66 preservation. Good for them!
1 comment:
Good luck to you. I found your blog by noticing that traffic was linked to my own. I recently traveled the section of 66 from Santa Monica and Okla City but then had to veer southeast to return to Atlanta Area (where I am a California transplant.I post as ΛΕΟΝΙΔΑΣ (Leonidas) but am not Greek and am a California native.
Post a Comment