STAGE PROFILE
STATES: Illinois
CITIES: Chicago - Springfield (321 km)
STOPS: Joliet, Wilmington, Braidwood, Gardner, Dwight, Odell, Pontiac, Normal, Bloomington, Atlanta, Lincoln.
Dopo mesi e mesi di studio, informazioni ricercate con qualsiasi mezzo e scoperte dell'ultim'ora, siamo finalmente pronti per percorrere le 2448miglia (3755 km, che poi diventeranno 6200...) della route 66, la "strada madre", una vecchia lingua d’asfalto lunga quasi 4000 km, sorta nel
1926 durante le grandi carestie che colpirono le pianure del Midwest per
collegare Chicago con l’abbagliante California, terra promessa di quanti
partivano alla ricerca di un lavoro e di una vita migliore. Da circa vent'anni è stata sostanzialmente cancellata dagli stradari, per gli americani, di fatto, non esiste più. Ma non per le centinaia di persone che con ogni mezzo hanno cercato di mantenerne vivo almeno il ricordo, con musei, memorabilia e le famose... pompe di benzina. Se molti viaggiatori riescono ancora a percorrerla vivendone e subendone il fascino è grazie a loro. Noi siamo tra questi, armati fino ai denti con le mappe "Here it is" che ripercorrono l'andamento della route 66 stato per stato, e soprattutto, con la "bibbia": l'Adventure Handbook di Drew Knowles, nostro fedele compagno di viaggio.
We've studied for months, searched for any useful informations and we're finally now ready to travel the 2448 miles (3755 km, which then become... 6200) of the Route 66, the mother road, the information sought by any means and last-minute discoveries, we are finally ready to travel the 2448 (3755 km, which then become ... 6200) of route 66, the "mother road", an old long tongue of asphalt 2448 miles long, built in 1926 during the great famine that hit the Midwest: it connects Chicago with the dazzling California, the promised land of those who departed in search of a job and a better life. It has substantially removed from street maps almost twenty years ago, for Americans, in fact, it no longer exists. But not for the hundreds of people who by all means have sought to keep alive at least the memory, with museums, memorabilia and the famous ... gas stations. While many travelers which still manage to follow just thanks them. We are part of them, armed with the "Here it is" maps that trace the evolution of the route 66 state by state, and above all, with the "bible": the Adventure Handbook by Drew Knowles, our faithful companion during the on the road.
Tra il ritiro dell'auto (Alamo, come sempre) e uscita da Chicago, siamo già terribilmente in ritardo, una costante durante i 14 giorni di on the road. In Illinois, va detto, la segnaletica è molto presente, tuttavia perdersi diventerà una costante. Lasceremo Chicago alle 9 del mattino, arriveremo a Springfield (la capitale dell'Illinois) che è sostanzialmente sera. Una routine a cui ci abitueremo ben presto...
We've wasted a lot of time picking up the car at Alamo and then driving out of Chicago. We are late and this will happen every of the 14 days spent hitting the route 66. In Illinois, it must be said, the signage is very much present, anyway getting lost will be a constant. We leave Chicago at 9 am, we'll be in Springfield (the capital of Illinois) i n the evening.
We've studied for months, searched for any useful informations and we're finally now ready to travel the 2448 miles (3755 km, which then become... 6200) of the Route 66, the mother road, the information sought by any means and last-minute discoveries, we are finally ready to travel the 2448 (3755 km, which then become ... 6200) of route 66, the "mother road", an old long tongue of asphalt 2448 miles long, built in 1926 during the great famine that hit the Midwest: it connects Chicago with the dazzling California, the promised land of those who departed in search of a job and a better life. It has substantially removed from street maps almost twenty years ago, for Americans, in fact, it no longer exists. But not for the hundreds of people who by all means have sought to keep alive at least the memory, with museums, memorabilia and the famous ... gas stations. While many travelers which still manage to follow just thanks them. We are part of them, armed with the "Here it is" maps that trace the evolution of the route 66 state by state, and above all, with the "bible": the Adventure Handbook by Drew Knowles, our faithful companion during the on the road.
Tra il ritiro dell'auto (Alamo, come sempre) e uscita da Chicago, siamo già terribilmente in ritardo, una costante durante i 14 giorni di on the road. In Illinois, va detto, la segnaletica è molto presente, tuttavia perdersi diventerà una costante. Lasceremo Chicago alle 9 del mattino, arriveremo a Springfield (la capitale dell'Illinois) che è sostanzialmente sera. Una routine a cui ci abitueremo ben presto...
We've wasted a lot of time picking up the car at Alamo and then driving out of Chicago. We are late and this will happen every of the 14 days spent hitting the route 66. In Illinois, it must be said, the signage is very much present, anyway getting lost will be a constant. We leave Chicago at 9 am, we'll be in Springfield (the capital of Illinois) i n the evening.
Il primo vero impatto con la Route 66 è legato alla cittadina di Joliet e alla prigione, la "Joliet Old Prison". Nonostante non sia ancora visitabile (ma scopriamo che è in cantiere un progetto per renderla tra qualche anno aperta al pubblico), non possiamo non fermarci.
The first real impact with the Route 66 is the city of Joliet and its prison, the "Old Joliet Prison". Although it is not yet visited (but we find out that the city is working on a project to make it open to the public in a few years), we decide to stop and take a look.
Da qui sono passati i Blues Brothers e soprattutto sono evasi Lincoln Burrows e Michael Scofield in uno dei telefilm simbolo della seconda metà degli anni duemila, Prison Break.
The Blues Brothers have been here and, above all, Lincoln Burrows and Michael Scofield escaped from here in a symbolic tv series of the second half of last decade, Prison Break.
Il gelato più buono dell'intero viaggio? Ovviamente qui, a Joliet, al Rich & Creamy (920 N Broadway St). Era uno dei tanti "must" della giornata e non ha deluso. Diventerà il nostro pranzo anche se son solo le 11 del mattino.
The best ice-cream of the entire trip? We got it here, in Joliet, of course. At the Rich & Creamy (920 N Broadway). It was one of the many "must" of the days and didn't disappointed us. It's just 11 am, anyway it will become out lunch.
Prima di lasciare Joliet passiamo attraverso la minuscola downtown per ammirare il Rialto Square Theatre, poi riprendiamo la Route 66 alla volta di Wilmington. Lasciata Chicago ed i suoi sobborghi s'intuisce subito come non solo l'atmosfera, ma anche il paesaggio sia cambiato: le cittadine sono sempre meno, a dominare cominciano ad essere i campi di grano.
Before leaving Joliet we pass through the tiny downtown just to admire the Rialto Square Theatre, then we take the Route 66 again at a time of Wilmington. Left Chicago and its suburbs you will immediately notice that everything has changed, not only the atmosphere, but also the landscape: few towns and many wheat fields.
The first real impact with the Route 66 is the city of Joliet and its prison, the "Old Joliet Prison". Although it is not yet visited (but we find out that the city is working on a project to make it open to the public in a few years), we decide to stop and take a look.
Da qui sono passati i Blues Brothers e soprattutto sono evasi Lincoln Burrows e Michael Scofield in uno dei telefilm simbolo della seconda metà degli anni duemila, Prison Break.
The Blues Brothers have been here and, above all, Lincoln Burrows and Michael Scofield escaped from here in a symbolic tv series of the second half of last decade, Prison Break.
Il gelato più buono dell'intero viaggio? Ovviamente qui, a Joliet, al Rich & Creamy (920 N Broadway St). Era uno dei tanti "must" della giornata e non ha deluso. Diventerà il nostro pranzo anche se son solo le 11 del mattino.
The best ice-cream of the entire trip? We got it here, in Joliet, of course. At the Rich & Creamy (920 N Broadway). It was one of the many "must" of the days and didn't disappointed us. It's just 11 am, anyway it will become out lunch.
Prima di lasciare Joliet passiamo attraverso la minuscola downtown per ammirare il Rialto Square Theatre, poi riprendiamo la Route 66 alla volta di Wilmington. Lasciata Chicago ed i suoi sobborghi s'intuisce subito come non solo l'atmosfera, ma anche il paesaggio sia cambiato: le cittadine sono sempre meno, a dominare cominciano ad essere i campi di grano.
Before leaving Joliet we pass through the tiny downtown just to admire the Rialto Square Theatre, then we take the Route 66 again at a time of Wilmington. Left Chicago and its suburbs you will immediately notice that everything has changed, not only the atmosphere, but also the landscape: few towns and many wheat fields.
(Un tratto particolare della route 66 in Illinois - a particular stretch of the Route 66 in Illinois)
A Wilmington incontriamo la prima delle tante statue giganti che troveremo lungo il percorso, il Gemini Giant (S East Street), qualche manciata di miglia dopo, a Braidwood, invece uno dei più suggestivi "diner" dell'Illinois. Il Polk-a-dot drive inn, la cui peculiarità sono le statue al suo esterno che raffigurano Marylin Monroe, Elvis ed il Blues Brothers. Anche questa è la route 66!
In Wilmington we encounter the first of many giant statues that we will find along the way, the Gemini Giant (S East Street). A handful of miles later, in Braidwood, however we stop at one of the most charming "diner" in the entire Illinois. The Polk-a-dot drive inn, whose peculiarities are the statues depicting Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and the Blues Brothers. That's the route 66 guys!
Qui a Wilmington facciamo anche la nostra conoscenza con... i binari del treno. Già, proprio loro. Il treno, infatti, compie lo stesso percorso della route 66 e, più della highway che non sempre le scorre a fianco, sarà decisivo per ritrovare la retta via ogni volta che ci perderemo.
In Wilmington we also get in touch for the first time with the... train tracks. Yes, here it is. Trains, in fact, run in the same path of route 66 and will be crucial to find the right way every time we get lost. More than the highway which runs far from the route 66 from time to time.
In Wilmington we encounter the first of many giant statues that we will find along the way, the Gemini Giant (S East Street). A handful of miles later, in Braidwood, however we stop at one of the most charming "diner" in the entire Illinois. The Polk-a-dot drive inn, whose peculiarities are the statues depicting Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and the Blues Brothers. That's the route 66 guys!
Qui a Wilmington facciamo anche la nostra conoscenza con... i binari del treno. Già, proprio loro. Il treno, infatti, compie lo stesso percorso della route 66 e, più della highway che non sempre le scorre a fianco, sarà decisivo per ritrovare la retta via ogni volta che ci perderemo.
In Wilmington we also get in touch for the first time with the... train tracks. Yes, here it is. Trains, in fact, run in the same path of route 66 and will be crucial to find the right way every time we get lost. More than the highway which runs far from the route 66 from time to time.
A Gardner, poco "pubblicizzata" sui libri ma secondo noi discretamente interessante, scopriamo una prigione "old style", molto simile a quelle del vecchio west, che merita una veloce sosta, a Dwight invece approcciamo per la prima volta quello che diventerà il simbolo del viaggio lungo i quasi 4000 km della route 66: le vecchie gas station.
A Gardner, not that much "advertised" on the books but pretty interesting, we find out a prison "old style", very similar to those of the old west, which is worth a quick stop. In Dwight we indeed approach for the first time what will become the symbol of the journey along the nearly 4000 km of route 66: the old gas stations.
Quella di Dwight è una delle più famose e molti dei motociclisti che stanno percorrendo come noi la route hanno fatto sosta proprio qui (W Waupansie St).
The Dwight's one is one of the most famous and many bikers stop here, at W Waupansie Street.
A Gardner, not that much "advertised" on the books but pretty interesting, we find out a prison "old style", very similar to those of the old west, which is worth a quick stop. In Dwight we indeed approach for the first time what will become the symbol of the journey along the nearly 4000 km of route 66: the old gas stations.
Quella di Dwight è una delle più famose e molti dei motociclisti che stanno percorrendo come noi la route hanno fatto sosta proprio qui (W Waupansie St).
The Dwight's one is one of the most famous and many bikers stop here, at W Waupansie Street.
Poco più a sud, ad Odell, eccone un'altra (O'Dell road). Questa è un po' più malinconica. Non c'è nessuno. Eppure, nonostante quanto avessimo letto in rete ("dopo un po' queste pompe di benzina cominciano ad annoiare..."), questa sensazione non la proveremo mai. Ognuna è diversa dall'altra, ognuna ha una storia diversa da raccontare. Bisogna anche avere un pizzico di fortuna e sperare che il proprietario sia lì: in questo caso tenetevi libera una buona mezz'oretta perchè di cose da raccontarvi ne avrà parecchie...A little further south, in Odell, here's another one (O'Dell road). This is a bit 'more melancholy. There is nobody around here. Yet, despite what we had read on the net ("after a while 'these gas stations are starting to get bored ..."), we will never have this kind of feeling. Each one is different, each one has a different story to tell. You also need a bit of luck and hope that the owner is there: in this case, just be sure to have a free time to spend here, at least half an hour he will have many things to tell you....
Pontiac è probabilmente la città simbolo dell'Illinois targata route 66. E' la città dei murales, è la città probabilmente maggiormente ancorata alla strada madre e la sua storia. La foto con lo storico murales è probabilmente il secondo must giornaliero, così come la visita al museo (gratuito, ma accettano donazioni, 110 W howard st). Scopriamo quello che poi diventerà un'abitudine, la firma del guest book, e la gentile signora del museo ci regala anche una spilla che ricorda il novantesimo anno della Route 66 (1926 - 2016). Eravamo in cerca dello spirito della route 66, eccolo qui...
Pontiac is probably the route 66 symbol in Illinois. It's called the mural city, maybe it's che city mostly connected to the mother road and its history. Take a picture with the world famous mural is probably the second "must" of the day, as well as the visit to the museum (free entrance, but donations are appreciated, 110 W Howard St). We find out what eventually will become a habit, the signing of the guest book, and the nice lady in the museum also gives us a brooch reminiscent of Route 66 ninetieth year (1926-2016). We were looking for the spirit of Route 66, here it is ...
Pontiac is probably the route 66 symbol in Illinois. It's called the mural city, maybe it's che city mostly connected to the mother road and its history. Take a picture with the world famous mural is probably the second "must" of the day, as well as the visit to the museum (free entrance, but donations are appreciated, 110 W Howard St). We find out what eventually will become a habit, the signing of the guest book, and the nice lady in the museum also gives us a brooch reminiscent of Route 66 ninetieth year (1926-2016). We were looking for the spirit of Route 66, here it is ...
Siamo ormai a ridosso di Springfield, ma prima ci sono ancora quattro stop importanti. Il primo è a Normal, per la terza gas station (Sprague's super service - 305 east pine st), il secondo a Bloomington nella fabbrica di beer nuts più famosa probabilmente degli interi Stati Uniti (103 N Robinson Street), dove troveremo le noccioline non solo più buone, ma anche più strane di sempre. Il terzo ad Atlanta per il midpoint della route 66 in Illinois e la statua di Paul Bunyan con l'hot dog (Sw Arch Street) ed infine a Lincoln, dove ammiriamo il vagone coperto più grande al mondo. Al comando, ovviamente, c'è tale Abraham Lincoln, uno dei presidenti americani più amati, nato e cresciuto nella vicina Springfield.
We are now finally close to Springfield, but there are still four stops. The first one is in Normal, for the third gas station (Sprague's super service - 305 east pine st), the second one in Bloomington at the beer nuts factory (103 N Robinson Street), where we find the best and strangest nuts of all time, the third one in Atlanta for the midpoint of the route 66 in Illinois, and the statue of Paul Bunyan with the hot dog (Sw Arch Street) and finally in Lincoln, where we admire the world largest covered wagon in the world. Abraham Lincoln, one of the most beloved American presidents, is sitting on it. Lincoln was born and grew up in nearby Springfield.
We are now finally close to Springfield, but there are still four stops. The first one is in Normal, for the third gas station (Sprague's super service - 305 east pine st), the second one in Bloomington at the beer nuts factory (103 N Robinson Street), where we find the best and strangest nuts of all time, the third one in Atlanta for the midpoint of the route 66 in Illinois, and the statue of Paul Bunyan with the hot dog (Sw Arch Street) and finally in Lincoln, where we admire the world largest covered wagon in the world. Abraham Lincoln, one of the most beloved American presidents, is sitting on it. Lincoln was born and grew up in nearby Springfield.
Eccoci finalmente a Springfield, la capitale, dove avremmo in mente di visitare diverse cose ma, come si dice in questi casi, siamo arrivati molto lunghi. Non c'è neppure il tempo per consueta ricerca del luogo migliore dove cenare contenendo le spese (entrambe le cose per noi hanno sempre una certa rilevanza) e ci affidiamo alla reception del motel. Si va, come sempre, "dove cena la gente del posto", alla Chesapeake Seafood House, che scopriamo successivamente essere alla posizione numero 7 di 300. La receptionist aveva svolto un buon lavoro. Non ci sbizzarriamo con il cibo americano che tanto amiamo, la prima è una "cena all'europea":, con tovaglia e tovaglioli in stoffa: filetto bardato al bacon, salmone al bourbon, due calici di vino, contorni e pane al burro offerto come appetizers. Livello molto alto: sia i piatti che i vini, della California. Sì, questa volta ci siamo trattati bene (53 dollari). Ma non abituatevi...
Here we finally are in Springfield, the capital, where we would like to visit many things but we just not have enough time. There is no time even to find, as usual, the best cheaper restaurant in the area and we could just entrust the receptionist. We are going, as usual, where locals go: Chesapeak Seafood Hous. We will then find find out that this restaurant is at the position number 7 out ot 300 in the tripadvisor ranking. The receptionist had done a good job. It's an european dinner, with tablecloth and cloth napkins: we order fillet barded with bacon, bourbon salmon, two glasses of wine, side dishes and bread with butter offered as appetizers. very high level: even the wine from California. ($ 53).
Here we finally are in Springfield, the capital, where we would like to visit many things but we just not have enough time. There is no time even to find, as usual, the best cheaper restaurant in the area and we could just entrust the receptionist. We are going, as usual, where locals go: Chesapeak Seafood Hous. We will then find find out that this restaurant is at the position number 7 out ot 300 in the tripadvisor ranking. The receptionist had done a good job. It's an european dinner, with tablecloth and cloth napkins: we order fillet barded with bacon, bourbon salmon, two glasses of wine, side dishes and bread with butter offered as appetizers. very high level: even the wine from California. ($ 53).
NOTE - Avevamo letto e riletto che "lungo la route 66 i piani non vanno mai come avete in mente". Ovviamente era vero. Nella nostra lista c'erano almeno una decina di ulteriori luoghi da visitare, ma che per questioni di tempo abbiamo dovuto saltare. Ne elenchiamo qualcuno nel caso in cui qualche viaggiatore sia "più veloce" di noi.
- La Hofman Tower a Lyons, Old Log Cabin and restaurant a Pontiac, la Memory Lane a Lexington (luogo in cui la route s'interrompe ed è possibile percorrerla solamente a piedi), La David Davis Mansion State Historic a Bloomingdale, la fattoria Funks Grove a Shirley e soprattutto la Lincoln Home National District a Springfield, la casa di Abraham Lincoln.
NOTES - We had read and re-read that "along the route 66 plans never go as you planned." Obviously it was true. In our list there were at least a dozen more places to visit, butwe had to skip them because we were late. We list them for traverlers "faster" than us.
- The Hofman Tower in Lyons, Old Log Cabin and restaurant in Pontiac, the Memory Lane in Lexington (where the route is interrupted and you can follow it only walking), The David Davis Mansion State Historic in Bloomingdale, the Funks farm Grove in Shirley and especially the Lincoln Home National District in Springfield, Abraham Lincoln's house
NOTES - We had read and re-read that "along the route 66 plans never go as you planned." Obviously it was true. In our list there were at least a dozen more places to visit, butwe had to skip them because we were late. We list them for traverlers "faster" than us.
- The Hofman Tower in Lyons, Old Log Cabin and restaurant in Pontiac, the Memory Lane in Lexington (where the route is interrupted and you can follow it only walking), The David Davis Mansion State Historic in Bloomingdale, the Funks farm Grove in Shirley and especially the Lincoln Home National District in Springfield, Abraham Lincoln's house
HOTEL
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham (34,14 dollari)
POSITION: ***
COMFORT: ****
VALUE: *****
CLEANING: ***
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