Smith's Away

Up this morning and left our lovely airb&b and off we went to a little airport to give back our Mustang and change it over for an ordinary car. No problems and now we have a blue Jetta, vw. Very nice esp 4 doors. Much easier putting stuff in the back. Miss Route 66 as we now go on freeway/interstates and we dont like them as they are fast, noisy and we are not always sure of the lsne we should be in. Brian finally found a more gentle route and we headed into Indiana, stopping at a lovely visitors centre, then onto Gary, especially for our brother Gary, then on to the dunes and coastal communities along Lake Michigan, into Michigan where we lost an hour due to time difference, so 3 states in 3 hours. We stopped at St Joseph, a lovely little coastal town for a late lunch, then onto Kalamazoo. Lots of places and town names becoming very familiar from my stay here back in 2013. Finally we arrived at Jack and Sheries home. This is a new one I havent been to before, but I recognised some

Up bright and early to use tge nearby elevated train into Chicago. Brian went one way for his but tour and cruise and I went another way for my group bike ride. Joined with a family from Canada and Joey led us around the older parts of Chicago. He gave a great history lesson where ever we went and then back along the lake. A beautiful day and highlights were the huge hibiscuc outside the zoo, the size of dinner plates, the lake, riding around and eating a chicago hotdog and coke while watching the Bean and face fountain that blows out water. Just glorious following the bike parks around. Brian loved his tours and went up the top of Hancock building to see the views and chat to a young couple from Boston. I kept my bike and continued after the tour then we met up at the famous deep crust pizza joint, ohhh delicious but sooo filling. We bought back some for our delightful airb&b hosts. We are both a tad weary and tomorrow we swap over our car and get an ordinary one and head down to

Yes can you believe it we've done Route 66. Gary would be proud of us. We left Bloomington under gray clouds so figured we'd be safer with the hood up. We followed a well marked Route 66 through little towns again, with crops on both sides of the road. Pontiac was great with murals and little cars in the street. We even met some Aussies doing a trip up from New Orleans. Interesting though, the town was very quiet, hardly anyone around, so despite its tourist attractions it wasnt exactly a thriving metropolis. Onto to Juliet, then Romeo, how cute is that, and then on the outskirts of Chicago. We followed the Route66 signs for the final 10 or so miles and then followed Tom Tom to our airb&b. A gorgeous house, that the young couple have renovated extremely well. Our own bedrooms again, and a kettle for making a cuppa. Lovely chatting to the young hosts. Brian and I will head into town via the train tomorrow, him to do a tour and me to join a bike tour. Should be fun.

Well we left the mad house as soon as we could this morning. The hosts mum was still there and wanted to make us sandwiches, we'd never have got away. She did manage to shove, what I thought were bread sticks in my bag, but she said they were for your teeth, so I thought toothbrushes, nope they were those chew things they give to dogs, ohh really. Over the Mississipi river and viewed some interesting canals and bridges built to get around the chain of rocks, basically rapids that the barges couldnt go over so they made a canal to bypass them, and then a bridge for the road. Lots of open fields with maize and soy beans growing. Great signage in Illinois and we did very well until a wrong turn on a freeway meant we had to re route. Anyway back and into Bloomington to our Airb&b. A delightful house and our hosts Rob and Kevin are downstairs so we have all upstairs. And Kevin is delightful, Rob is still at work. A great place to stay. Chicago tomorrow and farewell to Route 66!!!

A slow start today, although Brian was up raring to go into town for his tours. I followed an hour later and just as well as my bike shop didnt open till midday. Brian visited the stadium that is home to the cardinals, St Louis baseball team, and a match was on, but he got some good shots of the pitch. He went up the arch and then a cruise on a paddle boat up the Mississipi. I went and had a delicious salad and then got my bike. They were extremely helpful and off I went. I gave up on the instructions Id been given and instead found a bike track along the Mississipi, then bike lanes through the city. Very little traffic so very stressless riding. The city gardens were delightful and I even ended up on Route 66 at one stage!!! A lovely city with some beautiful buildings and very friendly people. Bus back to our airb&b, I beat Brian, but not by much. A very good day. We just had tacos for dinner and about to have an early night after our busy active day.

Up to breaky in our motel room. It was lovely to sit outside wirh a cuppa and watch the rabbits and squirrels frolic in the shade. Roof down and off on the riad again. Lovely drive along winding country roads, well marked with Route 66 signs. As it warmed up and we got closer to St Louis we put tge roof up. A nice stress free entry into the city, I took a picture of the skyline with the famous arch in it. Then onto our airb&b. Nice blue house and we are the only guests, beside Jonathan who rents. Rooms everywhere and our host is on vacation so just us. Brian headed off to see a train museum and I walked down Cherokee st, a very mexican style street with lots of mexican restaurants. We headed out to dinner after doing some washing. Pizza tonight and anothe margharita for me. Sat outside in the balmy evening and a lovely couple sat near us and I discovered she used to work at the New City school I visited in 2002 and they know the ex principal, who I knew very well. It was lovely ch

The Wagon Wheel motel was very comfy but the fridge didnt work so the milk went off. Oh gee that meant we had to go out for breaky. After a late start we went to Shellys cafe where we had biscuits and gravey for breaky. Not quite breaky fare. But eggs and bacon were delicious as was the cuppa. Biscuits, or as we would call them were lovely on their own with butter and jam, oops, jelly!!  Then Brian headed off in the car to see the biggest rocking chair, Bobs gasoline alley, the Vacuum cleaner museum and of course the murals of Cuba. Meanwhile I walked through the town, viewing the murals- 13 in all, the museum, no one there and school kids get credit for doing displays!! The library where I got some advice on more US authors and used the computers to answer a few emails. Shopping and back to base for a cuppa and a cookie. Off we went for dinner at Hucks bar-be-que. Very nice. On the road again tomorrow, but a short trip to St Louis for another 2 nights, this time at an airb&b.