The following morning there were THREE departures. At 6:55AM we left the motel for the Chicago Loop and the begining of Route 66. At 7:55AM we left the Loop and returned to the motel to pick up people who wanted to skip the run to the start and sleep in. At 8:55AM, we were on our way to California!
Because of some light rain early Saturday morning, our hosts from the night before, Ken and Carole Davenport, were kind enough to run on four wheels down to the loop to meet up with people starting their run there.
John and Evelyn Barrett get set to make the run Saturday morning.
We take a break at the Cozy Dog in Springfield, IL. The Waldmires invented the cozy (corn) dog here (a hot dog dipped in a batter and fried) and continue to operate it.
David Baugh is appointed our Minister of Foreign Relations.
Ken Betz is slowed, but not stopped by a frayed wire.
Luiz Monchelatto (left) and Wlander Peron come from Brazil to ride our favorite road and let us see the route with new eyes. In one of those odd happenstances one runs into a LOT on the Mother Road, the new owners of the Blue Swallow in Tucumcari, NM were also from Brazil. Luiz and Wlander were able to speak Portuguese to someone other than each other . . . and be understood.
Pat Delucia didn't let a need for a new knee slow him down a bit.
Pat Delucia (left) and Don Hanson check out the Gemini Giant at the Launching Pad Drive Inn, Wilmington, IL. Picture Courtesy of Don Hanson
The Chicago starters take a break on the hilltop of the Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore, OK. Kirk Woodward (at right, in white shirt), was the nominal leader of the pack.Picture Courtesy of Don Hanson
Gerald Lawson snaps a picture of Catoosa, Oklahoma's Blue Whale. What water parks looked like before they were called water parks. Picture Courtesy Gerald Lawson
Here Jerry demonstrates REAL courage . . . he braves the 'Keep Out' and 'No Tresspassing' signs to go where no one has gone before: Up close and personal with that Blue Whale. Picture courtesy of Gerald Lawson
Bill and Carrie Oakes, San Jose, CA
Michael 'Rat' Collins, Crooksville, OH
Edsel Boyd, Cummings, GA
Ann Schofield, Tucson, AZ
Jeff Bray, San Jose, CA
Inge Carlson, Tucson, AZ
Lee Fieffer, Park Forest, IL
Jerry Lawson, Bonham, TX