On Da Road-- June Route 66 Trip-- June 20th

JUNE 20TH-- Chain of Rocks to Litchfield

Late getting started in the morning, but got to the Missouri side of the famous old Chain of Rocks bridge and got into line to cross it. Met friend and 66er Lulu. Paid $5 to cross it and did the mile span very slowly; taking pictures with both the camcorder and digital camera.

Had breakfast at the Hen House on Route 66, one of only five restaurants left out of a 1969 chain of 40 or so places in the Midwest. It's sort of a like a small forerunner of the Cracker Barrels.

Then took Route 66 to Staunton and stopped at Rich Henry's Rabbit House and talked with him a bit. He remembered that we had stopped at his place our first Route 66 trip back in the spring of 2002 and he was a big reason for us getting hooked on the road. His pet rabbit, Montana, is running a presidential campaign, and we just might vote for her what with our other options.

There were about 60 vehicles, many classics on this southern tour to Litchfield. After the slow ride across the CoR bridge, and breakfast, we were quite behind them, but caught up with them at Scotty's in Hamel.

Stopped at Soulsby's 1930s Shell station in Mount Olive, then took the old alignment into Litchfield and weren't happy to find they didn't have our reservations at the Best Value Inn, an old Best Western back in the Route 66 days. We were able to get the last room they had, though.


SORE THUMB AND THE BEATLES (WELL, THE CAVERN BEAT, ACTUALLY

Went to the emergency room of St. Francis to have my sore right thumb looked at. The doctor gave me one of the worst shots I've ever had. Man, did that ever hurt. Then she probed around, but didn't find anything. She gave me some antibiotics and we were on our way. Picked up the prescription at the Walgreens they built on the site of the old Gardens Restaurant.

Rested some and went over for Monster Tacos at Jack in the Box. We both like them, and Litchfield is the closest site to us, so we don't pass up chances to go there when we have them.

Then drove over to the festival grounds by the Comfort Inn and saw an excellent Beatles tribute band called the Cavern Beat which played all the pre-Sgt. Pepper's songs, my favorite. From a distance, they looked like the real thing.

Stopped at the Passport Lounge and heard some of the WORST karaoke ever. We were planning on going to another bar on 66 called Shaw's, but there was a what appeared to be a drunken guy on a bicycle weaving all over the road and I decided we'd better not try to pass him.

Went back to the motel and turned in for the night.