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Monday 3rd June

By on Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Today we will actually cycle on Route 66, Mike is like a big kid so excited I’m surprised that he even slept last night.

We left camp and headed for a town called Elwood for our breakfast. Apparently the blues brothers came from Joliet so on Route we passed their car.

We had a excellent breakfast in a diner I’m still “off” of omelette and had avocado on toast with poached eggs a big surprise for a small town diner.

We followed Route 66 all day,seeing many road side attractions. Giving us the chance to have some fun.

We passed through a small town called Gardner with a old two cell jail house, and a camping shop. My inflatable pillow has a puncture so we went in for a replacement. We asked the store owner if they sold them, she laughed and said we were the second people to ask in 7 years. She didn’t.

A excellent days ride into Dwight where we booked into a super 8 motel for two nights. Tomorrow is my 50 th birthday so we are having a day off . 54 miles completed today. I think we’re making good progress, I might just treat myself to a days sleep after all 50 is officially old.

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Sunday 2nd June

By on Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Well rested after a comfortable night at Dave and Carols we left early. Dave very kindly offered us breakfast so we had some orange juice and a banana each. We thanked him for hosting us and set off. Tonight we had a campsite planned just outside Joliet this is a small town on Route 66. We are going to follow Route 66 as much as we can, where possible and is safe to do so. Today is not the day we will stick to the safe cycle trails to get out of the city.

The thing about cycle trails is that even though they are safe and traffic free they aren’t direct. If we took the road it would only be 40 miles, it was 56 by the time we turned into the campsite.

The Route was flat and easy and the sun was shining happy days. They are also well equipped with loo’s and rest areas.

The campsites was another run down site with basic unloved facilities we are getting used to that by now. Such a shame as we are both loving our trip and it’s the only thing spoiling it. I guess everyone that uses these sites all use there own bathrooms in their massive RV’s not to many people in little tents like us.

Nevertheless we both showered and changed and was relaxing on our picnic rug when a guy came over to talk to us. The usual conversation about what we were doing. He was suitably impressed and asked if we needed anything. He said he would drive to a shop for us if we wanted I don’t think he was impressed with our dinner of peanut butter and banana! We thanked him but honestly we were fine and didn’t feel like much! He left us to our “feast “. Half an hour later he returned with a tub of ice cream for us each what a star. The generosity of people here are second to none.

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Saturday 1st June

By on Monday, June 3, 2019

Today is the day that we get into Chicago. A day that we’ve been looking forward to, and dreading at the same time. Excited because we pick up historic Route 66 and dreading as the thought of cycling into a big city was daunting. We filled our stomachs up with the motel breakfast and off we cycled.

We have been following google maps as we’ve had problems with our gps maps. The route it took us came to a industrial area with a shut gate and security. We stopped at the security station to re check that we hadn’t took a wrong turn, but that was the way it was telling us to go. The guard approached us and we explained what we were doing and asked if the cycle path went that way. Apparently not so we turned around and went back on ourselves. What was supposed to be a 30 mile day ended up being 56 miles.

Chicago is actually a very nice city to cycle in. It has a well equipped cycle route though nice parks and along the Lake Michigan. A good view of the city greeted us with a sandy beach.

We found the Route 66 begins sign and so the next stage of our adventure has started.

Accommodation tonight was very kindly supplied by our warm showers hosts Dave and Carol. They live 7 miles away from the sign in the direction we need to go tomorrow. We had told them that we would be there at 5.

Up until now it had been a beautiful day but for our last 5 miles or so the heavens opened. Tropical rain and hail stones, we sort out shelter under one of the many under passes. This made us a little behind getting to Daves house and when we turned the corner we saw a man on the opposite side of the road waving at us. It was Dave, he had come to look for us. He was very welcoming into his home and with in minutes we were sat down drinks in hand whilst Carol prepared a meal for us all.

A lovely way to finish off our day.

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Friday 31st May

By on Saturday, June 1, 2019

A early start on a beautiful morning. A nice down hill cycle ride to our breakfast stop. The campsite last night was called mini mountain, should of realised when we headed for it that it would be on top of a hill! I think I’m all omeletted out so asked for a blueberry pancake . It was a huge portion 3 pancakes in all but delicious.

No I didn’t finish it all. Breakfast done time to hit the road another 50 miles to do today. Mostly down hill on quite roads.

And some road signs to keep us amused along the way

We crossed our 1st time zone gaining another hour, as we had decided to stay in a motel for the night we arrived to early for check in. A early dinner in Denny’s next door solved that problem.

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Thursday 30th May

By on Thursday, May 30, 2019

The day started with a rain storm. We packed the tent as quick as we could. As always we look for a breakfast stop. 5 miles in we find a diner so our normal omelette and home fries were in order.

It brightened up with in the hour and left a nice warm sunny day, hopefully the storms are over. It’s getting warmer as the days go on. Starting to feel like summer at last.

Not much happened today, the roads are busier the closer we get to Chicago. We have about 80 miles to do then we should be there. Hopefully Saturday.

After 50 easy miles we rolled in to a campsite. $40 and it’s a bit of a dump the showers are disgusting. Motels are definitely better value. We will definitely book one tomorrow night!

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Wednesday 29th May

By on Thursday, May 30, 2019

Good weather and nice easy going roads made our 50 miles total today easy.

We passed through a Amish town and got passed by lots of horse and buggies. It’s quite something hearing a horse behind you getting closer and closer, fortunately they passed us giving plenty of space.

We came to a large flea market and decided to look around. It was full of the usual trash and trinkets and a mixture of old and new. And a mixture of handmade goods. worth some time off the bikes for a look around, but not being able to carry anything extra/large we didn’t stay long. 15 more miles to go we pushed on to the campsite.

The campsite was a mosquito ridden swamp but the showers were clean and we managed to find a dry spot to put the tent up. Just got eaten alive!

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Tuesday 28th May

By on Wednesday, May 29, 2019

After a very poor breakfast in the motel, stale bran flakes and long life orange juice. We set out. We had a warm showers host for the night 35 miles away. It was windy and dry yes the wind was against us. I know we’re going the wrong way!

We had another state line crossing we are now in Indiana although there was no sign to inform us.

It was a struggle today hills and heat and a head wind but we rolled into meet our host at the bike shop that he owned at 3:30pm not a bad time.

We introduced ourselves to Joe our host and as he had a bike shop we brought some bits that we need. Chain oil and as I was still having problems with my saddle moving a new seat post for my bike. Hopefully I will be more comfortable from now on.

Joe and his wife didn’t finish work till 5 but very trustingly let us go to their house 3 doors down and make ourselves comfortable. So we used their washing machine with permission and relaxed watching TV drinking a beer Joe gave us until they come home.

In the evening they took us out for a meal in the local restaurant it turned out that they owned that too, they also have a yoga studio, Libby his wife is a instructor she invited us to do a class, we declined. And a boutique shop that Libby ran with her mum. Joe is also running for Mayor and competes in Ironman competitions I don’t know where they get the time and energy. Busy life’s and we’re grateful that they can find the time to host. We had a lovely room and the bed had a remote control mattress to change it’s firmness. Luxurious.

After a lovely meal and evening we bid them goodnight. When we asked what time we needed to be out by, they said no hurry. They were going early and to help our selves to breakfast and let ourselves out. People are really trusting over here so far.

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Monday 27th May

By on Monday, May 27, 2019

We both slept well despite storms all night. The pavilion kept us dry and sheltered.

Back on track to stick to 40 miles a day. We check google maps for tonight’s destination and there’s a town called Brian in the right direction and miles. We look to see if there’s a campsite there is but it’s $40. A bit stiff but we need a shower!

We go on booking.com and find a motel in town for $44. We book it.

Again good weather, flat roads easy going. The easiest so far just over the 40 miles we roll into the motel 2:30 pm. A nice relaxing end to a good day.

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Sunday 26th May

By on Monday, May 27, 2019

Wake up in our motel room to a drizzly day, the temperature is cooler after the storm but not cold. We need to get going despite the rain as we have yesterday’s mileage to make up today.

The roads are good and it soon brightened up it’s easy going.

We had empty roads and good weather so managed to do 55 miles easy. We camped in a RV camp for free under a pavilion with the owners permission. We had no shower facilities and the toilet was a portaloo. It did us we carry baby wipes!

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Saturday 25th May

By on Monday, May 27, 2019

A really hot windy day today. Both mike and I were struggling. At one point I could only muster up a feeble 2 miles a hour. And then we met this cool old boy, he was in his front garden when we cycled buy. He asked us where we were headed and we told him about our trip. He commented on the heat and wind and offered us to come into his house for a cold drink.

We gratefully excepted and followed him into his kitchen. Over a cold 7up we chatted.

His name was shortly. He was a ex serviceman and truck driver his wife had passed away 7 years ago we could of talked to him all day but had to go.

It was getting hotter uncomfortably hot so after 5 or so more miles we stopped in a petrol station for more cold drinks and something to eat. The weather broke while we were there. A massive storm thunder,rain and lightning . we stayed in the garage until the rain subsided then made a move, we still had about 20 miles to do.

Carrying on the weather wasn’t improving a car pulled up next to me to warn me of more storms headed our way and we had better take cover. We both had had enough for the day 15 miles short but decided to book into the nearest motel.

What a place, it hadn’t been updated since the 50’s it had metal furniture A matching dressing table, chair and bedside cabinet. Made me think if it was cleaned up it would sell well in England. Cool but grubby.

We head out to find somewhere to eat and go to a big boy great value for money so will definitely use them again.

Back to our motel for the night. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Today has been the toughest yet!

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