Stop 3 - St Louis, Missouri

We left a little later today. Maybe the extra Stella had something to do with that. Anyway we were back on the road about 10.30am and on our way to the next stop. As is hopefully already obvious we are not just moving from one location to another using the most direct route. That would be too easy! We are trying to follow the original 66 as closely as possible so its mainly quaint roads through quaint towns where we see the quaintest things! The downside is that it takes a lot of time to do the miles. Anyway off we went from Springfield but first calling in on the last of the 3 Illinois giants - the Lauderbach Giant

Thence through Chatham, Auburn, Thayer and Virden. We then came across Girard and decided to take the 1920-36 version of the Route to Nilwood. This meant a really crude original road but it was great to be on it!

This brought us to Carlinville which lead us to Deerfield Drive through yet more quaint old houses whose occupants obviously revel in their association with the MotherRoad

 Onwards through Gillespie and Benld to Staunton and on to Hamel. This part of Illinois is just really agricultural and religious. Farms and churches abound. We saw the road house at Decamp Junction which is a classic road house from decades back. We obviously had to stop for a picture

Then we drove on to Mitchell where one finds the Lunar Cafe. This place dates back to 1924 and has a huge history involving gangsters and ladies of the night. Their presence at the cafe was apparently announced by lighting the cherry on the neon sign! Al Capone himself drove 66 and visisted here. We called in for a root beer and to be honest the occupants seemed less friendly! They were actually boozing in the middle of the afternoon - the bible belt was coming to an end!

When we left the Lunar we made our way across the State border into Missouri. That border is defined by the Mississippii and it was a good feeling to see that famous river as we crossed the bridge over it. Its huge.
Once in to Missouri we made a quick dash to our hotel stop in St Louis. We've had a swim and are about to go over to the Cracker Barrel for something to eat. Tomorrow will be back to early starts as we have a good 250 miles to do as we move on to our second Springfield. This time the one in Missouri. Maybe we should stop at one of the many Motels we are now seeing. They are typical of what you find along the old Route 66. But then again maybe we're better at the 4 stars we've booked. What do you think?

 More posts tomorrow after we get to Springfield......