On the Way West

 Sunday, 11 April 2021


We ended our Saturday by arriving at the President Abraham Lincoln Doubletree hotel in Springfield, IL. The weather had gotten pretty rainy, so we settled in, then went out exploring a bit and looking for supper. We tried an Irish Pub right across the street from the hotel, but they didn't serve food. The bartender gave us a couple suggestions, but the first we tried was WAY expensive for us, so we tried the Italian place. We had pretty good meals, and walked back in the rain. We stayed in, and worked on the pictures and blog post (the previous entry).

On Sunday we checked out of the hotel and repacked the car, but left the car in the parking garage and set out on foot for the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. We got the senior rate (!), and we walked it and browsed the museum and gift shop for about three hours.


Randy and I visiting "young Abe" at his log home in Illinois


Figures of the Lincoln family outside the White House during a party. 


Pictures related to honoring President Lincoln after his death.

If we can say it this way, we were pretty saddened by the experience of this museum. We both thought and still think that Abraham Lincoln was a unique and extraordinary person, and the man this country needed at the time. But he was hated by many of his contemporaries, misjudged constantly in the press of the time, and only appreciated after his death. 

We departed Springfield as the rain passed and sun began to shine. We headed out for our most extensive time on what the signs call Historic Route 66. Remember, there were at least four major alignments and realignments of The Mother Road.

                        

We were mainly on the 1930-1940 realignment.

One of the items on our itinerary was to stop at the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, IL. Especially because the weather had turned very nice, we were excited to try what was supposed to be the oldest continually operating restaurant on Route 66.


                                        

Randy had an "old fashioned" open-faced roast beef sandwich, and I had "the best pork tenderloin sandwich" on Route 66. The food was good, the atmosphere was fun, and we had a great server, who offered to take out picture behind the counter.


We had high hopes when we started out that we would be able to find fun things along the way that weren't on the itinerary. As we talked to our server, and walked out the door of the cafe, we saw a museum that we hadn't found in any of our books.

                                

Like a few of the places we have visited so far, this quirky little museum was run by one woman, who knew everything about the area, and was very willing to talk and tell us lots. We were the only ones in the place at the time, and she was eager to share information. A very fun little interlude.

From there, we traveled to the Rabbit Ranch. Most of you will be familiar with the famous Cadillac Ranch in Texas, with various vintage Cadillacs buried front first in the ground and the tails sticking up in the air. The owner of this place mimicked that with Volkswagen Rabbits. He also keep bunny rabbits around his ranch, though COVID has limited his rabbits -- he said they are subject to transmission from humans.

                

We passed a couple other fun things on the way to St. Louis, MO.




   






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