2023 EB Day 18 - Happy Faces

The final day on the road certainly put smiles on faces.

It began in Towanda on a section of the old road modelled into a walk along Route 66 state by state.

A car version of memory lane nearby at Lexington winds through the trees...

and soon we were in Pontiac, named after an Indian chief we learn. This town has embraced its history...

...including Route 66 - they have maps and murals to prove it!

It's also home of Bob Waldmire, the artist and eccentric who travelled the Mother Road in his Combi van...

and Chevy 'motorhome'. Now that's the true definition of Motorhome!

There's also a great display of Pontiac wheels...

old...

and older.

and one of the best official photo ops exists in Pontiac.

But there are a couple left on a decommissioned section of the old two lane highway.

In Odell we pose by yet another pump...

and have a yarn with Phil Becker, the owner of Dwight's Texaco.

Back at Phil's home we get spoiled with not one award winning Hot Rod...

but two!

And a couple more for good measure including the Mustang Cobra powered Woody.

We got spoiled with lunch too. Debbie Becker throwing on a great spread we shared with their family.

We have been very lucky to get inside America's 'family' for this special get together.

Back on the road in Gardiner, at the 1906 two cell jail... things are looking grim.

Jude snapped evidence of a place she thinks Ron could stay.

It's beside the old Riviera Diner, so at least he won't starve.

We posed with Elvis,

danced with Jake and Elwood...

and pinched Marilyn at Braidwood.

In Wilmington the added 'attraction' to the muffler man picture, is less than helpful, but it speaks of the road with all its good and bad over the years.

The Joliet Welcome Center's focus on the Blues Brothers and Route 66 has been overshadowed with a temporary display of Stars Wars and

space travel.

The town's connection to stone and steel is clear though.

Third generation Laura follows the family's 69 year tradition at White Fence Farm where they can seat and serve over 1000 dinner guests at a time.

She also has her Grandad's car collection on display.

In neighbouring Willowbank is Dell Rhea Chicken Basket, dating back to the halcyon days of diners. Another couple of suburbs away by the fast road we find our digs for the night.