2023 WB Day 4 - One Down…

With eight states making up Route 66 we set out from 'Snoops' joint in Springfield to find the border between Illinois and Missouri.

Appropriately in Auburn a rare few miles of red brick hints at the vast quantities of bricks required to built such roads.

Girard was quiet...

the pharmacist has been converted to a fully functioning diner with the walls now lined with the contents that provided medical service to the community in another time.

Preserving other parts of Girard have been less of a priority.

An Amtrak train whistled through at a swift 80mph. We're not held up for long.

On the other side of the track pastures continue to extend as far as the eye can see.

This original concrete dates back to 1920, laid eight inches thick as part of Illinois Route 4 which evolved into 66 when the Mother Road was born.

There were still turkeys around in those days who stepped in wet concrete, leaving a lasting impression.

A couple buildings around Carlinville speak to America,

although at a cool million back in the late 1800s, the court house did raise more than a few eyebrows. Everything's bigger in USA...

...jJst count the school buses, resting up for summer break.

An alignment we haven't used for a few years brought us to the Shell servo in Mt Olive. Open but not for gas.

More fossil fuel relics in Staunton at Henry's Ra66it Ranch.

And of course, Luna Cafe is almost the last landmark before we strike the state line.

The chain of rocks strewn across the Mississippi means river traffic uses a man made canal and lock system to avoid the bedrock in low water conditions.

The old bridge is also bypassed now leading to St Louis.

We skipped through a part of town that probably hasn't seen much development support...

...to a structure that looks like it needs support, but also doesn't have it.

It's a masterpiece of simplicity, until you look past the design!

Despite 'budgeting' on 13 deaths during construction, no one died when it was built back in the sixties... hardly a harness or orange cone in sight!

The ride to the top was almost claustrophobic...

but the reward was a view as expansive as the ride up was constricting.

The 'father of Delmar Loop' in St Louis, Joe Edwards, showed off images of his latest addition to the strip...

...an indoor mini golf course and ferris wheel almost ready for opening.

This once badass part of town has been transformed into one of the great streets of USA thanks to the inspiration and determination of people like Joe.

From our home for the night, his Moonrise Hotel, we watch the sun sink through the hazy afternoon sky.