So it starts today, a dream trip down the Mother Road. We were all a bit tired after partying last night but met at 9am to go pick up the "van". As all four of us are named drivers we all went. Took a cab to the rental office and there already was a queue with only one assistant!
He was really good, very efficient, not a pushy type. He looked a bit suspiciously at Sandra's licence, it is the old paper type. He asked if it was a museum piece!
We went to the downstairs garage to pick up the vehicle, not the best organised, again only one guy working to deal with all these customers. He didn't' have a clean van for us, so had to get one from another rental company!
So we get the van, leather seats, fully loaded, automatic opening rear doors and boot, rear view parking camera, etc, etc.
Loaded our luggage back at the hotel, checked out, said our goodbyes to the wonderful staff, especially Candice and set off.
We drove to the van downtown to where R66 officially starts, took the customary photo and set off on the first leg, some 200 miles to Springfield IL.
Getting out of Chicago took some time, lots of lights, speed restrictions but we got there in the end.
Using a great guide for R66, very detailed and easy to follow. Car is easy to drive, like sitting in an armchair.
Passed through lots of small towns, signage is easy to follow. Stopped off at an old R66 landmark gas station at Odell. It had a little museum of memorabilia, Sandra signed the guest book and nearly stole a fridge magnet. She had picked one out but I saw a better one and paid for that. The one that was on the counter I gave back to the lady. Lel then bought hers, the same one I gave back to Sandra. It was only when we were outside that Sandra gave me the fridge magnet she had in her pocket! We went back inside and gave it to the lady. She was unaware that we even had it.
Took the obligatory team photo and set off again. After a few stops and 1 or 2 slightly wrong turns we made it to our hotel in Springfield, where Larry checked us in.
Room was massive. We asked Larry to recommend a good place to eat and a lady staying in the hotel suggested we try Saputos, a family run restaurant a few blocks away.
After a shower and freshen up we set off. Very old fashioned family restaurant, could have been straight from The Sopranos!
Food was excellent, massive portions. Girls had a bottle of fizz, waitress was really sweet, she had to get someone to show her to open it. She said she had never opened a bottle of champs before.
We drove back to the hotel and retired after a long day.
Everyone we've meet has asked where we are from, amazed that we are doing R 66 and wishing us well for the trip.
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