West of the Windy City

Made the Indiana border at 7:20 am. Blasted through to the Illinois border by 8:03. Arrived in Chicago and were most impressed by the revitalized waterfront. Used automated breakfast menu at the Wild Bean Cafe which is part of BP gas station. Easily found the sign that marks the beginning of Route 66 at Michigan and Adams, and we cheerfully hit the Mother Road. Out through the suburbs of Cicero and Berwyn to Lockport, Illinois, a historic canal town. Running into Nascar fan traffic at Joliet, Ill., with roadside scalpers. They have come to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. win the USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. We divert and get lost in rural countryside ending up on I57 south. Back on Historic Route 66 and photographed the Gemini Giant in Wilmington. Stopped in Dwight to look at beautiful historic railway station and Bank designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Lunch at Wishing Well Cafe in Odell in retro heaven then to restored Standard Oil Gas station. Atlanta Illinois to see Bunyon statue. Overnight at riverside campgrounds in Springfield, Ill.,

Day 2: Kitchener-Stevensville 346 miles
Day 3: Stevensville-Springfield 340 miles

780 miles from Toronto.