Skip to content
Posted by rich pascuzzo8 Comments on Going West Young Man Road Notes

Going West Young Man

It felt great to turn it all around this morning and start heading home. Starting off in Chicago, I was able to ring up 244 miles and lodge in Bloomington IL for the evening. The mileage was greater than I expected, considering that much of today was covered at 35-45 mph. As I approached the “Begin Route 66” sign near Lake Michigan, I noticed a T-bucket hot rod on Jackson St. ahead of me. Rare in this neck of the woods, I caught up to see his CA license plate. A quick conversation at a red light revealed that he had driven in from Hayward CA to revisit his boyhood home after a 37 year absence. The next intersection ended the conversation as I waved and he shook his head in disbelief that I was turning right-around to head home. The heavy Chicago aromas of pizza, hot dogs and Italian beef made it hard to do so, but most of my work still lays ahead.

GPS tracks for Inbound Day 1
GPS tracks for Inbound Day 1

The Beginning - Westbound. Downtown Chitown and The El in background (IL1)
The Beginning – Westbound.
Downtown Chitown and The El in background (IL1)

A longtime Chicago landmark. (IL1)
A longtime Chicago landmark. (IL1)

One of the more famous IL RT66 stops since 1938. Willowbrook IL (IL1)
One of the more famous IL RT66 stops since 1938.
Willowbrook IL (IL1)

“We’re on a mission from God” the Blues Brothers.
Joliet IL (IL1)

Joliet IL (IL1)
Joliet IL (IL1)

Giant spacemen abound in Wilmington IL. The Gemini Giant. (IL1)
Giant spacemen abound in Wilmington IL. The Gemini Giant. (IL1)

RT 66, Gardner IL 1930s alignment (IL2)
RT 66, Gardner IL 1930s alignment (IL2)

Dwight IL (IL3)
Dwight IL (IL3)
Odell IL (IL4)
Odell IL (IL4)

A front yard in Odell IL (IL4)
A front yard in Odell IL (IL4)

Odell IL (IL4)
Odell IL (IL4)

Is it any wonder that they call it America's Main Street? Odell IL (IL4)
Is it any wonder that they call it America’s Main Street? Odell IL (IL4)

An Illinois barn advertising a Missouri attraction. Between Odell and Pontiac IL
An Illinois barn advertising a Missouri attraction. Between Odell and Pontiac IL

If you hang your elbow, out the window too far, it might end up, in another car. Pontiac IL (IL5)
If you hang your elbow,
out the window too far,
it might end up,
in another car. Pontiac IL (IL5)

Original 1926 RT66 roadway, between Pontiac and Lexington, IL (IL1)
Original 1926 RT66 roadway, between Pontiac and Lexington, IL (IL1)

Imagine the joy that this rusted relic brought to so many children for so long. Lexington IL (IL1)
Imagine the joy that this rusted relic brought to so many children for so long. Lexington IL (IL1)

Categories

Road Notes

rich pascuzzo's avatar

rich pascuzzo View All

8 thoughts on “Going West Young Man” Leave a comment ›

  2. Hey Paz, had a chance to read up on all your postings. So awesome buddy. Really like this one with travel map.
    Love the pic’s as well. Look forward to to your updates. Enjoy……..A

    Like

    Reply

  5. Rich, What a great “start” to your journey. We love the foots and can feel the nostalgia. You’re taking us down a memory lane that is new, yet part of our past, too. Love the Burma Shave sign. A musician friend of ours from North Dakota, Chuck Suchy (soo-key) has a great song about Burma Shave. We’ll send it to you when you get home.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment