Day 6 (8th Feb 2001)

Resuming trip at Ballwin

CK in front of the Wans' place.

Entering St. Louis

Given that St. Louis is such a big and important city, we considered it likely that we will visit St. Louis again in the future. As a result, we decided not to do sightseeing in St. Louis and saved the time of the small towns on the way, which we were much less likely to visit again. Still, we managed to catch a glimpse of the most famous St. Louis -- the "Gateway to the West" arch when we drove through downtown and when we crossed the Mississippi River.

Leaving Missouri

A snapshot over Mississippi. Note the arch is visible on the right.

Entering Illinois

After entering Illinois, Route 66 was very badly marked and we got lost. It took us an hour to somehow return to the right path at Edwardsville.
Gas: 6.6 G x $1.66 / G = $10.92
From Edwardsville Route 66 followed IL-4 North through many small industrial towns towards Springfield.

Hamel

Staunton

Gillespie

This segment of Route 66 , follwing IL-4, was quite well-paved. However, there are many small segments (one to two miles each) where Route 66 took a small detour into some small roads in the midst of farmlands and sometime factories. These detours are not well-paved at all.

Carlinville

Chatam

This was a beautiful frozen lake near Chatam, ten miles south of Springfield. It was still quite sunny when we took these picture, but clouds begun to gather soon afterwards.

Entering Springfield

CK and Emily before the tomb of Abraham Lincoln. The interior of the tomb is not very large. It contains sculptures of Lincoln, his speeches, as well as marble coffins in which he and his wife and children rest forever.

Springfield -- Lincoln Home

CK at the entrance of the only home which Lincoln ever owned. This restored historic house provides us a peep into the lives of 19th century upper-middle class urbanites. (Lincoln was a successful lawyer in Springfield.)

Lincoln

Bloomington

Towande -- Lunch Break

A late lunch at a gas-station -- we could not find a restaurant. Naturally, all subsequent towns have big restaurants right along the route.

Resumed trip at Towande

Chenoa

It was getting darker and the fog was getting heavier.

Pontiac

Dwright

The visibility has became so low (due to the fog and the darkness) that it was no longer advisable to drive on small roads like Route 66. In such weather, One might easily miss a road sign and got completely lost. As a result, we cut back onto I-55 (which was just next to Route 66) for this last leg of the trip.

Joliet

Chicago Loop

Chicago Loop is a nickname of the downtown area of Chicago. The "Loop" refers to the elevated railways which run around the downtown.

End at Michigan and Adams

These pictures were taken in the following morning at the trailhead. Again, the roadsign was too reflecting. But you can still vaguely see the Route 66 shield on it.