Pj's Rides & Activities: An Unexpected Trip to Chicago Day 2

I drove straight threw Missouri and ended up in Carlinville Ill at a very nice Best Western that when I pulled up I thought was going to be much to pricy for me but it was well under a 100 bucks. It was a very nice hotel almost like a resort. Here are some of the shots.

A shot of the swimming pool.

A shot of the atrium.

A shot of a boat they had hanging by the ceiling.

I am quite tired and decide to take more pictures in the morning. I had dinner at the hotel which was only fair and they did buy me my second beer so all is well.

Now today is the 17th and here are some more shots of the grounds around the hotel.

Here is a shot inside the hotel pointed towards the bar and restaurant.

I go outside and they have these little streams running around the hotel that seem to be recycled.

Here are a couple of shots of a river boat they have in this “pond”. Looks like it is used for parties or meetings.

Here are a couple of shots of the pond.

Back inside to the pool area.

From the pool area.

Well time to go so off I head up the Route 66 way. Here is a couple of shots from a Route 66 rest area.

Across the hall from the Route 66 stuff was an area dedicated to Lincoln.

I get to Dads house at about 430 PM. The weather so far has been great and even though Illinois is so flat I wish I had more time to take more pictures.

Day 4 & 5 start here. --------------------------------------------------------

Trip to Chicago day 4 & 5

The next two days were rather draining as this trip was for my Uncle Bob’s funeral. I have now lost 4 uncles and you really begin to reflect on life in general when you have lost so many that have been so close to you.

While Patt was getting her hair done, dad and I found this little Oasis behind the shop. So we stopped, sat, and just reflected on our memories.

The next day was actually the funeral so afterwards Dad and Patt both did not feel very well no doubt so we did not go to the little reception after the funeral. On the way back to Dad and Patt’s house they decide to try to having something to eat to see if it would make them feel any better. We stopped at a child hood BBQ place for both dad and I called Russels. Unless you have acquired the taste for it, you may not like it. It is nothing like what we are used to in Texas. I did get a shot of the two of them before we left.

We thought about going back to the reception for a short while but we all felt tired and had a bit of heart burn so we all took naps and I started getting ready for my trip back to Texas.

We did go to dinner later that night at a really cool place called “Old West Steakhouse”. You would think you were back in Texas again. Do not even ask me where we were.

Once inside there was this Indian staring off into the distance or actually upwards so I shot a picture of dad next to it.

Here is a shot of Dad and Patt inside at our booth.

As with all things the day ends and I must get on the road tomorrow.

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We all get up and have some coffee and donuts together and I start to pack seriously. I bring the truck around and back it up their driveway. Now to think of it, I wish I took some shots of their house. Anyway, Dad and I get the bike loaded and strapped down with the straps he purchased for his bike but has since sold his truck so no longer needs them. He felt the ratchet mechanisms were better then the ones I had, and you know how it is to argue with your Dad. After we get the bike loaded I continue to load up the truck and Patt packs me a bunch of munchies for the trip and off I go to have lunch with Mom Drezen and Theresa before actually getting out of Chicago. It is at the lunch that my camera takes a dump so now I need to buy one on the road and I did not get a shot of Carol or Theresa. Oh well, if that is the worse thing that happens on this trip no problem.

I get done with lunch and take off for Normal Ill as my first night stay. I did not get on the road out of Chicago until about 2 or 3 PM so I knew I would be stopping in Ill. I did not take any pictures until the next day as it was not until my stay in Normal that I found a Wall Mart so I could buy a new cameral.

The next morning I took off and then stopped in this Rest Area that the next picture depicts a family at a road side rest area having a picnic. According to a little plaque, family picnic’s at rest areas started some time in the late 19th century.

Here is a shot of the Van and bike at the same rest stop. Notice the storage silo in the back ground. You see a lot of those in Ill.

I got down in Springfield Illinois and needed some gas and I noticed these smoke stacks just puffing away. Not sure what they were burning or what energy they were producing but they sure put out the smoke.