Route 66 Chicago to Los Angeles: Day 2 - Springfield to St. Louis

A short drive today….100 miles, but lots of interesting stops and appointments.

The drive is through 100% farmland territory. While fields have been cleared from last year’s crop, there are no signs of Spring planting. Why? Too cold. Tonight it’s 39 degrees Fahrenheit in Springfield. While the land here in the Midwest is good productive land, the winter conditions make it impossible to get more than one annual crop. The crop……mostly corn, but not corn on the cob that we eat on July 4th. Instead it is corn for feeding farm animals…..pigs, cows, horses, lambs and goats.

Every fifty miles or so there is a weird roadside attraction. Larger than life kitsch sculptures…. Including a not so well done one of Donald Trump. I've posted many of these potos which can be accessed at: shamrockracing.net.

I’m beginning to wonder about my co-participants. Almost are my age or older, and they cannot seem to exist with three proper meals per day. I mean these guys want a big breakfast, a big lunch, a cocktail hour, followed by a fancy dinner. I can’t do it; I can’t even come close.

After arriving in St. Louis today we visited to very large classic car collections….Daniel Schmidt and Mark Hyman. It always amazes me how significant collectors are so willing to share their knowledge of the classic car hobby. Sure they want to buy or sell a car to you, but the primary motivation is share their passion for the motor car. Fun to among like spirits.

Tomorrow we will begin to stretch it out…..a 300 mile drive to Joplin, Missouri.