Day 2: From Lincoln To Lebanon  with some Reminiscing along the way...
They say that some things look better in the daylight. Unfortunately, those words did not apply to our motel from night 1. At some point, I think the facility was probably a classic spot to stop for the night on a road trip but over the last 20-40 years(it's old) it has deteriorated into a sad run down building that certainly isn't a Hotel, not really even a Motel, perhaps a NOTELL.
So after clearing away the silverfish from the bathtub and jumping in and out of the shower faster than Michael Phelps swims the 50 we wandered into downtown Lincoln for some breakfast.  Went past a couple of iconic Route 66 landmarks on the way.

 After an awesome breakfast we headed off to Springfield Illinois and the home of Shea's Gas Station Museum. As we pulled into to the parking lot we barely missed getting whacked by an eldery couple backing out of the very small parking area. We paid our $3.00 and Bill Shea the proprietor began regaling us with facts and information on the amazing collection of artifacts he has on display. As I listened to Mr. Shea I couldn't help but think of my Granda Leo(Mom's dad) and how he would have absolutely loved this place. Grandpa Leo was a lifelong mechanic with crooked fingers and a million ideas on how to fix things. From the 1896 gas pump that could only pump up to 1 gallon at a time to the 1930 washing machine the Shea family still uses to wash rags, my Grandfather would have absolutely been impossible to get to leave this place. When I moved to Oregon for Law School Grandpa Leo told me 30 time minimum that I had to stop at the Corn Palace in South Dakota.Now the Corn Palace is a fine tourist stop but for those that have been there, it's closer to the World's largest ball of twine than Disneyland.  If Grandpa thought the Corn Palace was unbelievable, this place would have been Mecca. 

Oh and the eldery couple that nearly backed into us was no other than Bill Shea Sr., the 91 year old survivor of WWII Utah Beach Normandy invasion and the founder of this establishment. Mr. Shea Sr. has been designated the Father of The Mother Road and started the museum after the gas business faltered years ago. We were disappointed we missed the chance to meet him(although happy he didn't run into the Mustang) and I couldn't help think how cool it would have been to see either of the Shea's spend the day with Grandpa Leo, sifting thru the 50,000 or so artifacts and antiques in their museum. That would have been something.
   From Springfield we headed toward St. Louis. The interesting thing about this trip is with guidebooks and an I-phone APP guide you end up seeing things that would simply passed by on any other vacation.  Obsolete signs, closed hotels,  and other delapidated buildings are the "highlights" of the road in most locations.  Shea's and other stopping points are spread out by some miles which is probably good.  Otherwise it would take you even longer to traverse the Route.

     

  The rest of the day was spent mostly seeing these types of signs, buildings etc. with the exception of a stop at a very unique "attraction" in Stauton where a gentlemen had combined a pile of delapidated VW's with a gift shop and rabbit cages. Get it VW Rabbits??  He also, according to the signs along the street of his establishment was a registered Notary, a life insurance salesman and of course a purveyor of gifts and memorabilia.  Must be business life along the Route these days now that it isn't the bustling thoroughfare it once was. 
     We ended the day trying to avoid how we started the day. We actually called ahead to get a room at a iconic Route 66 hotel.  50's retro, clean and the owner is filled with tips for going forward with our trip.  Here is our stopping point. I will post a photo of the 50's retro bathroom later...you have to see it.

Off to the road for Day 3...might try to make Oky City but as with everything on The Route. We'll see.

TJ