Starting down the Yellow Brick Road!

            Saturday, 7 July.  Lazy day at first.  I caught up with some of my bookkeeping.  My diary is way behind.  I did get the blog up.  –  Dropped by Denny’s for a hamburger.  I needed some sustenance for the coming walk.  –  The El downtown had mechanical problems so it was late getting to the Loop.  I took a slow walk over to the Art Institute where I was to meet up with Windy City Dave and the tour.  –  While waiting for Dave et al. I enjoyed the coolness of the AI.  I also managed to find a few folk to chat with.  I urged to young lasses from Ireland, who were selling memberships – nice summer job, to read Anne McCaffrey.  –  Then at 3:30 I met up with the rest of the troupe: The Sloan’s, Lulu & Pam from Ohio!  Dave arrived shortly and we were off on the tour.  We basically covered Jackson from Michigan to Wabash and then back on Adams.  Dave has an amazing fund of information & trivia.  Much, of course, relating to Rt. 66 and Chicago.  It was a marvelous tour.  I highly recommend it to anyone coming to Chicago with any sort of interest in Rt. 66 & Chicago history.  –  I, of course, bought his book on Rt. 66 in the Chicago area.  –  Stayed around to have dinner with Lulu in Berghoff’s.  Not bad at all.
            Sunday, 8 July.  Up way too early: 0600!  ARGH!  Checked out and headed for Paulina & Jackson.  This is where I started on the 4^th heading west.  Now I would go east.  I took a nice slow drive down Jackson.  I was able to use Dave’s book right off.  I took a few photos.  I eventually arrived in front of Lou Mitchell’s.  I can only second comments about how good their brekkie is and service.  It was a great way/place to get some food & caffeine.  I also took some photos of the inside.  Not sure just how well they will turn out.  –  Then onward to Jackson & Michigan  - can’t go any further due to “A Taste of Chicago.  Made the turns and headed back on Adams.  A number of photo ops along the way.  I finally made it back to Paulina and continued on down Ogden.  I was looking for one or two places I had missed on the first go.  –  A couple places have already disappeared since both Dave’s & Jerry’s E-Z Guide were published.  Sigh!  –  I gazed in awe [?] at the quarry which has caused the detour of Joliet Road.  The roadway is collapsing.  –  I gazed with sadness at the closed Wishing Well Motel.  Two long standing businesses are still in business at the intersection.  –  Swung by the Del Rhea Chicken Basket.  I would return for dinner.  Took some photos of White Fence Farm.  No chicken this time.  –  Found my motel.  Again I can get email, but not send it.  –  Later I met Kevin Doyle for dinner at the Chicken Basket.  Kevin is a fan of Arthur Upfield.  He is looking forward to my publishing “The Beach of Atonement.”  It has been out of print for 77 years & is almost impossible to find.  It was grand to meet up with him.