Today it’s all about getting home. On every trip there comes that time when you’re done and you just want to be home and this is that day.
After a little breakfast at the hotel and loading up at a near by Starbucks we hit the interstate for the run to home. Just after we get on the interstate Shirley realized that she doesn’t have her phone. We’re not too far from the hotel but it’s quite a distance before we can exit and turnaround. After recovering the phone which was somehow hidden in the bed we’re on our way again.
Not to much to report on the drive as we skirt Minneaplolis and get to Fargo for the required Costco stop and some food and gas.
It’s spring time and there is some talk of flooding as always. It doesn’t seem too bad as we start noticing a lot of water in the ditch. Then there is more water but only a short stretch where the road narrows to one lane.
Customs at the border is a breeze as we have all our paperwork lined up and after a few basic questions were back in Canada and only 1 hour from home.
It’s a late night but we’re glad to be back in our own bed. A great trip but as they say, there is no place like home.
The big thing today is Frank Lloyd Wright and a tour of the Dana-Thomas house, and it’s beauty. As with many FLW properties they don’t allow interior photographs, so I bought a book. But, here are a couple of photos of the exterior.
After the tour we head back to Atlanta, IL. to a gift shop that has some very cool stuff and a t-shirt I should have bought yesterday. It’s on the route home and this place really warranted another look around.
We didn’t get there, yet!
Very eclectic, very weird
The toy tractor on the right brought back come childhood memories. I never had one of these but some kid on my Ama’s street (570 Oak, in Winnipeg) did. I was probably in the 8-10 yrs old range and I remember zooming up and down the sidewalk so fast! This was the first thing I’d ridden with a chain drive. Perhaps a precursor of my love of bicycles.
After our stop back in Atlanta, IL. we say goodbye to Route 66 and hit the interstates and head towards home. Tonights stop is Eau Claire and thankfully we dodge the snow storm that covered a lot of this route yesterday and while the roads are good for us we see plenty of cars and trucks in the ditch as a result of the heavy snow yesterday.
I’m driving around near our hotel while Shirley is checking out the local Cosstco and I spot this from a distance. I work my way over to get a closer look. What is it?
Well, it turns out it’s pretty much what it looks like, a vending machine for cars! You buy a car online, it’s delivered into this contraption and you receive a large “coin”. When you want to take delivery you show up here, put your “coin” in the slot and the machine delivers your car to the main floor, ready to go, all without any human assistance. Carvana.
Today has a dual purpose. First to tour the James Charnley House and second to begin our exploration of Route 66. The day begins with a drive into the heart of the beast, downtown Chicago. The GPS guides us through several freeways, constructions zones and the morning rush hour traffic to get us to The James Charnley Residence, also known as the Charnley-Persky House, a historic house museum at 1365 North Astor Street in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.
Why this house? Well, because it is one of the few surviving residential works of Louis Sullivan, and features major contributions by Frank Lloyd Wright, who was then working as a draftsman in Sullivan’s office. I’m a FLW fan and we’ve seen several of his works in Chicago and elsewhere.
Parking in the heart of downtown residential Chicago is pretty challenging, we’re just blocks off the lakeshore and it looks like parking is at a high premium for residents let alone tourists like us. However, there is an apartment complex across the street that has casual parking available for some unknown price and we’re desperate as the tour will begin shortly so we drive in, leave the keys with a ver nice guy and trust we can get it back in an hour or two. For cash as it turns out, which requires a trip to a near by bank machine.
We line up with a few others and wait for the doors to open as it’s first come, first served for a limited number of people. We make it in with about 10 other older people from various parts of the world.
The tour is interesting and the house has quite the history but for me it doesn’t have the impact or wow factor of many of the other Frank Lloyd Wright designs we’ve see. Early days I guess and he was not fully in charge but you can see his influences for sure.
A fireplace in every room
Back stairs for servants and main staircase for family
With the tour concluded we retrieve the car and venture even further into downtown Chicago. Our destination, Michigan Ave & Jackson Blvd., the start of the historic Route 66.
As you can see in the photo on the left, it’s raining lightly and we circle the block about 3 time to get the photo because of course there is no parking anywhere near by. Shirley grabs the snap out the window as I slow roll by the sign.
For the rest of the morning we wind our way out of downtown, not on the freeways and Interstate but as close as possible to the real “66”. Lots of gawking at all the buildings and sights, ever vigilant for the next brown “Historic Route” sign to guide us.
Still raining and off we go, winding our way out of town. Well, the town really never seems to end, we just cross some invisible line and we’re in a different city.
A couple of stops here and there for a photo or two.
A Las Vegas spinoff
There is a great toy store here, Berwyn’s Toy & Trains, lots of trains!
Late in the afternoon we turn back towards our hotel and get ready to leave Chicago tomorrow for more Route 66 exploration with the destination being Springfield, Il. No Interstate and lots of stops to explore.
We say goodby to Leslie and Toronto and head out on the open road for Chicago.
We’re eager to get to Chicago, so it’s a full day of driving without any side trips, exploring etc., just drive and the normal road trip stops for food, gas, and oh yeah US Customs. Here is our route, expressways and Interstate all the way.
Seems we didn’t take hardly any photos on this part of the drive, just going over the bridge from Sarnia into the USA and Customs.
The GPS gets it done, right to the Staybridge Suites which will be our “home” base for the next few days as we explore the Windy City. We’re staying a moderate way from downtown and plan to take a hotel shuttle to the Metra train station near the hotel for the trip downtown to the heart of Chicago.
The room is awesome for a longer stay and it turns out that the breakfasts and evening snacks are great too!
We pick up some serious Chicago pizza from a near by Giordano’s restaurant and watch a little TV before turning in for the night.
This is not rocket science, it’s Shirley’s birthday!
Make a wish!
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Before we get to the birthday part we’re lounging around at Leslie’s having breakfast and of course a lot of coffee.
In keeping with today’s birthday/gift theme we surprise Les with a couple of hostess gifts for being so generous and gracious in having us at the house all week.
Today we’re off to the Ontario Science Centre, just a short drive but once again on the freeways, yahoo! Lots to see and do and being the weekend, there are lots of kids and lots of noise.
Crazy Rube Goldburg rolling ball maze
Garry
Crocus coming up
Cancelling – Biggest Canadian mistake ever!
Shirley
Finally figured out what all the blockchain hype is about
After the Science Centre we get ready for the big birthday party and we head off to Ajax where Dorte & Ron live and a nearby Keg restaurant. Bob & Linda have driven in from Orrilia for the celebration and we have a great time around the table with some great food to.
Let’s get this party started!
After a great dinner is was back to Ron & Dorte’s for coffee and dessert. Les & Dorte both provided Shirley’s favourite, cheesecake! Not sure how we fit it in but I think most had a piece of each!
After all that food and fun we rolled into the car for the drive back to Les’s.
Another day in the bag. Tomorrow we hit the road for Chicago.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48661835056_306a38a74e_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" )
