Courtney's Blog July 7th, Day 2 of the Epic McFarland Journey!

We set off early in the morning again, but not as early as expected. We slept an hour past the alarm! I guess we needed it! We start Route 66 today! Woohoo!

The plan is to go to Chicago (1 hour away), see the official start of Route 66, eat at some famous Chicago/Route 66 breakfast joint that gives free milk duds, and try some famous donut shop, then head on our way! Easy, right? Yeah, well. The "Chicago Free Festival" was going on and they Pennsylvania-ed the bleep out of all the roads. Everything was shut down, but there were trains gliding along raised platforms seemingly taunting us down below. Did you know there is like, no free parking in Chicago? I mean, I know Boston is bad, but pretty much every street allows you to park for 10 minutes without getting a ticket. Not in Chicago. There are these boxes to pay if you park for 10 seconds. We avoid them at all costs and after circling closed one-way roads for 30 minutes, we FINALLY get to the breakfast joint, Lou Mitchells! We shell over $8 to park for 1 hour and Adam does a spectacular back up job in the jammed parking lot. We enjoy breakfast and head out to see the sign. Of course, all roads leading to the sign are closed. Oh well, Adam will just drop me off and I'll take a quick picture...well. not that easy.

Here is where we will introduce Dew Drop. If you read or saw Abby's blog, you've seen Dew Drop. Big, purple, round....can't miss him. Dew Drop is visiting with us from Abby's best friend Lulu. We are to take him travelling and get pictures with him. So now, here I am..in the middle of the busy Chicago streets at 10am, passing by nicely dressed business folks while carrying this HUGE purple pillow ...thing. I am running to find the sign so Adam only has to circle once. (see pictures for proof of these shenanigans). People on the street are staring ...and smiling at the crazy lady with the pillow. I get the pictures, and just as I do, a parking spot opens up!! Adam arrives like out of a movie, and pulls right in the spot! We get the kids in the shot too! This day is going great!

We find the famous donut place without much problem. Gideon asks to take pictures of them - you should check that out. Adam parks like an insane person. We get the donuts and are on our way! <insert first parental fight about directions here> Ok, now 20 minutes later after yelling and gnashing of teeth, we are ON OUR WAY!! Our Route 66 journey began around 12pm!

So many cute little towns on the journey, and the signs and roads are so well marked! We have a very easy time traversing the roads and are enjoying all the sites! We make it to Midewin Park (an old bunker) and have a nice hike through the park. The kids did great, and it was great to get out of the car and stretch our legs. On the way out, Gideon reminded us something important..."Thank you God for making this beautiful place for us".

We travelled the route until Springfield where Adam enjoyed a corn dog from Cozy Dog Cafe! He has been waiting for that Corn Dog for like 3 years. It was worth it...so he says.

We arrive at our hotel for the evening around 7:30, and just as we are about to get everyone to bed, we realize something....Abby's blankie....its missing.

So now you see, two nights in a row, disaster strikes at bedtime. I am nervous for tomorrow. Anyhow, once we realize it is missing, we start the frantic search. I KNOW it was on the hotel bed when we left. I just do. But we check everywhere else too. I try to call the hotel, but spend 10 minutes on the phone with people from India who don't know what a "blankie" is. Finally, I find our receipt and call. I get the "guy" from day 1. I explain what happened, he checks the lost and found. NO BLANKIE. Abby is now hysterical. Adam is ripping the car apart...I am watching from the hotel room window. Literally, the car is destroyed. Suitcases in the parking lot just ripped open. He is waving his arms at something..who knows what. I call the hotel back in desperation. I cry and say "please can I leave a number in case you find it in the laundry?" The "guy" says, I'll go check the laundry. Abby and I say big prayers. And lo-and-behold....the "guy" comes back, WITH BLANKIE!!!!! Now we just need to figure out how to get it back......

Summary:

Less travel, but awesome start! Bad food (for you)...again. Disaster at bedtime...again. Beautiful sites, and ready for tomorrow!

Ended the Day at the Marriott Fairfield Inn in Springfield, Illinois

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