2024 EB Day 16 - Crossing the Mighty Mississippi

The other side of St. Louis was highlighted, travelling through the edge of town before the Chain of Rocks Bridge.

Previously the Missouri end was not a place to leave a car parked, but the city has done an amazing job redeveloping the area into an inviting and secure location.

It makes the experience walking out onto the mile long decommissioned ‘bridge with a kink’ well worthwhile.

Across America’s primary river we enter our final state, Illinois - this sure is farming country.

In the centre of Carlinville, the second largest court house in the land, which took rate payers 40 years to pay off, after budget blow outs and rumors of sculduggery by officials.

Amidst the wide open farmland are the earliest sections of the Mother Road where grass fills the cracks.

Was not quite lunchtime but Turkey Tracks were on the menu… they were nearly 100 years old though, etched into the original pavement!

Docs Soda Fountain was a standout.

The Deck brothers are not with us any more, but Maddie and her team turned on exemplary lunch service in quick time, to rival the pharmacies historic display.

And then a piece of road that is extra special, the red brick paving, a last hangover from original methods used for roads.

No Bart in this Springfield, but it is home to the Abe Lincoln Presidential museum, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Holographic films and 3D displays depict the life of one of USA’s most influential leaders.

Next, the Cozy Dog diner to sample Ed Waldmire’s invention, the corn meal battered sausage… that got the thumbs up! 👍

We stayed at Snoop’s Hotel 66… 👍

…dined at Motorheads on the outskirts of town… 👍

…before skirting around the CBD to the Fairgrounds that revealed Springfield’s tribute to the Route 66 Centenary in 2026.

Simply brilliant!

The night went on at Snoops Diner inside the hotel.

And a special touch to find one of our Down Under on Route 66 caps, given to Snoop in the past…

…has made it into a small bit of the road’s history!