Illinois, Missouri and Kansas

So after we left Chicago we head for Springfield. We've got this book that tells you all the worthwhile stop off en route, so our first stop is a place called Joviet. Not much here but a museum and lots of info about the route (apart from a map)!! Left there and had lunch further along in a weird little Elvis/Monroe tribute roadside cafe. Then we get incredibly lost as the signs just stop, the Route 66 road isn't used anymore and is only a historic route now so its not on any maps!! We eventually get to Springfield and we decide that we need a beer or two after the epic journey, so Leanne pulls up outside this shop to ask for directions, pulling away we hear a big crash, couldn't see anything on the ground. A guy came rushing out of his shop and looks up, so did we to see the awning of the shop hanging off, whoops!!!!! No getting away with that one!! So we went and got drunk then in our campervan at a campsite we didn't pay for cause it was so late by the time we got there!!!! Next day was ropey, we tried to look round Springfield but not much to see apart from Abraham Lincolns memorial. We found the police station to report the accident etc. Then it was a short drive to St Louis. Not much here either, they have an Arch thats massive near the river, we left quite early cause we were heading for Springfield, Missouri. This was the journey from hell!!!! There are very few sign posts on the route so got very lost, ended up doing about 100 miles more than we needed to and arriving at some truckers fuel stop late on. Had tea in a real greasy spoon cause we had no water, propane gas for the oven so a bit of a nightmare!!

Next morning we both had cheeky showers in the truckers bit and Leanne got told off, but used our British charm and ignorance!!! Next stop was Kansas, we thought this wouldn't be too tricky as its only 13 miles across!! Lots to see on the way to Kansas and we started at a place called Red Oak II. There is a museum there with a village thats been moved 20 miles and this artist called Lowell Davis created all these sculptures, it was awesome you could walk around this pretend village. The artist was there and was chatting to us, quite cool!! We then stopped off at a place with a big praying hands monument before we headed for a cafe called the Red Onion. After lunch we hit Kansas, saw the last standing Arch bridge, the famous Eisler Bros general store and finished in Foylin at the totem pole park that was amazing!!

Next stop Oklahoma..................................