The Bunyan muffler man, also known as Tall Paul and Hot Dog Man, stands in Atlanta, IL. About 13 miles from this morning’s start, we’ll get to his story, but first we need to get there.
I rolled out off the back of the pack into a strong headwind and decided this would be a good morning to find a pace line. Luckily the front of the group was held up at a couple of traffic lights and I was able to bridge up and tag onto the back of the group. Rich was on the front and pulling at a great pace. I was last in line, 7th wheel. Rich didn’t want any help and pulled all 12 miles to Atlanta. When we got off the main highway to a secondary road I motored up the pace line and recorded this video.
Entering Downtown Atlanta, IL
Lon was waiting with the van on Main Street across from the Bunyan muffler man. The Hot Dog muffler man was built in 1965 and was stationed in Cicero (near Chicago) on Route 66 at Hamlet Stephen’s drive-in restaurant. In 2002 Hamlet retired and sold the restaurant. Several towns along Route 66 vied to adopt Bunyan. Atlanta agreed to display him on Main Street and they were selected. He was bolted in place in late 2003 and he has been there ever since.
Happy Half-Wit
Texaco Big Friend
Earlier this year, Texaco Big Friend was resurrected! He formerly was Home Giant, of Valley Homes in Nevada. In 2013 Valley Homes folded and he ended up in a scrap heap. He was shipped in pieces to Illinois for restoration and stands today in Atlanta, IL with Happy Half-Wit at the American Giants Museum. It was closed, so we continued on to breakfast.
We had a great breakfast at the Dixie Truckers Home restaurant. The only problem with a pace line is that a great deal of focus is required to keep pace and stay safe. Not good for looking around and stopping or taking photos, so I dropped off and rode at my own pace.
Just a few miles later we arrived at Funks Grove for Pure Maple Sirup. That’s not a misprint, when fruit juice is added to boiled sap, it becomes syrup. Technically, the pure substance should be spelled with an ‘i,’ at least according to a sign in the store. No matter how you spell it, it was delicious and I bought a small bottle to take home!
The road to Bloomington was on old Route 66 and a nice bike path was added!
Time to catch up with Honest Abe outside the courthouse in Bloomington IL.
Under the courthouse was a Route 66 museum and visitor information center. Brandt and I arrived about the same time and watched a film of a retired Illinois State Trooper talking about his experience patrolling the mother road. He was not the same guy we heard from in Litchfield a few days ago.
The original Route 66 goes right through Illinois State University and the surrounding residential area!
Restored gas station now sits in a residential area at the edge of Bloomington.
Normal is the next town and borders on Bloomington. Here some of the original 1926 pavement disappears into a viaduct!
Great bike path outside Normal!
This sign describes a dangerous curve just 400 feet north of this sign. It was a sharp 90 degree curve that was only 18 feet wide. It gained its name mostly by travelers coming from Chicago traveling at high speed, and not expecting the sharp turn.
The 4 lane Route 66 was constructed in the early 1950’s and Deadman’s Curve was no longer used. Today only 2 of the 4 lanes are in service, so we were able to ride on many sections of abandoned pavement.
Next stop was Lexington. Within a mile or two, there is original Route 66 pavement from 1926, the 4 lane Route 66 from the 1950s, and I-55 which carries the traffic today.
This section of 1926 pavement even has restored billboards along the way!
Lunch was mile 60 at the Chennai Family Restaurant. A bunch of riders were just finishing lunch when I dropped in. A few minutes later Craig rolled in and our food arrived as the rest of the crew headed out.
We finished our lunch and headed out for the final 13 miles to the Pontiac. Since the traffic on Route 66 was heavy, Lon again routed us on a super smooth low traffic farm road. It was still super windy, but Craig and I worked together and we got it done!
A neat farm just outside of Pontiac, our stop for the night. We rolled into the motel and put this one in the books. We were both feeling the effects of an all-day headwind!
Long one tomorrow, 88 miles to the outskirts of Chicago. Early start tomorrow, 0630 load and go, breakfast 12 miles into the ride at Odell West Cafe!
We had a great breakfast at the Dixie Truckers Home restaurant. The only problem with a pace line is that a great deal of focus is required to keep pace and stay safe. Not good for looking around and stopping or taking photos, so I dropped off and rode at my own pace.
Just a few miles later we arrived at Funks Grove for Pure Maple Sirup. That’s not a misprint, when fruit juice is added to boiled sap, it becomes syrup. Technically, the pure substance should be spelled with an ‘i,’ at least according to a sign in the store. No matter how you spell it, it was delicious and I bought a small bottle to take home!
The road to Bloomington was on old Route 66 and a nice bike path was added!
Time to catch up with Honest Abe outside the courthouse in Bloomington IL.
Under the courthouse was a Route 66 museum and visitor information center. Brandt and I arrived about the same time and watched a film of a retired Illinois State Trooper talking about his experience patrolling the mother road. He was not the same guy we heard from in Litchfield a few days ago.
The original Route 66 goes right through Illinois State University and the surrounding residential area!
Restored gas station now sits in a residential area at the edge of Bloomington.
Normal is the next town and borders on Bloomington. Here some of the original 1926 pavement disappears into a viaduct!
This sign describes a dangerous curve just 400 feet north of this sign. It was a sharp 90 degree curve that was only 18 feet wide. It gained its name mostly by travelers coming from Chicago traveling at high speed, and not expecting the sharp turn. 
The 4 lane Route 66 was constructed in the early 1950’s and Deadman’s Curve was no longer used. Today only 2 of the 4 lanes are in service, so we were able to ride on many sections of abandoned pavement.
Next stop was Lexington. Within a mile or two, there is original Route 66 pavement from 1926, the 4 lane Route 66 from the 1950s, and I-55 which carries the traffic today.
This section of 1926 pavement even has restored billboards along the way!
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