We rolled out of the hotel at 0630 for the12 mile run to breakfast. Today’s 88 mile ride could be looked at in 3 segments. The first was classic rural Route 66 riding. As Route 66 gets closer to Chicago, traffic and rough roads dictated a change of routes. The second segment was 20+ miles of gravel riding through the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and Wauponsee Glacial Trail. Lastly, we followed the Illinois and Michigan canal trail most of the remainder of the ride to the Chicago suburb of Willowbrook.
It was a fantastic day of riding, let’s get started on Route 66! We alternated between new and old 4 lane Route 66 and some sections of 1926 2 lane when looping into small towns bypassed by the 1940 4 lane alignment.
There was an old grain silo at the Cayuga turnoff. I pulled off to get a picture, but the lighting was not right so I rolled around to the sunny side of the building. I could see the light shining through an opening and lined up for a photo. Then I noticed an old buckboard wagon inside so I went in to check it out!
Back on the 4 lane, and for much of the day, except the ride through the prairie, our route would follow rail lines!
We pulled off the 4 lane Route 66 onto a 1926 historic alignment leading to Odell. On the edge of town we stopped at this restored service station. Mike was looking for a geo-cache but did not find it.
Just before we arrived at a cafe on Main Street, we found this remnant of an underground pedestrian underpass. This was right across from a Catholic Church.
After another great breakfast, we rolled through the tiny town of Odell. Often on the 1926 alignment, Route 66 would go right through residential neighborhoods.
I had been hoping to catch a photo of an Amtrak, but by the time I would see or hear it, it was gone. Leaving Odell the crossing bells were clanging and in the distance I could see a train approaching, so I stopped to take a video!
Back on the two-lane headed into Dwight I caught up with the lead group. We formed up a nice pace line and covered the next segment at 18-20 miles an hour!
I was taking a long pull at the front as we rolled into Braidwood. The Polk-A-Dot Drive-In was on the left side of the road, and I noticed an Elvis statue there so I motioned that I would be stopping for a photo and the whole group pulled in. There must have been at least a dozen statues, so I joined Jake and Elwood for a photo!
Kankakee River
The next town was Wilmington, and we were looking forward to milk shakes and the Gemini Man muffler man. Well, the shake stand was closed and Gemini Man is in the process of being moved and was MIA! I didn’t want to wait for it to open so I rolled out off the front of the group. At least there was another cool house, right on Route 66!
I arrived at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and found the pedestrian gate to go inside. The crushed gravel path was in perfect condition, and I rolled on comfortably looking for bison that inhabit the preserve.
There was a section of the gravel trail that was closed. A temporary detour was in place, and while easy to follow, it was mowed, but very rough clumpy Tallgrass.
Back on the trail, it was back to high speed gravel riding. I had passed an E-biker and I heard someone coming behind me, and thought it was them. No, it was Craig and Brandt hammering away on their gravel bikes with big smiles on their faces.
Craig still loving the route!
We rode together and went a little off route to catch a photo of the Chicagoland Speedway. We picked up the Wauponsee Glacial gravel trail that led to the next SAG stop in a park in Joliet.
Remains of a canal lock
After a leisurely stop enjoying the shady grass in the park, we mounted up and headed out for the last segment of the day, bike trails following the Illinois and Michigan Canal.
We stopped in Lockport for a nice lunch at a restaurant right on the canal. After weeks of Route 66 road food, this 1/2 wedge salad was delightful!
We continued on the bike path, and as we got closer to Chicago, the surrounding area became very industrial!
Mike rolls through the construction zone!
Just a couple of miles from Willowbrook, we rode the frontage road of I-55, which sits on top of Old Route 66! There was a closed section under construction, but there was no work going this Saturday afternoon so we rode through.
Nearly there!
We pulled into the hotel in Willowbrook about 3:30 pm and set about the normal routine of cleaning bike, body and kit. There is a Catholic Church nearby so I caught the vigil Mass and Ubered to the Dell Rhea Chicken Basket and caught up with the group just as dinner arrived!
The ‘Traditional Half Chicken Dinner’
Group shot after dinner!
I can’t believe that tomorrow our journey will end at the beginning of the Mother Road in downtown Chicago. We’ll get breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant downtown then head north to Niles IL to pack the bikes, clean up, and then head to the airport!
0600 Coffee in the lobby, load and ride at 0645 for the 19 mile ride to breakfast.
There was an old grain silo at the Cayuga turnoff. I pulled off to get a picture, but the lighting was not right so I rolled around to the sunny side of the building. I could see the light shining through an opening and lined up for a photo. Then I noticed an old buckboard wagon inside so I went in to check it out!
We pulled off the 4 lane Route 66 onto a 1926 historic alignment leading to Odell. On the edge of town we stopped at this restored service station. Mike was looking for a geo-cache but did not find it. 
Just before we arrived at a cafe on Main Street, we found this remnant of an underground pedestrian underpass. This was right across from a Catholic Church.
Back on the two-lane headed into Dwight I caught up with the lead group. We formed up a nice pace line and covered the next segment at 18-20 miles an hour!
I was taking a long pull at the front as we rolled into Braidwood. The Polk-A-Dot Drive-In was on the left side of the road, and I noticed an Elvis statue there so I motioned that I would be stopping for a photo and the whole group pulled in. There must have been at least a dozen statues, so I joined Jake and Elwood for a photo!
The next town was Wilmington, and we were looking forward to milk shakes and the Gemini Man muffler man. Well, the shake stand was closed and Gemini Man is in the process of being moved and was MIA! I didn’t want to wait for it to open so I rolled out off the front of the group. At least there was another cool house, right on Route 66!
I arrived at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and found the pedestrian gate to go inside. The crushed gravel path was in perfect condition, and I rolled on comfortably looking for bison that inhabit the preserve.
There was a section of the gravel trail that was closed. A temporary detour was in place, and while easy to follow, it was mowed, but very rough clumpy Tallgrass.
Back on the trail, it was back to high speed gravel riding. I had passed an E-biker and I heard someone coming behind me, and thought it was them. No, it was Craig and Brandt hammering away on their gravel bikes with big smiles on their faces.
We rode together and went a little off route to catch a photo of the Chicagoland Speedway. We picked up the Wauponsee Glacial gravel trail that led to the next SAG stop in a park in Joliet.
After a leisurely stop enjoying the shady grass in the park, we mounted up and headed out for the last segment of the day, bike trails following the Illinois and Michigan Canal. 
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