h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My goal for today was to get some pictures from Route 66. I wanted to drive I-55 north to Springfield, have lunch at the Cozy Dog Drive In, and enjoy some of Route 66 on the way back. Thank bob for the internet, while researching my route online last night I discovered that the Dog is closed on Sundays. What to do?

Litchfield is about an hour closer to home, and boasts the Sky View Drive In (theatre) *and* the Ariston Cafe. Between here and there is Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, a gift shop/museum of the sort you will find all up and down the road. So the plan was to take 55 to Litchfield, snap some shots of the Sky View, lunch at the Ariston, take 66 back to Staunton and the Rabbit Ranch before picking 55 back up south to Collinsville, where I thought I might stop off and take pictures of the Largest Catsup Bottle for that entry.

The Sky View isn't open yet for the season - I didn't expect it would be - but it doesn't have a sign, either. There's a marquee that says 'Drive In', but no sign that says Sky View

The Ariston was FANTASTIC! Although they were busy with the Sunday lunch/after church crowd, the owner had seen us park and get out of the car and had a table set for us (complete with crayons for Chunk) by the time we got to the door. Our table was next to a large family dressed in their Sunday best enjoying the brunch buffet, while we were there the table on the other side of us was taken by three biker couples complete with leather - a real Route 66 atmosphere (there was even a guy there wearing a Coral Courts (A1984403) bowling shirt). The food was perfect, I had a chicken sandwich with ham and provel on a croissant, Mr B had an old-fashioned cheeseburger. We bought a couple of Ariston Cafe glasses and a Route 66 cap.

Cruising 66 south we passed through Mount Olive, which I had nearly forgotten about, and accidentally discovered Soulsby's Shell, which was one of the Illinois 66 Association's preservation projects a few years ago. Still looks fabulous, and we got a few shots of that.

On to Staunton and the Rabbit Ranch. Mr B, not knowing much about 66, was somewhat disappointed to find that the driveway at the Ranch was filled with old Volkswagen Rabbits with their hatches up. (I actually didn't know about the VWs either.) I was disappointed to find the business hours said they were closed on Sundays, but I had half expected it and there was plenty to photograph on the outside, so I was happy with that.

While snapping pictures a local drove up looking for the owner, who suddenly appeared and invited us inside. He explained that the business hours were primarily for his local business (an insurance salesman) and that he was pretty much open anytime for Route 66 travellers. We spent about 45 minutes talking to owner Rich Henry and enjoying his other rabbits - the fluffy kind - including the Ranch's mascot Montana, a huge black rabbit. We bought a keychain, a sippy cup for Chunk, and a set of 66 maps that I very nearly bought on Amazon literally just yesterday.

We didn't make it to Collinsville, but I'll definitely get the catsup bottle some time this summer.

I've got the 66 bug now, and can't wait to make more trips! I should have pics up soon at Yahoo. Or maybe I'll try out the webshots membership I signed up for. I'll post a link when I have one.

This should be a link to the photos:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/broelan/album/576460762310801800

Great photos. We've had bad weather every time I'm off work. I'll definitely get you some Kansas photos one of these days. Probably not in time, but you'll have them anyway.

Yeah, neat pics broe. Especially the bridge!

Thanks. I'm going to use one of the bridge pictures for the Missouri page, I just haven't decided which one. I think one of the Rabbit Ranch pics will go on Illinois, and since I haven't heard from Phred I thought I might drive out to Chain of Rocks tomorrow afternoon and try to get a nice pic for the main page.

That's okay about the Kansas pics, Hyp. Obviously I won't have pics for every page. I figure if I get some later I can always have them added in the future, and they'll be seen when they re-run the project in the Uni spot on the front page. If our Greece vacation plans fall through this year, we thought we might drive part of Oklahoma this fall, although given more time I'd probably start in Arizona.

Glad you enjoyed the pics. I wish I'd thought to get one of Rich Henry and Montana. Oh well, now I have an excuse to go back

Incidentally, Mr Henry asked us how we got interested in 66, whether or not it was the film Cars (they're expecting a jump in tourism this year from that, and they'll surely get it). I briefly explained to him about h2g2 and Number 6 and the whole project. Before we left he gave us a stack of newspapers called the Route 66 Pulse, which was just started last summer. They take reader submissions, so I thought I might write an article for them this summer about how I got interested in the road (with a mention here, of course) and some of the experiences I've had since. It'd be great to be in real print.

I think I may have mentioned this before. There is a very good novel called "West on 66" that you would probably like alot. Those are nice Pix.

I haven't heard of it, but I'll put it on my list of titles to look for.

If you go through OK, let me know! We can have lunch at the Metro Diner in Tulsa right there on Rt 66. Good food, cheap prices.