It’s Not Me, It’s Him, Right?

Route 66 Day #1

There’s been a disturbing trend in my life in the past few days.  I am losing things that are not lost.  Yesterday, it was a putter that was clearly in my golf bag, for some reason I did not see it.  Unfortunately, the trend continues.

While my kitchen is being remodeled, I didn’t want to have to deal with the mess, so what better way to go away for a bit and drive to California on side roads.  And what better side road than Route 66.  So with Susan in tow, we first needed to pick up a rental car.  Trying to find a one-way rental is near impossible in Ann Arbor, so off to Metro airport, first in her car, and back to my house in separate cars.

And a side note to Budget Rent-a-Car — we’re on to you.  We asked for a Focus, they wouldn’t give us one for a one-way rental, it’s too popular.  So they trotted out a Nissan Versa, which I believe was re-purposed from those bullpen cars of the 70s.  Seeing that the “trunk” would barely had room for Susan’s purse, let alone two suitcases and two bags, we had no choice to upgrade.  Very sneaky sis.

We sort of made a side bet of who would get back first, since she doesn’t think I drive aggressive enough and my shortcut to get around Plymouth Road isn’t really a short cut.  So, as we leave and get on I-94, I get quite the lead.  Things are looking great.  And then for some reason I think I need to feel my pocket for phone.  And I can’t find it.  Did I leave it at the rental car place?  Did I drop it under the seat?  I better find out now before it’s too late?  So I had to pull over to a rest area to look.  I eventually found it in an obscure place to keep a phone (the pocket), but now Susan had the lead.  I nearly pulled off the miraculous comeback, but I was beaten by about 45 seconds.

After a trip on I-94 to the starting point, we first met Greg and Kirsti for a fine lunch.  Being that the rental car debacle cost us some time, we had to hurry if we were going to hit one of the museums before they close.  Unfortunately, the traffic* prevented us from getting there to get our money’s worth, so plan B was to walk around Millennium Plaza.   Susan took some fine pictures, including some very, er, um interesting gifts from China, and we were ready to start the Route 66 trip.

We got to Adams at Michigan at 5:40 pm.  We got to Joliet, IL at 7:34 pm.  That’s 44 miles, in 114 minutes.  I may have planned this poorly.  We did have an ambulance delay, plus a turnaround for some pictures, and some travel time going to the not-on-66 hotel, so let’s say 43 miles in 104 minutes.  This allegedly gets faster soon.  And although Illinois really does promote Route 66, and actually has it signed, the business strip so far was a bit disappointing.  A semi-wacky hot dog place is probably the only “highlight” so far.

Coming Up Tomorrow: We’ll log a trip to Lincoln-Land, see the St. Louis Golden Arch presented by McDonalds and farms.  Lots and lots of farms.

*Some of the traffic to blame was because of a Bon Jovi concert.  At Soldier Field.   Which seats 61,000.  For two nights.  I weep for this country.