Lincoln, St Louis and lots of good news!

Bill Shea

Oldest steel Gas station

Today's first stop was another of those iconic Rte 66 gas stations. Shea's Gas Station Museum is in north Springfield and has been in business there for 61 years. Part of it is the oldest steel gas station building in the country. It is chock full of memorabilia from Rte 66 and the gas station business ($2 admission). None of it is more interesting than the proprietor who met us at the door. Bill Shea is 89 years old and has been there for all 61 years. Bill comes to work each day in his neatly pressed service station attendant uniform and is full of stories.
Perhaps the most interesting and important exhibit is the pair of boots he wore on D-day when he landed on one of the beaches in France. All in all, a great start to the day!

Lincoln's Tomb

The old Tomb

Next it was on to one of the things that I most wanted to visit on this trip. Lincoln's Tomb in Springfield. I have always been a bit of a Lincoln/civil war buff so this stop became a must. Very nice grounds and the tomb itself is quite a bit larger and more formal than I had anticipated. Very moving too. We also got to see the original tomb which is down the hill and has been preserved. that is where the conspiracy to steal his body took place. Then it was on to downtown and the Lincoln Museum. It is fairly new and is across from the Lincoln Presidential Library and down the street from his original law offices. Not nearly enough time to see it all so maybe another future trip?
Lunch was at the original drive in that makes Cozy Dogs, I feel like I am eating my way across the country.

Ted Drews

Dealer Party

We followed the road all of the rest of the way across Illinois with a lot more stops in little towns and at old restored icons along the way. We crossed into Missouri over the Mississippi on the Chain of Rocks Bridge. It is a mile long steel girder bridge that was part of the old Rte 66. Normally restricted to just pedestrian and bicycle use, Harley made special arrangements to allow us to cross it today, the only problem was we arrived an hour and a half after the scheduled time-FUN CROSSING!
We ended our day in St Louis, first at Ted Drews Ice Cream where we got a free "concrete" It is soft ice cream that is so thick that they hand it to you upside down with the spoon in it! Spin class tomorrow morning for sure!
The local dealer hosted a party for the group, more food, this time pulled pork. Not the Dinosaur but really good.

So, pretty good day, HUH? Well it got better!

First, my daughter in law sent me a sonogram picture of my new granddaughter. She is scheduled to arrive sometime in early February. Good looking baby there I do believe.

Baby Ross

 Then I got an e-mail from Ron, the husband of our friend Sue, telling us that she was being released from the hospital in Pennsylvania today (I think she tricked them into it!). She still has a long way to go and needs good thoughts and prayers, but tonight I am so happy to know that she can finally come home!

Tomorrow it is on to Springfield Mo. and surely more adventures.