Wilmington to Springfield

Okay, wrote a whole entry about yesterday then blogger lost it. Lesson learned

Left Wilmington after breakfast at the Wilmington Family Diner where we met the owner. It’s the oldest diner in town and he’d owned it for 22 years. Originally from Montenegro he immigrated as a carpenter but couldn’t find work and ended up washing dishes, ultimately staying in the food trade. He’s ready to retire but is worried about the business because his children have no interest. A familiar story.

Then we met John sitting in front of an old gas station in Dwight. Amazing old business. Interesting man. But we’re learning, don’t talk politics!

In Pontiac we visited the museum and was introduced to the work of an artist who lived there named Bob Waldmire. He had two vehicles, the VW bus for driving around, his mobile information center, and the school bus he lived in. I love people who find their own way like this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Waldmire

We ended the day in a motel in Springfield trying to escape the 104F weather. Both of us, the VW, and the sculpture are not liking the heat. Today we head for south of St. Louis and 108F degrees! 

Slushies while caught in the reflection off the sculpture.

Dwight

Pontiac

Bob Walmire's bus

Pontiac Leader reporter

Wilmington Diner owner.

John at the Dwight gas station.

Truck on I55.

Route 66 running along side the interstate.

Begin

Started down Route 66 today. Crazy day getting the cameras going and making our way to the starting point. Then it got even crazier trying to get out of Chicago with all the road construction and traffic. But once we got out of the grip of the city it was great. It's nice not to be on the Interstate. Tourist attractions started almost immediately.

The start of the Mother Road.

Joliet

Wilmington

Fossil Rock Recreation Area, Wilmington

A day in Chicago

Chicago!

Tomorrow we head down Route 66. So far so good as far as everything goes. A few problems with the van but I think we're okay. Spent yesterday looking around the city and finding the starting point of Route 66. Today we're just taking a breather and getting the cameras, and other gear, in order.

Met up with two artists, Keer Tanchak and Maria Scileppi, to talk about the project and things they're working on. It was great to connect with someone in Chicago.

Jessie standing at the start of Route 66.

I always wanted to slide down the huge Picasso sculpture here in Chicago!

Anish Kapoor - Chicago skyline reflected in his sculpture entitled Cloud Gate.

The Drake event in Toronto was a bit confusing but okay. The project was parked outside and a lot of people looked at it. Met a couple from Austen Texas who'd been on the road for the last year living in a camper. I installed an older work entitled Lens in the foyer of the Drake as part of their summer exhibition entitled "When Sparks Fly".

Send off at Alexadraplatz Bar, Montreal, 19th. Thanks to everybody at the bar and to those people who showed up!

This is the front image on a post card that I'm having printed for the trip.

This is the Seed Engine unit as it will be when we head down the highway next week. Still working out problems. Haven't got lights functioning on the trailer yet. The VW designers really like to mess with things. It's never simple.