Despite my fondness for the theme song and being the V.P of the Martin Fan Club, I’m no veteran of the midwestern stretch of Route 66/ I55. I’ve only driven through central Illinois a handful of times and while facile with Yelp and google, I don’t know every restaurant, diner or attraction along the route.

Chuck’s Southern, White Fence Farm and Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket are local favorites off 55, but I only have a passing knowledge of them. I appreciate how some people drive cross-country or down to Florida each year. It’s never been my thing. I might develop and interest and ability to take the slower route, but for now it’s not in my DNA. As was the case on the recent STL trip, I was making such good time, I didn’t want to stop for more than gas and potty breaks. The kindergarten influence-sorry.

When I’m unfamiliar interstate, I’m more apt to stop at the regional gas stations as they might offer some bonuses like fresh bakery items. I realized I wasn’t exactly in Greater Chicago yesterday when I stopped at a 66 station at the Girard/Farmersville exit. The station was huge but didn’t have bakery items-instead and behind the counter they had fried gizzards and livers by the pound. Dang, that’s southern man!

On my way home this morning I stopped at the Greater Chicago I55 Truck Stop. This isn’t as massive as the famous world’s largest truck stop (on I80, but it’s pretty impressive. I always appreciate hearing people’s favorite highway stops. The personal touch is far better than Yelpisms as far as I’m concerned.

In trips over 2 hours, I try and sync up my meals closer to my destination so as to avoid internal plumbing issues. This and traffic issues near SLAM resulted in my missing breakfast and lunch yesterday.

I’m always curious as to how some drivers are able to accommodate the needs and desires of passengers and keeping everyone happy. Yesterday I only had to worry about getting to the museum and parking and checking in before the two-block walk to Busch II.