Day 2 Koontz Farm

Kelso & I started reasonably early and back tracked into downtown Joliet to pick up Route 66. It was not too much of a problem because I studied the maps the night before.

The Maps are 1 each, for each of the 8 States that Route 66 travels thru. They are essentially hand drawn from years of gathered data and revolve around what is left of Rte 66 as it moves from one side of the freeway to the other side. The States have put up some actual Route 66 markers and you have to watch carefully for them or you don’t turn when you should. I think Missouri did a somewhat better job than Illinois with their signage.

The worst situation this day, we followed the the marked route until we lost it, but I kept going looking for markers. I finally checked the highways and continued to the next town, made a right turn and 10 miles later we were back on Route 66.

So far there is not a lot of Route 66 antiques or abandoned building to see in IL. What is nice is that there is very little traffic on these roads because the towns you go thru never really expanded once they lost the traffic to the Interstate Roads. There seems to be a fair amount of housing but these people must commute to their jobs elsewhere.

I was in Springfield when I called Steve Koontz. He is a farmer and I did not want to get to their place to early and interrupt his day. Steve and his wife Susan are my neighbors in Florida. Well he suggested the Lincoln Tomb and the Lincoln Residence in Springfield, so Kelso & I visited both sites as they were just a few miles from where I was when I called him. The day was hot and the sky was threatening rain on and off.

When we arrived at the Steve’s place, his wife Susan was home because she only worked 1/2 day. The rain started in earnest so we left for a tour of town.

We went into Town, Shelbyville, and Steve is a history buff and really knows how most things got started in the area. We drove around town for a while and then went out to the Shelbyville Lake that was created by the Corp of Engineers when they built the Dam in the 60’s. Steve & Susan have had several boats at one of the marinas and they still have a pontoon boat there.

We went to a restaurant and sat inside with Kelso. It was not high scale establishment, but it was nice to have the buddy with us. The waitress did bring him a bowl of water.

When we finally got back to the farm I was bushed but Steve needed to show me the other farm they have about 1 mile from theirs. His mother lived there until she died in 2024 and they still have it and it is like a VRBO with all you need and very tidy. It is off the main road by about 1000′ so there is very little noise (also because there is not much traffic). Lots of grass area and Kelso was off leash for his walks.

Long day with a lot accomplished.

The picture below is from Braidwood, IL.

The picture below is Lockport, IL.

The picture below is Lincoln’s Tomb in Springfield, IL.