We made the efffort to leave the interstate for the mother road, but she is in need of a facelift in places. At times there seems little of the old route 66 left, the highway has bypassed most the kitsch sites and old style dinners along the way are closed down, replaced by chains along the main road. However there are still sites to be seen and taking side roads such as the 28 to the worlds largest totem pole, make you see why the road without the fibreglass giants carries such iconic status. To say the road undulated was an understatement we had to video as pictures wouldnt do it justice. We also went to possibly the sugariest place on the route the Precious Moments Chapel, which I ended up quite liking.

Carthage was a great little town and we hit the drive in movie, to watch cars 2 again. We thought you could choose but they were playing the films back to back and as cars didnt finish till 11 we missed Rio, but there was something great about the experience except for the heat. 110f is the hotest we have had, and it will get hotter as we head to the desert. Today we saw the blue whale, and got chatting to the locals, i love collecting peoples stories, and doing the research is a nice excuse.

Longish drive today from Chicago – Cuba about 6 hours. Liked the windy city a lot but wouldnt recommend the hop on hop off bus, we spent a lot of the day waiting for it. However it was a good way to see the city. The bean and public art was great and we visited the Trickster Gallery (a native american fine art), We stopped a couple of classic 66 sites along the way like the spaceman, and also saw the giant tricycle, icecream cone, flying saucer, and then visited the cahoki mounds, before making our stop in the classic wagon wheel motel but not before rounding off the day at the Hicks BBQ, which was great ribs and pulled pork, (lori had a salad).

Great day driving from Middlebury to Schumburg (just the other side of Chicago). We went via the Indiana dunes (one of the smaller national parks) for a swim in Lake Michigan. The great lakes are truely amazing, you sit on the side and wonder where it ends as it stretches to the horizon. I am so used to seeing Wales, France or Lundy, from the sea it seems bizare to have waves on a lake. Tomorrow we pick up Tufty and Clive, we have a day for them to recover from the flight then we hit the town, before route 66 beckons.

Spent a great three days in Amish, Hutterite and Mennonite area. Lots of buggys and visiting small towns and garage sales as an excuse to speak to the locals. Wonderful time at the B and B. This morning was panckae and sausage casserole for breakfast and homemade wonderful cinnamon roles. Going past Kalamazoo (I jest not) we Went to the county fair which was supposed to be the third largest in the country but was about a 1/8 of the devon county, although you dnt get elephant ears to eat in devon. Tomorrow we head for Chicago via the Indiana dunes. Highlight of the trip in this area was to the Menno Hof an info centre, It was really informative without being touristy. Also picked up about £150 worth of Wade Wimsies at a garage sale for $10.

We arrived in Indiana today after a reasonable time crossing the border. Because I am naturally chatty I got in conversation with the customs guys but Lori suggested that it made me look guilty. We are at a great B and B near Middlebury and in an Amish area. Tomorrow we are visiting locally and then Sunday is the county fare. We seem to keep landing in places on the right day, Toronto for the free musem on Wednesdays, and Yesterday we found a great fish fryer on the lakeside that is only open two days a week. We had perch and pikerel, but weren’t sure which is which, but only liked one. Today was a longer drive and through some heavy rain. The B and B is great and were served pies at 8pm made by the in house local amish chef. We had peanut butter pie, caramel fudge and Indi had blueberry. Up till now it has been too hot to eat much but I think looking at the breakfast menu that is about to change.

The local quilts are amazing but at around $800 for a double a touch on the pricey side for us.

The first driving leg of the road trip started today. We picked up The Barge – a white lincon Town car (it is massive and easier to do a three point turn in a boat) Sat Nav was worth it weight in gold as it took us out of NY, through the Holland tunnel and I now know what the Jeresy Turnpike is – I think?. Got stung but the first toll as missed the sign to collect a card so ended up paying $8 for about a mile. We did a few hundred miles and stopped at what we thought was a roadside cafe that turned out to be a roller skaing dinner just like on the TV! Brilliant drive through a bit of Penslyannia but mostly NY state we arrived late and struggled to find a room – but thats all in the adventure. Loved the drive, the views and Indi was thankful for a day off from pounding the streets so was very well behaved in the back. She had chicken dippers at the drive in and Pringles for tea – well we are on a road trip.

Got lost in Little Italy, China Town and Central Park. In theory it should be easy to navigate the city, Avenues run one way streets the other, but just kept getting lost. The plan was coffee in Little italy lunch in china town and CP followed by Guggenhiem. We had coffee in a french place, lunch at an italian, and never made the big G. Still good day. I love the area we are staying in just outside Greenwich village, near Irving place and Union Square. Would love to do detached work in union square find out as Michelle Shocked asks Whats it like to be a New York Skate board punk rocker?

Got lost in Little Italy, China Town and Central Park. In theory it should be easy to navigate the city, Avenues run one way streets the other, but just kept getting lost. The plan was coffee in Little italy lunch in china town and CP followed by Guggenhiem. We had coffee in a french place, lunch at an italian, and never made the big G. Still good day. I love the area we are staying in just outside Greenwich village, near Irving place and Union Square. Would love to do detached work in union square find out as Michelle Shocked asks Whats it like to be a New York Skate board punk rocker?

We thought a boat trip around the island to see the sites would be great, but a three hours later tower blocks started to look the same, but very much liked the Crysler building and twisty building (we didnt get a guide book). Although long, That is not to say it wasnt a good trip, chilling on the river was a good way to spend the morning. Today was also NY food day, a cream cheese bagle for breakfast, A pizza slice for lunch and a burger for dinner. I  recommend Mikeys just round the corner from East 19th and 2nd Ave. Plenty of walking again today but an afternoon in the cinema watching cars 2 (indis treat) was a welcome break. Into the sabbatical mode and just finished my fourth book and the first theology book. A bonus of staying with the Mennonites I found Yoder (the theologian not the Star Wars Jedi) and whizzed through What would you do? which included the great story of the Peace Cheif Lawerence Hart. but I have only collected 3 interviews.