I arrived at the Harley Davidson dealership, bag in hand and feeling a little nervous. The guys there were what you would imagine a HD person to look like. Big dudes covered in tattoos, mean looking mo fo's hands covered in all sort of rings that looked like knuckle dusters. This image changed instantly he opened his mouth as a high pitched squeakiness said "Hello Sir, how may we help" I kept the chuckle inside.
After the paperwork was finished and I bought myself some cool shades and grabbed one of their hire helmets. I was taken to the bike and shown around the working of checking oil etc and the security features, disc brakes etc. All finished the guy left me in the parking lot with just my steed.
I think this will be the biggest pause of this trip. This is where it started. This is where I will be out of my comfort zone from here on. I couldn't go.. I just sat on the bike waiting for my hands to start the engine. I don't get nervous, I usually love these challenges but I stayed there frozen for a good 5 minutes. Then i got off to go get a drink.
After a talking to myself I got back on, fired it up and headed straight to the exit where dual lanes flowed the wrong way. In the deep end we go, wrist twist and I was on the road.
Heading out of Chicago was relatively easy but I was very aware that one wrong junction or exit would put me in completely the wrong direction. Left up to I55 junction then right towards St Louis. I55 South I was looking for. This was very simple and once out of the city it became a doddle.
After 30 miles or so i saw signs for old route 66. I followed this onto I53. This took me 60-70 miles through great little towns named Joliet, Pontiac and Bloomington. I didn't stop at these places as there didn't seem much to do and i was also conscious I was running behind schedule after starting late that morning. I noticed all other Harley riders were wearing no helmet so I pulled over and put mine in the side panniers. As soon as I had pulled over a Harley rider appeared and asked if I needed any help. I thanked him and said I was ok. This would become a theme along today for every other HD rider I would see would raise a hand to me, handle bar height, no matter how far away they were. On the other side of freeways, in gas stations as I rode past. I was now a member of the HD gang for sure.
I53 was mainly dual carriageway with huge fields and farmlands dotted either side. The few 'housing estates' I saw were perfect grids with big houses, perfect straight roads and incredibly clean. I can only describe these places as looking so false and as if they were built as nuclear testing towns that I have seen in films.
I also started to see religion creeping in on signs, buildings and bumper stickers. I noticed one Catholic driver showing a large sticker that only half the people that enter abortion clinics come out alive.. I didn't expect to see too much of this stuff until further into my trip but I guess its a huge part of American culture wherever you go and more so in these noweheresville towns.
I pressed on to get to Springfield as I had no accommodation booked. With my helmet off and riding the freeway I have never had such a feeling of freedom. Even the buzzing of the Blackberry was not felt over the rumble of the engine.
It was clear blue sky all the way and the sun was now overhead chasing me and I could see my reflection on the chrome handlebars. I had my forehead in the sun but the wind was keeping me cool <<< Spot the English mistake here.
I stopped at Dixie66 in Mclean, a famous Route 66 trucker stop for some lunch around 2:30. A big chicken sandwich, chips and almost a litre of coke. I thought places like this would be full of bikers but I was the only one on two wheels there. I was 45 miles from Springfield and making good progress.
Back on the bike I pulled out past a McDonalds. It then struck me that I had seen a McDonalds in every town, every exit, everywhere there was a mention of food. Mcdonalds is a beast of a company and they are everywhere, sometimes just a block apart.
I came off I55 into Springfield and as soon as I slowed down to look for hotels I felt the burning of my forehead. I couldn't find any hotels/b&b's so i pulled into the shade and asked a local. He pointed me to the State House Inn where I got a room for $100 and made my way quickly to get some after sun and suncream.
On way back to the hotel I stopped in a small bar called the Brickhouse and ordered a beer that turned out to be Texan (something Brock). I got talking to a few guys there. One guy was filming at New Salem, just 20 miles out of town. He was a part in the new Spielberg movie about Lincoln. I will be heading there the next day so hopefully see some stuff going on. I also got chatting to a guy from the Army who hated Springfield due to its lack of anything to do in the evening. He educated me that Springfield is the capital of Illinois just because it is Abraham Lincolns town an roots. He was from Chicago and couldn't wait to go back every weekend. He also told me a lot about the current Iraq/Afghanistan wars and what the media didn't report. Interesting and morbid stuff.
Nachos and 6 pints later I went back to the hotel. 110,000 people live in Springfield and you would be surprised there were that many, streets were empty and it was only 9:30. It has a very federal feel all very formal. Courthouses, Bureau's, legal buildings. Great for history but not a good place to party. Bed by 10pm and I woke once to the sound of the train horn rumbling through town.
Tomorrow night I will be in Cuba. I have some things to see along the way and will definitely by wearing my helmet and suncream on route.
(I cant upload any photos yet due to hotel pc restrictions)
