When you hear “Gentlemen Start Your Engines” the fab Route 66 starts indeed and we say good-bye to the windy city for good. For many this is the spot where Route 66 really begins.
It’s here that you’ll find that kitsch classic, the Gemini giant.
About four miles beyond Shirley, Illinois, we will arrive to Funks Grove Road.
They typically held "tools" in their hands from mufflers, to hot dogs, to axes, and more.
In this case, the Gemini Giant holds a rocket ship, a reminder of the 1960s space race.
Continuing on IL 53 to Braidwood, the next photo opportunity is the Polka Dot Drive-In at 222 N. in Odell, there is a restored Depression-era gas station, which happens to be very cool.
Front St with its Elvis, Marilyn, James Dean and Betty Boop statues. It was built in 1932 and served travelers on Route 66 until the 1960s.