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Monday, November 3, 2014

Illinois Route 66

I've heard so much about the famous Route-66; I know it crossed the United States from the Midwest to the West Coast, but .... does it still exist? In my quest to know, I found that part of the old road still exist and passed through nothing more and nothing else than Joliet, the next town from where I live. So last Saturday, I drove there and South to sketch some of the roadside attractions in three different towns.
 
The first one was the Rich & Creamy Ice Cream Store in Joliet. Once my husband took me there when I moved to the United States years ago. I wasn't impressed, I thought it was dated and old. With my limited knowledge about this country, I had little appreciation of what I was witnessing. That has changed.  Now I like anything vintage and that has history. I sat on the shade across the road, it was cold, but I captured the Blues Brothers on top.
 
 
Next day, Sunday, I headed South to the Village of  Dwight in Illinois. There's is a beautiful historic place call the Ambler's Texaco Gas Station. I LOVED the vintage gas pumps. This time I wasn't going to let the cold weather get to me, so this smart girl parked the car with the trunk's window facing the building. I sketched in the trunk very comfortably and stayed warm. I love the result.
 

 
Finally I headed back North to the town of Wilmington to make a stop at this statue made of fiber glass, the Gemini Giant. Now a restaurant, it started as a stand selling only hot dogs. I believe old Route 66 is full of this giant statues, something in vogue then. I had a great weekend on Route 66.
 


6 comments:

  1. Love these Adriana! Your watercolors are beautiful!

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  2. We lived in Bloomington when I worked at I.S.U. and drove 66 often. Thanks for the memory.

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  3. Adriana, we ADORE these drawings at the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Assocation. We recently shared them on our social media, and they were a hit! Nice work--we're honored to be your subject matter!
    -Kaleigh
    www.illinoisroute66.org

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    1. Thank you Kaleigh! It was a joy to skecth and share.

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