Ian Rambles
Following Route 66 is proving really successful at getting us to interesting parts of the US. We are navigating mostly from Jerry McClanahan's ring bound EZ guide which has the best directions - and Tom Snyders Travellers gude with the most amusing descriptions. All the other guides and maps have proved so little use that they have been relegated to the boot.

Fiona's Journal
We started the day in Dwight, Illinois and ended it in Springfield, Illinois after a day following the intricate twists and turns of the old Route 66. I am beginning to realise just how big these states really are.

It is another hot and windy day – a hot wind still feels like an anomaly to us cool temperate types. The terrain remains largely flat with wide distant horizons dotted with isolated farms and grain silos and every now and then we pass through small clusters of habitation. However small these places are they are still laid out in the classic US grid pattern of roads. The houses are mostly of a painted shiplap construction and very neat with perfectly manicured lawns around them. They remind us of the computer game “The Sims”.

We stopped at The Dixie Truckers Home for lunch, classic American Diner layout with tables and benches in individual boothes and failed to finish the enormous portions once again.

Mid-afternoon we reached our chosen destination, a KOA campsite in Springfield where Ian had booked us a cabin for the night. These cabins are great, solidly well made in pine, and they smell wonderfully of wood. Ours contained two Queen-sized beds and then two elevated sleeping platforms, one at either end of the roof space.

There were toilets and showers in the main block, an outdoor swimming pool, a basket ball hoop for George and a mini-golf course. We made use of them all, and the free WiFi, and we barbecued some ribs and steaks for tea. Perfect! We have booked ourselves into another KAO camp for tomorrow night – in Springfield Missouri.

Arthur's Log:
The temperature is too hot for me. Instead of warm inside and cold outside it is like stepping INTO an oven to step out of the car.

We went to "Dixie Truck Stop" for some food. I love how they give you unlimited refills on your coffee.

Arrived at the KOA campsite and I tried to play George at mini-golf. I suck. When trying to get the ball through the windmill I hit it a metre up and it bounced across the car park to the shop.

The Harry Report
I had an enormous fudge brownie with ice cream and whipped cream at Dixies

George's Musings
Travelling is weary and makes me sleepy.