Chicago to St. Louis (continued)
We ate lunch at the Dixie Truckers Home at McLean

... and on we rolled to Mount Olive where we stopped again for gas. Soulsby Station is one of a number of 'restored' gas stations along Route 66, but most do not actually sell gas - or even petrol for that matter!

Look closely at the inspection ramp in this picture. Clearly it has not been used for many years.

This being our second trip down Route 66, we were anxious to spend less time on the Interstate than we had over the first couple of days on the 2001 run.

One of the odd sights that we missed last trip was this giant ketchup bottle (a water tower). Incidentally, Brooks now make their 'catsup' in Canada.
The day was nearly over, which was sad, as our friends, Theo
Meester and Dirk De Jong, could only ride with us as far as St. Louis. Tomorrow they would be travelling East on the way back to Canada.
We crossed the Missouri River on the Interstate Bridge, and then stopped to look at the old Chain of Rocks Bridge. This bridge was built over a particularly treacherous chain of rocks that lies beneath the surface of the river. The bridge is now maintained by private donors whose names are recorded on brass plaques across its span.