Route 66-based story
written by OC,SH’s founder, inspired by his September 2009 Route 66 road trip

CHAPTER 44: SET UP & ARRIVAL

The Old Route 66 Family Restaurant in Dwight IL opens every morning at 5a. The brothers weren’t quite up early enough to arrive by then, but they were up, packed & out of the hotel in time to arrive just after 8a. From the hotel just off I-55 at the Illinois Route 47 interchange, the eldest steered the tan 1976 Caprice south on Illinois Route 47 until it met up with Route 66; the brothers then traveled Route 66 to the restaurant:

(I took this photo 11/27/2009, the 1st day of a Thanksgiving weekend road trip to southern IL, Alabama & Tennessee)

Upon arriving, the brothers unloaded the radio equipment from the Caprice & ate a quick breakfast. Then, while the younger brother set up for his 1st live broadcast for WSM, the eldest brother draped & secured the WSM banner, specially-made for the younger brother’s trip & broadcasts, over the Caprice’s windshield. Once back inside, the eldest sat down at a table near his brother’s makeshift broadcast area & took in the sights & sounds. He half-listened to a conversation between a pair of patrons enjoying their breakfast at a table next to him.

“Well, if the rumors are true, I hope they find an investor soon,” the quite old gentleman said to his breakfast companion. The eldest brother guessed the gentleman to be in his late 80s, if not early 90s. He looked as if he’d been around a while, but still had his wits about him. “It sure would be a shame for this place to go belly-up now. Where else would we get breakfast?”

“Oh, Gus, you know we have plenty of other places to go for breakfast!” The eldest guessed the old gentleman’s companion was his wife; she had white hair, seemingly permed to perfection, & her demeanor was calm as a cucumber.

“Yeah,” the old gentleman retorted. “But, they sure ain’t no Route 66-oriented place!”

“Well, honey, things change, you know that,” his companion said, taking a bite of her pancakes.

“Yeah yeah yeah, I know. Thank goodness some things never change, like WSM.” The old gentleman gestured towards the youngest brother’s makeshift broadcast area.

The eldest slightly chuckled to himself, thinking, ‘If he only knew….’

The old gentleman’s companion swallowed her bite of pancakes, glanced at the eldest brother & exchanged a smile with him. She turned back to the old gentleman & said: “Yes, dear, some things never change.”

“Almost time!” the younger brother exclaimed, interrupting the eldest’s semi-eavesdropping. The youngest had snuck up next to his older brother, who now glanced at the clock on the wall: 8:56a.

“Well, aren’t you excited,” the eldest teased.

“You betcha,” replied the youngest. “I’m so glad I’m able to do this. It’ll be nice to do a few different broadcasts for the 1st day on the trip.”

Since the brothers planned to spend a few days in Dwight, the younger brother opted to do several broadcast this 1st day on Route 66, all from the Old Route 66 Family Restaurant, with the 1st broadcast starting at 9a US central.

“Yep, indeed,” the eldest said, glancing towards the door, which had just opened. “Well well, look who just walked in.”

“I’ll have to chat with them later, I better get ready!”

As the younger brother walked back to his makeshift broadcast area, the eldest stood up & walked towards the door….

(I took this photo 04/16/2011 during the Spring Fling Meet’n’Greet I organized at the Old Route 66 Family Restaurant, Dwight IL)