Lincoln's nose and the Mother Road

Friday 🗺️ July 31, 2026 🗺️ Hiding from the heat

Happy Friday, Reader!

We finally rolled into Illinois, the last stop on our Route 66 adventure! Neither of us has really explored this state before, so it's all new territory. Big cities aren't really our thing, so you know we're sticking to the backroads and checking out the quieter, quirkier spots.

Route 66 has been our ticket to all those little towns and main streets we usually miss. Most of our 8 years on the road have been spent hugging the coasts, so this trip has been a fun detour into the heartland.

In the last issue, we made our way to St. Louis, where it landed on our "oh crap, what were we thinking pulling the trailer through these heavily trafficked interchanges" list. We enjoyed seeing the arch and spending a night at the River City Casino. Plus, we got to enjoy delicious custard at Ted Drewe's!

But the real goal was seeing the Chain of Rocks Bridge, which connects Missouri and Illinois across the mighty Mississippi River. It was an unforgettable experience!

The Chain of Rocks Bridge

I had my heart set on the perfect shot: sunset golden hour, just the right spot along the riverbank. Of course, travel had other plans for us! Turns out, the coolest bridge I've ever seen wasn't going to make it easy.

The Chain of Rocks Bridge spans the Mississippi at the north edge of St. Louis, linking Chouteau Island in Illinois to the Missouri side. But it wasn't just the bridge itself that caught my eye. It's got this wild bend in the middle, plus those funky water intake towers nearby. Picture it at sunset, a total photographer's dream!

But, as usual, the travel schedule had other ideas. Sunset? Not happening. The only time we could make it was late morning. So I switched gears: long exposure to blur the water and clouds, maybe black and white if the light was stubborn. Not what I planned, but hey, you roll with it!

But road construction? That I couldn't work around. First try, we missed our exit. Second try, Google sent us the wrong way down the highway with only closed exits. I was having serious flashbacks to the George Washington Bridge in New York! Third time's the charm, though, and we finally made it.

Of course, there was a new problem waiting for us: no way down to the riverbank on the Missouri side. I figured, no worries, maybe the Illinois side would work. After hoofing it a mile across the bridge, nope! Construction on the new bridge had everything blocked off that day.

So, time for another pivot! If I couldn't get the bend from the bank, I'd just grab it from the bridge itself. Hello, ironwork, rivets, and those trusses curving off into the distance. Not the shot I dreamed of, but honestly, I'm glad I got it. This bridge is totally worth the trip; just make sure to check for construction before you go!

That bridge was the perfect way to kick off our time in Illinois, the last state on our Route 66 journey. Illinois really knows how to serve up a mix of Lincoln history and classic Route 66 vibes.

The Friday Five – Lincoln Country sprinkled with nostalgia

One of my little travel goals is to snap a photo of every state Capitol building. I've seen some stunners, but this one, with Lincoln right up front, might just be my favorite! Springfield's Capitol is actually the tallest non-skyscraper state capitol in the country, and with the dome disappearing into the fog, I totally believe it.

There's a bronze bust by Gutzon Borglum (yep, the Mount Rushmore guy!) at Lincoln's Tomb, and apparently, rubbing Abe's nose for good luck is a whole tradition. After millions of hands, his nose is shiny gold! I had no clue this was a thing, but it was a blast watching everyone line up for their shot at some extra luck.

Bill Shea came back from Omaha Beach in 1946 and opened a gas station right on Route 66. Years later, he turned it into a museum, got inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame, and welcomed travelers from over 50 countries. He passed away in 2013, but the city keeps this spot going as a tribute to Bill and his love for the Mother Road.

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After a quick stint in the mines, Henry Soulsby put all his savings into two plots of land and built this service station in 1926, the same year Route 66 came to life. This little Shell station was made to fit right in with its Mount Olive neighborhood. Now it's been restored and lives on as a museum, still holding down its corner of the Mother Road.

A giant ice cream cone, a Muffler Man, and an antique mall packed with treasures? What more could you want? We spent a good hour wandering around, snapping photos of the giants. We even ventured inside for a peek at the antique toys. This is roadside weirdness at its happiest!

One Thing to Know: Don't fight the weather!

Most photographers wait out fog, overcast, and drizzle. Try the opposite. Fog gives dome-topped buildings mystery you can't fake in post, softens harsh stone, and hides distracting backgrounds. Overcast skies act as a giant soft box that saturates color and evens exposure across the frame. The Capitol shot in this issue happened because I didn’t see the fog as a problem and instead used it as a tool to get an image not everyone gets. Next time the sky isn't cooperating, ask what the weather is giving you instead of what it's taking away.

Next week: the final leg, Springfield to Chicago, where Route 66 ends. If you know a Route 66 traveler who's not on the list yet, this is the issue to pass along.Next week: the final leg, Springfield to Chicago, where Route

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