Bee Hive Restaurant

Rolling up and down the hills of Starved Rock and working our way to Ottawa, wasn't exactly easy on the boys. They were hungry! So when we saw our first sign for Ottawa, smiled were popping up. After a few not-so-hot snack joints, we rolled into the Bee Hive Restaurant. A great 50's style breakfast/lunch counter spot with Flo and the girls working the room. I told R & D they could have whatever they wanted, while I went and picked up some food for lunch. Returning, I tossed a couple ice cream cones in the freezer without R & D knowing, looked to see Dylan eating a bagel and frosted flakes, with Mr. Riley choking down a French Dip and vegetable soup. Fine by me, fuel up! Our next stage was Morris, apparently another 30+ miles and spotty rain expected. Just before we blew out of Ottawa, Flo asked the entire restaurant for their opinion on our route, unanimously 'Morris Blacktop' won the vote, so we loaded up as she gave the boys their ice cream...Big smiles now!



Morris Blacktop was another beautiful farm road. We called Mommy to check in, as we took a quick respite from the rain under a tree, just as this guy pulls up with his tractor:



Now Dylan... Riley....this guy says he's lived here his whole life, the tractor is from when he was born (apparently 1949 or 50, he couldn't remember for sure). And he was sure happy to see us using his big tree in his front yard. He shut down the tractor so he wouldn't disturb the phone call to Mom, and was so pleasant to talk too. About 2 teeth I'd say...

Now getting closer to Morris, the boys are pretty tired of pedaling, and I'm seeing some fatigue come into the picture. Luckily, Grandma and Grandpa were at a camp site in Morris. They met us in town and hauled us to their site. Shower, great food, hit the laundromat...and of course, a movie, Herbie the Love Bug playing in the RV.

I called a bike shop in Joliet to see what the best route would be. Seems Chicago is fairly limited to bike paths. "Todd" grabbed the phone and said, I'll meet you on the trial, go to the I & M canal and ride East, I'll find you.

Well, don't know you Todd...It's a 30+ mile trail....we'll see...