We had dawn breakfast before dawn at Dixie Diner. They were in THE BOOK of Route 66. I ate pancakes but more importantly coffee was good. Chatted to another customer who was very nice but he couldn't understand my English - need to slow down. He was very keen advise us how to avoid St. Louis (Vigilance mode re-engaged) but it was painful as the instructions kept changing and was a blur of Interstate numbers and exits. He was a trucker who looked like he had had a hard life with too many miles on the road.
Matt suggested we pop by a place called Funk Grove as dawn rose. Beautiful and eerie. Misty place full of giant containers we would later learn could have possibly been Syrup Vats.
We then discovered a treasure called Atlanta. I was expecting a city but charming picturesque town that was characterful. I will upload pics later but the Launderette was a book store and full of old music and you could buy someone's pants (trousers) for four dollars.
Atlanta was the town of murals, a smiling yellow tower and the first of the BIG THINGS: GIANT BUNYAN MAN holding a mahoosive hotdog.
More to add later....
coming up - Lincoln that wasn't really Abe Lincoln
Springfield that was all about Abe Lincoln
A real bed !