This picture is from my 2006 trip to the Illinois 66 Festival. There were three documented days preceded by an undocumented dash to Vandalia, IL. The trip journal begins with meeting some friends at the west end of the Chain of Rocks Bridge then a caravan style drive across the bridge to a big surprise. I had backed out of my garage the previous morning then driven forward through a parking spot at the motel, a gas station, and the staging area at the bridge. Parking at a stop after crossing the bridge called for reverse and I found I had none. I eventually drove all the way home using only forward gears but it would be the last trip for the 1998 Corvette. The photo is of an old Route 66 alignment that is usually a simple drive through, but, as the sign so eloquently says, was not that day. This was between the bridge and the festival and could have been a real disaster. I survived, made it to my motel, and carefully selected a place to park. I enjoyed the festival using my feet and public transportation then drove home with extreme caution — and lots of luck.

Trip Peeks are short articles published when my world is too busy or too boring for a current events piece to be completed in time for the Sunday posting. In addition to a photo thumbnail from a completed road trip, each Peek includes a brief description of that photo plus links to the full-sized photo and the associated trip journal.