September 27, 2008

(by Henk Kranendonk)

At 7:00 we had breakfast. Coffee with sweet bread, donuts and roasted waffles.

At 8.00 seven of us went by shuttlebus from Motel8 to Adamo. Overthere we got a MPV. A Chevrolet V8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later we got a truck at U-Haul een truck gehaald, What a thing!! Alexander sat behind the wheel with a twinkle in his eyes. It was a gas powered V8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The VeloSolexes we had to pickup at Bowlingbrook, there they were stored for the last eight months.

At the same time, the rest of the tough solexguys checked out of the hotel, and drove with three taxicabs to Warbux Mopeds in Chicago.

When we arrived with the Chevrolet MPV and the hugh truck, you had to see the others. They where really touched seeing us in these vehicles.

Marc Hensen fom Steenwijk was also present. He drove 1100 kilometers from Washington DC to Chicago on a motorcycle just to see us. He has been living in Washington DC with his wife for more than a year now.

But then, the climax. We opened the truck, and there they where. The VeloSolexes. Again they all where touched by seeing this all.

After we preped the VeloSolexes, and we put some gas in the tank it happened. The first one started. And yes, even the thougeste Solexhero had trouble keeping the tears out of his eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When they all drove: Prrrrr Tjop tjop tjop tjop tjop.
Yes folks, how happy can you get.

The banners we took with us were put on the chevy and the truck. One said 'Watch out slow traffic'.

after taking some pictures we went to Adams street. The start of Route66.

Dear people, what a city that Chicago.
The traffic was terrible, but there are many beautiful buildings, old bridges, and expecially in the centre really hugh building. We also drove by the Searstower.
(The Searstower was a long time the tallest building in the USA. It is more than 400 meters high. )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After driven 7 miles through Chicage, we where at the start of Route66 on Adamsstreet.

We could start now...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From there we drove some 20 miles to Willowbrook.

During this first day there is already a lot of peddling done. We had a lot of mechanical problems, and five of the group didn't make it to Willowbrook on the VeloSolex. Tomorrowmorning the VeloSolexes will be repaired.