And we're off!!

Welll Route 66 2011 got under way at last today. Years in planning and finally the kick off day ahs arrived. ot quite the commencemtn we had envisaged but a successall the same.


We started off from quite different locations on either side of the Atlantic.  If my calculations are right Seamus and Brendan got off the blocks first leaving Raheny for Dublin Airport at around 09:00 for their flight with Aer Ligus to Chicago O'Hare airport. After a spell in the Lounge they made there way successfully, and quickly, through the Preclearance procedures and were ready to board.

Meanwhile  John was leaving the Fairax Hotel in Washington DC at 06:50 local time to head for Regan airport and the scheduled 08:40 flight to Chicago O'Hare airport. A breakfast at Dunkin Donuts  marked a good start to the day. Poor weather in the US and strong winds around O'Hare meant his flight was delayed for about an hour but he was in Chicago in good time to get into town, book into the hotel, collect the rail tickets and get back out to ORD in time to greet the rest of the team as they emerged into Terminal Five and collected the three bags from the carousel. Cecilia had done sterling work in keepng everyone in touch with up to the minute reports on progress.

Having quickly settled into the Hilton we headed off up town to ... Hard Rock Cafe, Chicago. Now fourth in the series. Paris two weeks ago, Dublin last week, Washington on Thursday, Chicago on Friday. And we have only just begun. Our stroll back from the Cafe was interrupted by a massive thunderstorm so we bailed into a taxi to get back resasonably dry. That's it then. Day one done.

Total miles on route 66 today: 0
Total miles Route 66 to date: 0

A great start.