Route 66 Ambassador

Ep.43> The Mayor’s Ranch

matthewcomer — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:56:25 +0000

The Mayor’s Ranch

During my stay I grew closer to Bob Russell (Mayor of Pontiac). We got along very well which led to him inviting me to stay at his ranch along with his lovely first lady, Susan.

This is one of my main highlights of the whole trip. It was also the best night sleep I had so far on the trip. At least until a 7 o’clock phone call from a radio station wanting to do an interview :/ – as much as I was very happy to do the interview, you can tell in my voice I was still very much asleep! What’s even funnier is that the Mayor in the next room was listening to the show and it didn’t click that I was actually doing the interview next door!!

You can find the interview over on itunes or below the video

Matthew

(All photographs taken by Matthew Comer unless otherwise stated. Portraits of Matthew courtesy of Leah Mitchell. Music courtesy of Me Vs Hero)

Next post > Ep.44 > Pontiac’s Mural Collection

Previous Posts >
Ep.1> Day 1> Welcome to Chicago / Mercadito
Ep.2> Day 1> The Second City
Ep.3> Day 2> Breakfast at Ina’s
Ep.4> Day 2> The T-Shirt Deli
Ep.5> Day 2> Manchester United are in Chicago
Ep.6> Day 2> Transformers 3
Ep.7> Day 2> Cloud Gate aka The Bean
Ep.8> Day 2> The Crown Fountain
Ep.9> Day 2> The John Hancock Observatory! with Lavazza
Ep.10> Day 2> Shoreline Sightseeing Skyline Lake Tour
Ep.11> Day 2> Navy Pier
Ep.12> Day 2> Hard Rock Café
Ep.13> Day 2> The Blackstone Renaissance
Ep.14> Day 3> Lou Mitchell’s Diner
Ep.15> Day 3> My Ride > Thanks Chevrolet
Ep.16> Day 3> Joliet Area Historical Museum + Joliet Correctional Center
Ep.17> Day 3> The Launching Pad, Wilmington IL
Ep.18> Day 3> The Gemini Giant, Wilmington IL
Ep.19> Day 3> My Arrival In Pontiac IL
Ep.20> Day 3> Delongs Casual Dining, Pontiac IL
Ep.21> Day 3> Road Trip Supplies on Route 66
Ep.22> Day 3> On The Road
Ep.23> Day 3> ABC News Interview
Ep.24> Day 3> Route 66 Drive-In Theatre
Ep.25> Day 4> Bill Shea’s Gas Station
Ep.26> Day 4> Cosy Dog Drive In, Route 66
Ep.27> Day 4> Doc’s Soda Fountain, Deck’s Drug Store
Ep.28> Day 4> Weezy’s, Route 66
Ep.29> Day 4> The World’s Largest Catsup Bottle
Ep.30> Day 4> Wooden Nickel – Winery & Saloon, Route 66
Ep.31> Day 4> Route 66 by Night!
Ep.32> Day 5> Route 66 Hotel & Conference Centre
Ep.33> Day 5> Jungle Jim’s
Ep.34> Day 5> Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library, Springfield IL
Ep.35> Day 5> Lincoln Tomb
Ep.36> Day 5> Palms Grill Café, Route 66, Atlanta
Ep.37> Day 5> Winding The Town Clock, Atlanta, IL
Ep.38> Day 5> Gunnar Mast Trading Post
Ep.39> Day 5> Atlanta Roadside Attractions (Bunyan Statue & Smiley Water Tower)
Ep.40> Day 5> Bernardi’s II, Route 66, Pontiac IL
Ep.41> Day 5> Front & Center, Pontiac IL
Ep.42> Day 5> Route 66: Musical Review & The Mayors Speech

The Whole Of Day 5

matthewcomer — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:12:25 +0000

Ep.32> Day 5> Route 66 Hotel & Conference Centre
Ep.33> Day 5> Jungle Jim’s
Ep.34> Day 5> Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library, Springfield IL
Ep.35> Day 5> Lincoln Tomb
Ep.36> Day 5> Palms Grill Café, Route 66, Atlanta
Ep.37> Day 5> Winding The Town Clock, Atlanta, IL
Ep.38> Day 5> Gunnar Mast Trading Post
Ep.39> Day 5> Atlanta Roadside Attractions (Bunyan Statue & Smiley Water Tower)
Ep.40> Day 5> Bernardi’s II, Route 66, Pontiac IL
Ep.41> Day 5> Front & Center, Pontiac IL
Ep.42> Day 5> Route 66: Musical Review & The Mayors Speech

Ep.42> Route 66: Musical Review & The Mayors Speech

matthewcomer — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:04:12 +0000

Route 66: Musical Review & The Mayors Speech

Now tonight was a special night. So many special things were done for me in Pontiac and they really did pull the red carpet out. I was told that we were going to a show.

A Route 66 musical based on all the great hits that has sang praises towards The Mother Road. From Rock’n'Roll to Country’n'Western.

The show had recently closed but they whipped the whole town together to put on an encore performance for me? Me? I was extremely honored by all of this.

I arrive and get directed into my perfectly reserved parking spot! My Corvette looked amazing surrounded by the Chautauqua Park! The front row of the whole place was reserve for our party! The Mayor of Pontiac (Bob Russell) took the stage to welcome everybody and then gave me a surprise when we presented a huge speech to the audience about me! He knew everything about me! He really did his research! It was funny too!! Until he got me on stage!! I didn’t expect that but it was a pleasure!

I would like to give a huge thank you to the people who arranged all of this, the Mayor for my gifts, and especially the people who performed that night!! it was a special night for me and one I’ll always remember!!

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Matthew

(All photographs taken by Matthew Comer unless otherwise stated. Portraits of Matthew courtesy of Leah Mitchell. Music courtesy of Me Vs Hero)

Next post > Ep.43 > The Mayor’s Ranch

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Ep.41> Front & Center, Pontiac IL

matthewcomer — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:51:27 +0000

Front & Center > Pontiac IL

So we were enjoying our meal in Bernardi’s II when a table next to us had a sing-o-gram by a female barbershop quartet. it was fantastic so I couldn’t miss the opportunity to get a video of these guys in front of one of the Walldog murals.

Welcome to Pontiac!!

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Matthew

(All photographs taken by Matthew Comer unless otherwise stated. Portraits of Matthew courtesy of Leah Mitchell. Music courtesy of Me Vs Hero)

Next post > Ep.42 > Route 66: Musical Review & The Mayors Speech

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Ep.40> Bernardi’s II, Route 66, Pontiac IL

matthewcomer — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:59:40 +0000

Bernardi’s II > Route 66, Pontiac IL

Back in Pontiac! Ahhh. It feels like home. After meeting the Mayor and co on my last visit I couldn’t wait to get back. Like I said these guys are some of the nicest people I have ever met.

This time I got to eat at Bernardi’s II and after seeing everyones order I wish I was sat alone so I could sample them all. The food was fantastic and the best way for me to describe it was “comfort food”. And man I was comfortable.

I got to meet the people that run the Route 66 museum and they made me a proud member of the Route 66 Association of Illinois! What an honor!!

Here’s a snap with me and my membership card! The photo’s in the background are from my ‘Neon America’ exhibition!

Matthew

(All photographs taken by Matthew Comer unless otherwise stated. Portraits of Matthew courtesy of Leah Mitchell. Music courtesy of Me Vs Hero)

Next post > Ep.41 > Front & Center, Pontiac

Ep.39> Atlanta Roadside Attractions (Bunyan Statue, Smiley Water Tower & Murals)

matthewcomer — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:39:00 +0000

Atlanta Roadside Attractions >

Here are some photographs taken whilst in Atlanta. Here you will find the town center of Atlanta which will include photos of the Bunyan Statue & the Smiley Water Tower.

Matthew

(All photographs taken by Matthew Comer unless otherwise stated. Portraits of Matthew courtesy of Leah Mitchell. Music courtesy of Me Vs Hero)

Next post > Ep.40 > Bernardi’s II, Pontiac IL

Ep.38> Gunnar Mast Trading Post, Route 66, Atlanta, IL

matthewcomer — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:06:50 +0000

Gunnar Mast Trading Post > Route 66, Atlanta, IL

Please watch this video for all your REAL Route 66 Memorabilia needs.

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Matthew

(All photographs taken by Matthew Comer unless otherwise stated. Portraits of Matthew courtesy of Leah Mitchell. Music courtesy of Me Vs Hero)

Next post > Ep.39 > Atlanta Roadside Attractions (Bunyan Statue, Smiley Water Tower & Murals)

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Ep.37> Winding The Town Clock, Atlanta, IL

matthewcomer — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:02:12 +0000

Winding The Town Clock > Atlanta, IL

Whilst in Atlanta I was made an honorary clock winder-upper-type-person. This was a huge honor and privilege for me as there is only even been 11 people that have wound the clock! Made my day!

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Matthew

(All photographs taken by Matthew Comer unless otherwise stated. Portraits of Matthew courtesy of Leah Mitchell. Music courtesy of Me Vs Hero)

Next post > Ep.38 > Gunnar Mast Trading Post, Atlanta

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Ep.36> Palms Grill Café, Route 66, Atlanta, IL

matthewcomer — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:33:41 +0000

Palms Grill Café > Route 66, Atlanta, IL

So I left Springfield after spending time with the lovely Ellie to take a trip to Atlanta. My first stop was the Palms Grill. I was to meet with Bill to sample their award-winning pie and I was very excited about that! Watch the video for my reaction!

The Palms Grill opened in 1934 and is at the center of Downtown Atlanta on Route 66. It was the bus stop for the Greyhound and if you wanted to be picked up you just flipped the switch for the ball light at the bottom of their huge neon sign! Amazing!

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Matthew

(All photographs taken by Matthew Comer unless otherwise stated. Portraits of Matthew courtesy of Leah Mitchell. Music courtesy of Me Vs Hero)

Next post > Ep.37 > Winding The Town Clock, Atlanta, IL

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Ep.35> Lincoln Tomb

matthewcomer — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:55:57 +0000

Lincoln Tomb >

The peaceful final resting place for Abraham Lincoln. Set in a beautiful surrounding to pay a great respect to an American great.

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Matthew

(All photographs taken by Matthew Comer unless otherwise stated. Portraits of Matthew courtesy of Leah Mitchell. Music courtesy of Me Vs Hero)

Next post > Ep.36 > Palms Grill Café

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