Governor Rauner makes stop at the Mill on Route 66 during Annual Governor's Motorcycle Ride

[August 29, 2018]  LINCOLN - Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner smiles for the camera alongside Geoff Ladd, Assistant Director of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway and founder of the local Route 66 Heritage Foundation. The occasion was the Governor's Annual Motorcycle Ride on Route 66, and his scheduled stop at the Mill on Route 66 Museum in Lincoln.

Rauner's annual bike ride is growing in popularity with each year. This year approximately 500 people participated in the ride, with more riders and bikes joining in the trek at each of the governor’s stops along the way.

Gov. Rauner is a supporter of the Route 66 byway, and encourages marketing the Mother Road as a tourist attraction that runs almost the entire length of the state from Chicago to St. Louis.

This year the ride took place about a month earlier than last year. The reason being that a dedication of the Bicentennial Plaza in honor of the Illinois Bicentennial was being held in downtown Springfield. The Governor made plans to attend the event accompanied by a few hundred friends.

The annual ride began in Shorewood, just west of Joliet and concluded in Springfield.

In Lincoln Rauner spent about 30 minutes speaking with folks who came out for the occasion. He shook hands with many and visited with a good number. He was even seen signing an autograph or two.

This Sunday was one of the hottest seen in the month of August. Riders, including the Governor, took advantage of free bottled water provided by the Logan County Tourism Bureau in partnership with Culligan Water in Lincoln.

A large horse trough was set outside the Mill in the shade and filled with ice and hundreds of bottles of water. Bikers gravitated to the trough naturally and gulped down the ice cold drinks. So many bottles were consumed that the trash can sat out for the group was filled quickly.

Logan County Tourism Director and Route 66 Heritage Foundation board member Morgan Gleason then grabbed hold of trash bags and circulated among the group collecting empties, so as to leave the Mill grounds as neat as when they found it.

Inside, Ladd said they had worked to cool down the building which has no central air conditioning. Before the group arrived the inside of the building was very comfortable, but with the masses of people piling it, it soon began to warm up again.

No one seemed to mind though as visitors examined the items on display in the museum, and did a good deal of shopping at the Mill gift store.

The group had arrived exactly on time Sunday afternoon and was scheduled to depart shortly after 2 p.m. so as to make it to Springfield and the event there by 3 p.m.

[Nila Smith]