Phase 1

 

Sufjan Stevens' Illinois blaring from the speakers we bid farewell to Chicago.
No roadtrip is complete without:

 

 a small town diner breakfast (Rosie's),

 

  a stop at a bizarre little museum (Isle a la Cache),

 

 a torrential downpour

 and a completely unnecessary detour (Beer Nuts factory).

In other words, Phase 1 of roadtrip complete.