This will be our last full day on Route 66, the last few days have gone by really fast and our adventure across the US on Route 66 is coming to an end.
We departed Barstow, but with a stop at the BNSF (ATSF) railroad station which has been restored and it too had a Harvey House, not used but in excellent condition. There is a Route 66 museum and a Western Railroad Museum. You can see that at one time there were 7 passenger tracks in front of the station.
By 10:30 we were underway and the temperature had started to climb into the mid 90'sF, as we headed now South to Victorville on old Route 66, passing by what may be the one of the largest cement plants in the USA, just north of Victorville.
After a brief stop in Victorville it was on to I-15 for a fast downhill run in to San Bernardino, there is a lot of traffic in the greater LA area, but it moves at +65MPH (104KMH). We did exit onto Route 66 at the extreme Eastern end of LA, and stopped the California Wigwam Motel and spoke to the owner and took some pictures. I think there needs to be a patch "I survived I-10", there are some very poor divers in the LA area.
We were informed at the Wigwam, that is was 4+ hrs to Santa Monica following old 66 or a bit over an hour on I-10, we took I-10 as it was already 3pm. After a brief shopping stop on Melrose Ave (Beverly Hills) for some really tricked out kicks (sneakers) at Ed Hardy (http://www.donedhardyshoes.com/) and a few t-shirts from Affliction Clothing (http://www.afflictionclothingstore.com/) it was time to make tracks down the famous Santa Monica Blvd, for the last 4 miles to the pier.
Yes, we made it all the way!! This was an EPIC adventure, and a perfect way to start my retirement. I will not say the trip was easy, but looking back it was great, now we had some mechanical issues with Ben's bike, but so!, and we were separated for a day while Ben was getting his bike fixed and I pushed on into New Mexico. The weather this time of year will always be an issue, but it beats the 100+F heat of Summer in the desert.
At some point I will publish the motels we stayed at, if anyone else wants to duplicate this adventure you will have all the data.
We also found out that our bikes are now running smother than ever before, maybe they are now really "run in". We also had our share of "crap gas", and had to use our booster juice in the tank to keep us running.
We departed Barstow, but with a stop at the BNSF (ATSF) railroad station which has been restored and it too had a Harvey House, not used but in excellent condition. There is a Route 66 museum and a Western Railroad Museum. You can see that at one time there were 7 passenger tracks in front of the station.
By 10:30 we were underway and the temperature had started to climb into the mid 90'sF, as we headed now South to Victorville on old Route 66, passing by what may be the one of the largest cement plants in the USA, just north of Victorville.
After a brief stop in Victorville it was on to I-15 for a fast downhill run in to San Bernardino, there is a lot of traffic in the greater LA area, but it moves at +65MPH (104KMH). We did exit onto Route 66 at the extreme Eastern end of LA, and stopped the California Wigwam Motel and spoke to the owner and took some pictures. I think there needs to be a patch "I survived I-10", there are some very poor divers in the LA area.
We were informed at the Wigwam, that is was 4+ hrs to Santa Monica following old 66 or a bit over an hour on I-10, we took I-10 as it was already 3pm. After a brief shopping stop on Melrose Ave (Beverly Hills) for some really tricked out kicks (sneakers) at Ed Hardy (http://www.donedhardyshoes.com/) and a few t-shirts from Affliction Clothing (http://www.afflictionclothingstore.com/) it was time to make tracks down the famous Santa Monica Blvd, for the last 4 miles to the pier.
Yes, we made it all the way!! This was an EPIC adventure, and a perfect way to start my retirement. I will not say the trip was easy, but looking back it was great, now we had some mechanical issues with Ben's bike, but so!, and we were separated for a day while Ben was getting his bike fixed and I pushed on into New Mexico. The weather this time of year will always be an issue, but it beats the 100+F heat of Summer in the desert.
At some point I will publish the motels we stayed at, if anyone else wants to duplicate this adventure you will have all the data.
We also found out that our bikes are now running smother than ever before, maybe they are now really "run in". We also had our share of "crap gas", and had to use our booster juice in the tank to keep us running.
Congratulations on completing this leg.
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What next?
Pretty cool ride -- the blog has been interesting to follow along. Sounds like a celebration is on order (or already underway).
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