Route 66 A Visual Tour. Page 9. California.

Over the railway tracks and into Sunny California. The final state.

 

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Day 11.
Into CA to Santa Monica Boardwalk.  Around 350 grueling miles.

I highly recommend leaving on day break or before if you're doing this leg in the summer on a bike.

 

Needles - Maybe worth getting gas if you've not already.  It's not cheap, (Almost twice the price per gallon as you've been paying) but this is a part of the trip you really don't want to run out.  There are gas stations through the desert, but they're a little more spread out.

Goffs - 1914 school house

 

Fenner - Gas if needed. (Check prices.  It might be an oasis in the desert (Palm trees and all) but it's frequented and you might find you get a better price here than in Needles.

Roys.  Amboy.

Amboy Crater And National Landmark

Ludlow -More than just gas and ice cream (But not much more...)

Newberry Springs. Bagdad Cafe Set (From the 1988 cult movie)

A random passing shot for some scale of those windmills.

Dagget - Stone Hotel 1885  (Not linked here, but if you dig around, there are some pretty wild stories about the violence which was just a natural part of life here for the locals.)

Barstow - Murals and civilization for any comforts you may need.  (Still hot, so a sit-down AC meal is better than usual.)

Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch.
Super random, but pretty cool.

Oro Grand - I was looking forward to seeing the Iron Hog Saloon (Used in Easy Rider, Erin Brocovich and a few others) but it was closed from a fire.
So instead I tried to rehydrate at The Cross Eyed Cow. 
I keep being told, it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when you'll drop your bike.  Well, today was when day.  I was just trying to roll it over to this map and my foot slipped on some fine gravel.  Over we went.  I prefer to blame a dehydrated body and reflexes rather than just general cabbage brained ineptness.
Grateful to the old boy who gave me a hand getting it back on it's wheel.
Apologetic to the crotch rocket rider who about piled into the back of a slow driving gawker.  Nice front wheelie. 

And now you're in to navigating traffic again.
The Cajon Pass has access to the PCT, if you feel the urge to get away from it all again.

San Bernadino - First Original McDonald's museum.  (I didn't stop)

Rialto - Wigwam Motel

Fontana - Bonos Historic Orange

 

 
Rancho Cucamonga - 1915 gas station. Sycamore Inn from 1848.  I didn't stop for them either.  I guess I was probably just trying to run from the shame of dropping my bike.

 

Upland - Madonna of the Trail

Glendora - Golden Spur Restaurant - If you're chasing Neon. I wasn't.

Azusa - Foothill Drive In - If you're chasing Drive ins.  I was, but missed them all for timing.

Monrovia - Vintage Gas Station - If you're chasing vintage gas stations.  I'd seen enough.

 

Arcadia - Dennys with a windmill?!  Now this is just collecting random sites coz my brain was dehydrated and rattling around in my helmet like a walnut.

 

Pasadena - Colorada St Bridge. Apparently there's a good place around here to view the Hollywood sign.  I didn't find it, but if you want to find it, I'm sure you'll have better luck...because you'll take the time to look.

Wait... is that a Dolorian?!

Mel's Drive In is reportedly a great place to finish the trip.
When I rode up it was packed, so I missed this and headed to the end of the trail for sunset.

 

The official end of the trail!

Santa Monica Pier.
Made it just in time for sunset.

Stayed the night at the Santa Monica HI hostel, met a great guy from abroad who was exploring the US, and went out to see the sights.
There are some wild and crazy buskers out there.  Just incredible.


Then rode the 600 mile trip back to my home near the Oregon boarder. 
Amazing how much further you can ride in a day on a freeway without stopping for a million photos.

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