Barstow to the End!

We decided to leave a little later to not hit rush hour traffic and headed to the IHOP near the hotel for a good breakfast before heading out. On the original 66 to Victorville, where we stopped for gas and to get the GoPro's ready for the mountain passing. After a short bit on the highway we pulled off onto Cajon for the descent from the green mountains. Around here we also passed where the Pacific Crest Trail goes under the highway. This time on two wheels, next time on two feet.

Bliss of amazing roads was too short as we headed into the greater LA area and watched the GPS 'arrival time' tick up and up and up as we dealt with traffic lights every couple of blocks. The Beach Boys ran through my head as we traveled in Pasadena. Saw the great big 'Beverley Hills' sign and thought of 90210 and sexy Luke Perry. Rodeo Drive was a quick look to my left, a bit of time on Sunset Blvd. and finally onto Santa Monica Blvd. and into a hotel parking lot so we could walk to the Pier.

Surrounded by tourists we waited until we could get a picture at the destination - the "Santa Monica 66 End of the Trail" sign. We had done it! A few minor incidents along the way, many turn arounds when the GPS was acting up or the road suddenly ended or was closed, too many gas station stops to count, and great big smiles across our faces We walked along the pier and got a coffee and then it sunk in. The trip is over -total miles 3285 from Brooklyn to Santa Monica.  We looked at each other and said - "What next?"

Now resting at a Hyatt in El Segundo about to head out to dinner. Tomorrow we've booked a private tour of the LA area.

Needles CA to Barstow CA

We're getting close to the end and decided to stretch it out a bit and stopped in Barstow around noon.

We took off a little after 7 to try to beat the heat. It was a balmy 79 when we left, and within hours was in the high 80's. Part of the old Route 66 was closed due to bridge repairs, so we were on the highway for a bit until Amboy, the on the Mother Road again. In Ludlow we stopped for a nice breakfast of Biscuits and Gravy.

The old Route 66 is part bumpy falling apart road, and then there will be sections that are freshly paved and we could crank up the speed to the posted 55. By the time we reached Barstow the temps were heading into the 90's, so we're in a nice air conditioned room, getting blogs and laundry done, and maybe hit the pool in a bit once there is some shade out there.

Tomorrow is our last riding day - to the Santa Monica Pier then a hotel in El Segundo. On Thursday we've booked a "Tours by Locals" 4 hour private tour around LA. The thought of trying to see sights in full gear and trying to find parking? Nope, I'd rather have someone shuttle us around.

Williams AZ to Needles CA

On the road early after a small breakfast. I bit of highway, then off on to the original 66 for most of the day. First on flat scrub land, cows about, and stopping in the tourist town of Seligman for a cup of coffee. We checked out the shops and by the time we headed out the place was flooded with tourist who spilled out of the busses. Russian, French and who knows what else. It's amazing, but on most of this trip the I've been the only American who seems to be exploring the Mother Road, everyone else is European.

After stopping at an old time gas station for a look around and water we were buzzing through Kingman and onto the Oatman Highway. It started off as a flat desert road, then up and up and up, tight twisties through various colored rock, 15 MPH at times. No guard rails, just steep drop offs. Add to that the 'Look out for Animals' sign we saw (and the 3 donkeys that ran in front of me across the road right before the climbs) and it was an exhilarating scary ride. Silly me though didn't have the GoPro on, but Tracy got some footage.

We stopped in Oatman, an old town that is now for the tourists. We had amazing buffalo burgers at the Oatman Inn & Restaurant, then checked out the donkeys and shops while waiting for the shootout taking place in the middle of the road to be over so we could get on our way.

Once out of the elevations the temperature kept rising, at one point reaching 108! We jumped back on the highway and over the boarder into our last state - California. By the time we got to the hotel in Needles we were dripping and couldn't wait to get into the nice air conditioned room.

Bikes take a rest

The motorcycles stayed put in the hotel parking lot as we headed out for breakfast, then before getting on the train we saw a Wild West gun fight. 2 hours on the train, but it was a great way to get there. Coffee and snacks, entertainment super nice staff and great views outside the big window.
Once at the Canyon it was so much fun to see Tracy's face when she got her first glimpse of its majesty.
We walk along the South Rim trail, then down into the canyon for a little ways on the Bright Angel Trail. One of these days I'll come back and take the days to head all the way down and camp. We had a couple of beers at the lodge before having to head back on the train.
The train was definitely the best decision. The entertainment was a bit hokey, but it was fun. We got robbed by bandits who boarded the train by horseback. This of course was a way to get tips.
After a good mexican meal we came back to the hotel to do laundry and plan out the next few days. We're stretching  the original two days to Santa Monica to three, stopping in Needles, then Barstow, and getting to the Pier on Wednesday.
All in all a great break today.

Gallup NM to Williams AZ

Started the day off with a bit of a chill in the air, but at least the winds had subsided. On and off the highway, into another state and another time zone. Breakfast in Chambers AZ, which for all intents and purposes appears to be a gas station and a Days Inn with a restaurant.
On to the Petrified Forest, with a quick stop at the visitors center for a break and buy some trinkets for the ladies in the office. Paid our fee then road into an amazing National Park. At the beginning of the ride it is in the Painted Desert, such beautiful reds. One of these days I've got to come back to this area and do some of the hikes into the park, but it's not really manageable with full riding gear on.
The landscape changed almost every ten minutes, and toward the end we came upon the area with the petrified wood, logs turned to stone strewn about the desert.
At the end of the park we joined route 180 to Holbrook and back on 40 heading west. Next stop was Winslow AZ to join all the other bikers taking pics of 'Standing on the Corner' while the Eagles 'Take it Easy' was blasted non-stop at the gift shop across the street.
The back on the highway, riding in the desert, yet up ahead was the snow capped San Fransisco Peaks. We dipped off the highway into the pine forests and into Flagstaff. Then on to Williams AZ, the gateway to the Grand Canyon. Tonight and tomorrow we'll play proper tourists enjoying a break from riding and taking in the food and sights of the area. 10:30 train to the canyon in the morning.

Moriarty NM to Gallup NM

Today was a day for riding. No real 'tourist' stops along the way. We started off with Rebecca in tow on the secondary road. She split off as we neared Albuquerque. About 15 miles on Center Road, past old school hotels and chain restaurants, right on by a modernized area near the university, then out the other end of the city. Best of all there was construction the entire way!

Back on the road skirting the highway, we took this one wonderful off-shoot through red rocks and twisties. Back off the highway through Grants NM, where we were going to stop last night. I'm so glad we made the decision to stop in Moriarty as it would have been too long a day going to Grants. Riding against the wind really takes it out of you.

At one point the GPS said get off the highway and it was saying Route 66 was ahead on the right. We followed it for awhile until, though it still said Route 66, it had turned into a dirt road. Back tracked back to the highway.

Then up to a rest stop and a pic of an old covered wagon letting us know we had reached the Continental Divide. Back on the highway over the divide of 7000ish feet.

Through even more amazing scenery we ended up for the night in Gallup, a town all to the left of the main road as the rail road tracks run parallel to the right all the way through town.

Tomorrow off to Williams AZ and a day of rest. For Sunday we've booked the train up to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. This way we can leave the bikes at the hotel and enjoy the canyon without dealing with what to do with our riding gear once we get there. And maybe, just maybe, we'll take a helicopter ride too.

Amarillo TX to Moriarty NM

Got up early to call the motorcycle shippers to make sure everything was in place for when we hit CA. On the road by 7:30 and off to Cadillac Ranch, the Stonehenge of tail fins buried in the ground. Tagging is encouraged, dozens of spray paint cans strewn around the ground and caps seen far into the fields. I was able to find a can with just enough to tag one car with K777.
I'm glad we got there early, there were only a couple of other people about so I got some good pictures. Just as we were leaving and Eagle Riders tour group was pulling in on Harleys. While I pretty much had to do a tour in Cuba, I don't know if I'd want to do another like that, especially in the continental US. The ability to switch up plans, like we did for today, stop whenever you have to use the restroom and not have to deal with so many personalities, yeah I'll ride on my own or with one or two other people.
We stopped in Vega TX at the Hickory Inn Cafe for a late breakfast, then pushed on to Tucumcari where we spent $5 and meandered around a museum of old phones, cameras, typewriters and other bits and bobs.
Tonight our friend Rebecca who is riding around the country for a year is joining us at the hotel. fresh off a few days of camping she's doing laundry (as are we) and liking the air conditioning.
The most amazing thing is now we're in the land of ever changing landscape. Just before the New Mexico boarder we started to see the colors in the ground and the plateaus appeared. Tomorrow we say goodbye to Rebecca and head off to Gallup for more beautiful vistas.