We made it! We reached the western end of Route 66 today. What a ride it has been. Although today was a very short mileage day, it still took us four hours to get to the Santa Monica pier. The weather was lovely and the ocean beamed as we approached it. Adrian and I parked the car and walked out to the beach. We had picked up some sand on the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago and we deposited it on the shore of the Pacific. We celebrated our achievement by having lunch with Russ Olsen, author of Route 66 Lost and Found. Photos from Russell's books will appear in the exhibit.
As I reflect on our journey, I can say that the experience was everything I had hoped. Route 66 really is the Main Street of America and driving it is a trip through time as well as space. Being able to do this with my son was priceless and a memory we will both cherish always. My excitement about the exhibit we are developing has been amplified tenfold. You may follow the progress of America's Road: The Journey of Route 66 at the exhibit web site. Thank you for following us on this adventure. Perhaps you will be inspired to get your kicks on Route 66.
- Seth!
After getting all set, we prepared for LA traffic. It took us an hour and a half to get from San Bernardino to Los Angeles (30 miles!). We entered LA and crawled down Sunset Blvd. after rolling along the Arroyso Seco Parkway. Sunset led us to Sana Monica Blvd. and onto Lincoln Blvd. The official end of Route 66 is Lincoln and Olympic, but that intersection is fairly dull, so we u-turned and drove to the intersection of Santa Monica and Ocean. We had reached the shores of the Pacific Ocean!
We have had a great 16 days on the road. We travelled through plains and rolling hills. Dusty fields and empty flatlands. Jagged mesas and windy mountains, all the way to sunny California. Driving the mother road was an experience I will never forget. I had a great time on route 66.
- Adrian
- Adrian
Below: Seth! and Adrian reach the Santa Monica pier
Bottom: Adrian deposits some Lake Michigan sand into the Pacific
1 comment:
SOOOOO glad to have followed you guys on your trip. Told a friend of mine in Colorado that we should head south of CO and ride that part of 66 through the southwest. What a great bunch of fun that would be!!
Congrats to both of you (in spite of the car trouble).
Linda S.
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