California- Barstow to Santa Monica.

Sunday October 16, 2011the last riding day of a fantastic Harley trip on Route 66, Chicago to Santa Monica, Ca.  The Mother Road is billed as a 2400 mile trip. When we crossed the pier at 4:30 pm, my odometer read 2915 miles since the start. A few wrong turns and a few side trips added another 500 miles.  All worth it!

Another hot day for the last couple hundred miles.  We left Barstow around 9 am, through Victorville and down the Cajon Pass (scary) into San Bernadino and on to Upland on Foothill Blvd and then straight west onto Huntington Blvd through South Pasadena into LA, on Santa Monica Blvd and Colorado Blvd.to the Santa Monica Pier. What a beautiful site to see. 13 days of riding.  I'd do it again!

Just out of Victorville we ran across this Harley who came up a little short on the final ride of 66.

Just when you start to think you've seen it all, we ran into this bottle collector near Victorville, Ca.

The ride is coming to an end in a few hours. This sign in the middle of Route 66 says it all.

San Bernadino, Ca. and this Wigwam is open for business.  The rooms are nice.

Beautiful day at the Wigwam Motel built in 1947

A side trip in Upland Ca. to view the first house Mary Kay and I lived in when we moved west.

Just when we thought we were home free, the battery goes dead on my bike in Claremont, Ca. A new battery required and a couple hours delay.

Oh baby, here we are ready to cross the end of Route 66. What a rush, like shooting under par.

Time for pictures and celebration. The old dudes made it. 2915 miles.

What a Rush! If you know me at all, you know this was an emotional moment. And it was!

13 days on the road, almost 3000 miles and we're still posing. Jim Kimmitt aka Easy Rider and Mike Rodsater, aka Skidder 

The Santa Monica police and Dan, owner of End of the Route 66 Trail kiosk pose with us as the sun is setting on the pier and this trip.  The Chicago Police sent us on our way and the Santa Monica Police welcomed us to the end of the route.

Dan does a lot for Route 66 fans. Visit his store and say Hi from Mike and Jim.

Sunset on the Pier

The official end to Main Street America.  Thank you Will Rogers.

The sun sets on the Santa Monica Pier and this great American experience. The next time you are planning a family vacation look back at this blog.  America is a great place to be and see.

I want to first thank my wife for letting me do this. I love you.

And now my buddy Mike Rodsater for leading me every mile of the trip. You are a great friend and we survived our one fight in 2915 miles. Thanks Mike!

Bill and Jeff for helping load my Harley into the truck.  The guys at the Harley shop in Palatine, Il for riding my motorcycle off the truck. The Conlon family for letting us stay in their Chicago home.  Buster for shipping all my stuff back home. Jon Kauffman for the hotel in Springfield, Il.  Tom Quaid for letting us use his mountain home in Santa Fe. And all the wonderful Route 66 fans along the 2915 miles.

We made it!!!!!