WE'VE DONE IT. WE'RE HERE.
2,300 plus miles and we are in Santa Monica, California, at the end of the road exactly 4 weeks since we started in Chicago.

We drove the final 30 miles this morning, part of which was through central Los Angeles.


Here we are approaching the last few hundred yards to our destination.


We crossed Ocean Boulevard and parked on the pier itself, driving over the wooden boardwalk. We strolled along the length of the pier enjoying the sights and sounds.

The actual end of Route 66 is about 50 metres to the right of the pier entrance and is marked by this plaque. This photograph was taken by one of a group of English bikers who had done the same route on Harley Davdisons and DID NOT recommend doing it that way.

We arrived just after mid-day and spent the afternoon on the beach. The equipment in the background is part of 'Muscle Beach' and we watched people working out in the early evening as we took a stroll before dinner.

We decided we had to spend at least one night in a typical 50's motel. We have to admit that it has been updated but has a really pleasant atmosphere as well as character. It is just across the road from the beach and within a hundred metres of Santa Monica Pier.

We walked up to Third Street Promenade to find a place for dinner and found several blocks of pedestrianised area full of smart shops, restaurants, theatres and lots of people enjoying the evening. It was then that we decided to stay for an extra day.