Day 16 - San Bernadino to Santa Monica

Last day of the drive today - Much easier drive than I thought it would be and really just lost the route a bit between Pasadena and Sunset Blvd. Some rain in the air this morning (only the third time since I landed in Chicago - rained in Kansas and a storm at the Grand Canyon).

First stop - Hollywood - nothing special - just wandered along Hollywood Blvd and no time to do anything else.

 

 

Second stop - Beverley Hills. The Bugatti Veyron was in its usual parking spot outside the Bijan store on Rodeo Drive.

 

Route 66 officially ends on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Ocean Ave and is marked rather underwhelmingly by a plaque on the cliff top.

The commercial 'tourist' finish is on Santa Monica pier around half a mile further along Ocean Ave.

 

Well that is it.

Was it worth it - yes, absolutely

Would I do it again - no. It was an interesting experience and I saw parts of America I would never have seen had I not been following the 66. Chicago was great and I will return. Arizona was fantastic. The small part of Utah I saw at Monument Valley makes me want to come back and see more. Other sights were one off and I have 'done' them - the blue whale, Cadillac Ranch, the Arch in St. Louis, even the memorial to the Oklahoma bombings and many more.

I saw much and I am sure I missed a lot. I lost track of the miles covered at the time I changed the car in Las Vegas but it was many more than the official route mileage due to getting lost, doubling back and the various detours. But that was all part of the experience.

It was great.

 

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