End of the Road

We are now relaxing in San Fransisco before returning home on Sunday.  Total mileage driven was 2,679.   Enjoy the last photos and thank you for following our adventure. Until the next time ……

Day 14 Chilling in Carmel and Monterey

 Captains log Day Fourteen 

Chilling in Carmel and Monterey

Today has been a restful day travelling up to Monterey through miles of beautiful vineyards.  We stopped off for lunch at Carmel and enjoyed the healthiest but most expensive lunch of the trip.  Strangely enough there was not a single burger on the menu.  You know you are in expensive territory when none of the shops display prices.  Should have phone ahead as Clint wasn’t home!

We are staying at a lovely motel on the beach with a sea view rather than a car park on an industrial estate Let’s hope dinner doesn’t break the bank.

Enjoy the photos of the Pacific Coast Highway, Carmel, wild freesias etc.

Day 13 The end of Route 66

 Captains log Day Thirteen 

The end of Route 66 YEAH 

Final mileage today when we reached Santa Monica Pier was 2,152 miles.  What an adventure we have had. Without doubt driving through LA was the most terrifying experience of my life and I wasn’t even  driving, Peter was.  

While driving down Santa Monica Boulevard we saw our first delivery robot sauntering across the road then a few moments later another ambling along the sidewalk.  The world has definitely gone mad.  

After paying $10  to park the car for an hour we made our way towards the pier triumphant that we had achieved what we had set out to do and what a lot of people have on their own bucket lists. 

When we finally left LA and headed out on the Pacific Coast Highway we found a much needed coffee stop.  The relief on Peter’s face was priceless.  

So folks that’s it from Route 66 but we will keep posting the rest of our trip as we head on up to San Francisco for your continued enjoyment.  

Day 12 the road to La La land

 Captains Log Day Twelve

The road to La La land.

Most of the day was spent driving through hot, arid desert with the occasional stop for drinks and food.  Breakfast was a priority after missing it at the hotel.  Probably a blessing as we found a great authentic diner on Route 66 for omelettes and hash browns. 

After hours on the desert roads we stumbled across the town of Amboy.  Maybe town is an over exaggeration. The complete town with a population of 18, consisting of a near derelict motel, garage and post office is for sale for 2.2 million.   

During our travels I have started rating portaloos which are strategically placed in car parks at most tourist stops.  To date most have scored around 5 or 6 out of 10.  The only exception to this was at the Grand Canyon when the whole experience left me quite speechless.  It is important to note that these facilities are unlike the good old rent a loo found in Britain but basically seats covering a large putrid hole or large open tank.  At the Grand Canyon there was no sound as you left your mark but a gust of wind blowing upward that made your ears flap.  That scored an 8 for authenticity.  As for Roy’s at Amboy well that was a zero based on the fact it was probably last emptied when England won the World Cup.

When Billy Connolly made his series about Route 66 he visited The Bottle Tree Ranch in the middle of the desert, so it was definitely on our list for a stop.  This bizarre place is the creation of Elmer Long who sadly died in 2019.  The  ranch is literally a forest of bottles made from metal posts with bottles hanging from them and other objects dotted around.   There is no rhyme or reason to it but it’s captivating and madly eccentric.  There is no charge to enjoy one man’s mission just to make people smile.  Bless him.

We finally hit the outskirts of L.A  after an epic days travelling of 320 miles.  How Peter managed to negotiate the 6 lanes of traffic during rush hour, after hundreds of miles of empty roads, will remain a mystery to me forever.

Day 11 Oatman & London Bridge

 Captains log Day Eleven. 

Driving the original Route 66 via Oatman

From Williams to Lake Havasu City, via Seligman and Oatman. Total mileage 220 miles on some interesting roads especially up and down a few mountain passes.  

First stop in Seligman we found a jewel of a town kept alive in the spirit of Route 66 by some amazing people with some crazy places.  These people have dedicated their lives to keeping the Mother Road a joy to all who travel through God Bless them.

Suitably refreshed we headed on west to the town of Oatman.  The route took us on an amazing journey on some pretty hairy roads through the Black Mountains.  Luckily for us the spring flowers adorned the mountain sides before the heat of the summer fried them to a crisp.  

The old mining town of Oatman is just totally amazing.  It is 2710 ft above sea level.  The town is a unique reminder of the old west and one of the countless gold mining towns that sprang up in the 1800’s.  We enjoyed the multitude of shops whilst stopping to stroke the wild Burros.  Burros are descendants of pack mules that once hauled ore from gold mines and roam nearby in the hills.  They show up every morning in the living ghost town nudging tourists and hoping for a snack.  

The obligatory Buffalo burger was the highlight of the day enjoyed in the hotel where it is reputed Clark Gable and Carole Lombard got married.  The whole place is decorated with dollar bills stapled to the walls and ceiling.  

After lunch we were treated to the daily gun fight in the street much to the delight of all the visitors.

Overnight stop is at Lake Havasu City famous for having our old London Bridge as it’s main attraction.  In 1967 The City of London decided to put the bridge up for sale.  It was bought for 2.5 million dollars by Robert McCulloch who it shipped here.  It was re-dedicated in 1971 in all its glory.  

Finally just taking the delights of a beautiful sunset with a beer we meet some crazy’s. It could only happen in America.  A lady taking her three pigmy goats for a walk and another taking Mable the pig out in her carrier.

The end of another glorious day.