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Day 14, 4 May 2003

Victorville, Ca to Santa Monica, CA - 114 miles

    In the morning, it was cool and cloudy and a bad storm that had hit Los Angeles the previous day, went just Northwest of us and left a beautiful snow cap on the mountains. Being Sunday, the trip into Los Angeles, wasn't too bad. We departed Victorville at 10:00 AM and as we got closer to Santa Monica, old Route 66 was chock full of people and cars. Fortunately,it was still early and the traffic was pretty tolerable. If it were rush hour, we may have been swamped in the masses of traffic.

    We threaded our way through the ever increasing traffic, making a few quick lane changes to stay in the right direction. Our first intro to the freeway traffic was a pleasant lesson in responsible driving, fast as it was.

    Entering the San Bernadino area, we were unexpectedly met by an unknown Studebaker enthusiast. He was waiting for us in a parking lot in his 54 Commander coupe and as we drove by, fell in behind, at the rear of our column. He followed along with us for a few miles, then turned off and departed. We never saw him again and never found out who he was..... the unknown driver..

    We passed Santa Anita Raceway, had a few more tastes of freeway traffic, then go t on to Route 10 to Santa Monica Boulevard, toward the beach.

    The traffic got heavier as we approached the beach and some of us were spread out, so that we couldn't hear the lead car radio any more. Subsequently, when 3 of us made the turn onto what we thought was the entrance to the pier, we wound up on the 101 freeway northbound.

    Quick thinking by Larry Merhaut, and we opted for turn ino an exclusive Restaurant on the beach to turn around. We were the only Studebakers in the parking lot, next to nothing but Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and Ferraris. As we exited back onto the freeway southbound, I told the attendant that we just wanted to add a little class to the place.. :-)).

    Somehow, we got back up on Ocean Boulevard, made a couple u-turns and wound up at the hotel. Well, here we are in Santa Monica......

    Here's the story.........
    Morning in Victorville, getting ready to leave

    Down hill toward the coast

    Another WigWam Motel on Route 66

    Closer to the Ocean

    More of the same!

    We're in L.A

    Here's proof!

    Here's a better one, from Paul

    We officially reach the end of Route 66. at 4:15 PM. Having fell apart at the very end because of confusion about driving on to the pier, one-way street situations, and lots of construction, we all eventually arrive at the Holiday Inn, gather in the bar and had our complimentary drink, (after being served Complimentary Champagne in the lobby), then met for dinner in the hotel restaurant.

    Dinner in the Holiday Inn, up the street from the Santa Monica Pier.
    Hi Norris.....

    Later that evening, on the pier

    Jesters on the boardwalk

    A California Sunset

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