The End...or is it?

We made it! Yep, all the way across Route 66 to the Santa Monica Pier! It was a rather quiet uneventful day (or at least it started out that way). We left Needles early so we could travel through the desert while it was still "cool". There didn't seem to be too much of interest along the way...some beautiful scenery, snow-capped mountains, an occasional abandoned gas station, and a motel sign or two.

A missed turned near the end of our travels, led us through Beverly Hills and into Brentwood; a U-turn quickly got us back on track. A stop at the corner of Lincoln and Olympic is the official end of the Route. With no sign marking this, I had to settle for a picture of the sign that announces Olympic. It seemed like an anti-climatic end to an amazing trip; but our journey had not ended!

A walk down to the Santa Monica Pier led to to the unofficial end of the Route. The owners of the Route 66 kiosk on the Pier put up an "End of the Trail" sign. The Pier was a hodgepodge of excitement. People of all nationalities crowded the Pier, kiosk selling everything from your name written on a grain of rice to t-shirts and postcards.  A few men were fishing, lots of children chattered in excitement, a belly-dancer was doing her thing, a street musician was singing Cat Stevens, and of course the ferris-wheel was turning...not so anti-climatic after all.

As in any written story, there are acknowledgments to be made:  First of all, to Mike - If there is such a thing as "soulmates", you are mine - kindred spirits in enthusiasm for the open road. What an amazing journey - thank you...I love you!  Laurel, The Four Women on the Route (and Robbie), Jim and Kathy Miller, George Chicago (I have my fingers crossed), Gary Turner, and many others - without you there would be no Route 66 only a road. My mom - for taking care of my house and Olivia so I could make this trip without worries about home. And finally, to Sophie - you were my friend and companion for many years and through many trials...I am sorry I was not there in end!

The end...the end of one journey and the start of another. We still have to make it home; it may not be by The Mother Road, but any road you take with a free-spirit and an open-mind can be the adventure of a lifetime or at least make for a lifetime of adventures.