Day 43: Dipping my Toes in the Pacific Ocean
FROM-TO
197.45 Miles | 5:33 Riding Time
It’s Thursday, May 23, 2024, and it’s Day 43 of my cross country motorcycle trip.
I made it all the way across today, and dipped my toes in the Pacific Ocean. It was quite an interesting ride today, because I started out in dense fog in the San Bernardino mountains and ended the day near the beach in Santa Barbara, with stops in Glendale, LA and Santa Monica.
The fog was thick when I started out, but I quickly climbed above it. I had planned to go up to the Angeles National Forest and ride the Angels Crest Highway. Unfortunately, most of the road was closed, and I had to detour a little north of the forest and come back down. It was pretty though. Lots of steady down grades, and a few ups as well. On the way down the other side of the forest, I was once again in thick fog and super-twisty steep downhills. The drivers were pretty aggressive. In thick fog, with a 30 mph speed limit, around posted 10 mph blind turns, I got passed on the double yellow line—not once, but several times.
Down into Glendale, I picked up the highways and went through LA. I stopped at Griffith Park, rode up to the observatory to get my picture with the Hollywood sign in the background—that was fun. Then over to Santa Monica Pier, which I had decided would be my first stop at the Pacific Ocean. I rode up the PCH a little to Will Rodgers Beach to take some pictures, have a beach hot dog and celebrate making it across the country. I was content.
I still needed to get up to Santa Barbara to meet my life-long family friend, Melissa for a late lunch. So, up RT 1 through Malibu, Ventura (highway…in the sunshine) and into Santa Barbara. It was great to see her, and to meet her partner Will. Lunch at Los Agaves was very good, too.
I stayed at a very nice hotel, the Hideaway Santa Barbara, which I would definitely recommend. The room was clean and quiet and the staff was very nice. Thanks folks.
