Thursday, June 30, 2011

California Road Trip: June 16, 2011 (Part Two)


The Beverly Hills Hotel






Once we reached Santa Monica and Highway 1 we headed toward Malibu.  We rode through Malibu then headed north on Kanan Dume Road towards Thousand Oaks.  We checked into the Best Western in Thousand Oaks which was actually pretty disappointing.  We were still full from Mel’s Diner so we went for a walk and found some ice cream and refreshments.

California Road Trip: June 16, 2011 (Part One)

Mileage Traveled:  587 km

Las Vegas, Nevada to Thousand Oaks, California

We woke up at 4 a.m. to prepare for a 5 a.m. departure from Las Vegas so that we could get through the desert before the heat got too intense...we knew that Baker would be 114 by noon.  As it was we made it to Barstow by 8 a.m.  We had our second breakfast at Peggy Sue’s Diner just outside Barstow.  It was a really interesting place with nostalgic paraphernalia throughout.  And the food was good and filling as well.





 

After Barstow we rode the old route 66 through Helendale, Oro Grande and Victorville.  There were many abandoned businesses along this section of Route 66.

 

After Victorville we headed west on the 18 and 138 to Highway 2 (Angeles Crest Highway) that weaves its way through the Angeles National Forest.  What a beautiful ride.  There was still some snow at the higher elevations.  There were also lots of riders on crotch rockets just racing along the roads...I wonder how many of them crash.  As we rode closer to La Canada Flintridge we saw quite a bit of evidence from the forest fires that raged through the area two years ago.

 
We left the beautiful sunshine on the Angeles Crest Highway into the fog and cold of Los Angeles.  



We headed south until we hit Sunset Boulevard and turned west toward the coast.  We rode past the stars on the sidewalk at Sunset and Vine. 


 
We stopped at Mel’s Diner for a massive lunch.


After lunch we cruised around Beverly Hills and looked at all the amazing homes.


 
Always cool riding along palm tree lined streets.
 

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

California Road Trip: June 15, 2011


Mileage Traveled:  0 km

Las Vegas...all day

 


 

Spent the day hanging around the pool.  Walked over to Target to pick up a few things and have lunch. 107 degrees today.  Rode to the Outback Steakhouse for dinner where we watched the 1st period of the final Stanley Cup game.  We watched the final 2 periods in our room. Pretty devastating to have gone all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final and lose. Early to bed as we want to get an early start in the morning. 


California Road Trip: June 14, 2011


Mileage Traveled:  541 km

Mammoth Lakes, California to Las Vegas, Nevada


We left early from Mammoth Lakes after breakfast at the hotel.  Dennis had heard about a beautiful lake from another guest at the hotel so we headed to Convict Lake first.


We then headed south to Death Valley.  Before we could even arrive at Stovepipe Wells we were stopped by road construction for about half an hour.  It was 112 degrees F which no shade in sight.  Once we finally reached Stovepipe Wells I was suffering from heat stroke so we decided to head out of the National Park toward Beatty in Nevada and make our way to Las Vegas.  

At Stovepipe Wells


You can see the Sand Dunes in the background.

We checked into the La Quinta in North Las Vegas and ordered pizza! It was only 105 in Las Vegas.