Day 12 - June 23, 2015

A rested rider is a happy rider.

Santa Monica Pier

And the entrance to Santa Monica Pier.

The celebratory photo.

Then back on the road, and a stop for gas.  An oasis in the desert.

 

As we progressed further north the vegetation increased.

Still the landscape was brown mixed with the green.

The Joyce Ranch.  A stop along our route.  Wonder what brought that about?

We didn't get too close to this gate.

Day twelve - June 23, 2015.  Overnight in Santa Cruz, California.  Out of the desert and the heat near the end of the day.

We were delayed in completing of our end-to-end ride of Route 66 because of a day spent with getting Larry's bike repaired.  After the repairs we traveled east slightly, to Indio, California, where we spent the last two nights.

This morning we departed Indio, California before 7:00 to beat the rising temperature, which was forecast to go to 112 degrees.

We decided to complete our Route 66 ride that Bob had completed for us two days before. 

As we rode west the temperature moderated, and by the time we reached the coast in Santa Monica it was cooler, with temperatures in the mid 70's.  We spent an hour an a half around the Santa Monica Pier, and then headed north toward Santa Cruz.

We made it through Los Angeles, travelling north on I-5, with little difficulty. As we were leaving the city on I-5 we saw a four-lane traffic jam on the south bound side.  The stall stretched ten miles before we saw the north end - and it was still building.

Riding north we crossed more undeveloped desert area.  We stopped at a Mobil after 100 miles.  It was the only available fueling location for 30 miles either way.

As we progressed north the farming activity increased.  Even though there was farming the landscape looked like a continuation of the desert we had been crossing for what seemed like a week, but irrigation magically made things grow.  We saw hundreds of acres of green, with grape vines, almond trees, etc., all growing heartily in the desert.

Further north the desert began to give way to the beginning of small trees mixed with dried grass and still more farming.  Farming was still supported by irrigation. It is obvious that the farming activities in the areas we crossed were heavily dependent upon irrigation.  We saw posted billboards and signage of various size that apparently was placed by groups for and against agricultural water use.

Also, the further north we road the cooler the temperature.  We were soon riding in temperatures in the low 60's.  We layered up some, but probably not enough.  I add that last sentence in concession to Larry who quietly rode on, and then after we arrived remarked that it was cool riding, and maybe we should have layered up more with another shirt or jacket.  He was right.

When we arrived in Santa Cruz it was near dark, so we quickly unloaded, and found something to eat.  Then soon to bed.  Thus the delay in this posting.

Another good day.