Mogsblog: Dat 17 - 1st June

San Bernardino, Ca to Santa Monica, Ca

"All the way, from Chicago to LA"

Having had a thrilling Saturday night in San Bernardino (we stayed in), we managed to make breakfast for 9:30.

Only had 70 odd miles to do today so thought that we'd be in Santa Monica, LA by early afternoon.

I'd driven the first bit, out of Chicago, so I thought I'd let Boley drive the last stretch, into LA, as I didn't want him sulking.

Even though it was only 70 miles, it took us almost all day due to the traffic and traffic lights every third lamp post. And today is Sunday??

San Bernardino is basically a suburb of LA, but a very large city in it's own right.

The driving was steady through Rialto, Claremont, Pasadena onto Sunset Boulevard, through Hollywood & Beverley Hills into Santa Monica.

We saw (briefly) the Hollywood sign on the hill and arrived in Santa Monica @ 3:30 pm.

Unlike Chicago, there isn't an official start/end sign.

The unofficial end is the neon sign at the entrance to the S. Monica Pier.

Gave each other a "high five", let out a holler and carried on.

Mileage: 3245 miles.

Exactly 700 more than the official mileage. Strange, I wonder where those extra miles came from?

Booked into the hotel and went to look for a bar.

Walked to Venice Beach and Muscle Beach, took some pics and had a beer.

There is a plaque on the junction of Santa Monica Blvd & Ocean Drive which commemorates Will Rogers and R66 (also known as The Will Rogers Highway), but as we don't know who Will Rogers is/was, we took a photo with Arnie sat on his plaque (sorry Will).

Also took pics of the sign for S Monica pier, the pier & loads of police cars on the pier. I know we had done a Jake & Elwood, but we didn't expect this sort of reception.

Arnie's twin, the governor of California was there waiting, along with Paris Hilton, Tom Cruise and Will Rogers (whoever he is!) Unfortunately none of the photos came out, so you will have to make do of one of Arnie (the armadillo, not the state governor).

Went out for a few beers that evening and met 3 French people, Amandine, Guillaume & Alex in a bar. Naturally they hated us and we them. Took a photo, just to prove that the French and English can't get along (naturally).

Amandine & Alex live in LA while Guillame was there on vacation. We talked about all things British, French & American and realised that we Europeans, have very similar views on the States.

As we started the trip with a photo of beer, we thought it only right & proper to show a pic of our last beer.