Today is a big day, a huge milestone. This is Day 8 of our journey along Historic Route 66. My brother and I started in Chicago where it all Begins and today we will finish the Great American Road Trip, 2,448 miles all the way, to Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles!

We left Barstow, CA after a comfortable stay at the Route 66 Motel, plenty of dazzling neon lights and old cars on display in the parking lot, and headed to Liberty Sculpture Park a truly unique art park protesting the Communist government in China. It is located in the middle of the desert and has a giant bust of a head dawning a spike protein hairdo, so totally worth the drive.

From there we headed west on the Mother Road to Oro Grande, CA where the famous Bottle Tree Farm is located. This is one of the most amazing roadside attractions I have ever seen! A forest of metal bottle trees glimmering and twinkling in the sun, singing pleasant chimes tickled by the slightest breeze. My brother and I decided to add to the collection with two unique sodas we purchased from Pops 66 in Oklahoma Martian Poop and Sweet Corn. Martian Poop was surprisingly delicious, while sweet corn...well let's just say there was nothing sweet about that.

We continued to travel across California, leaving the vast desert landscape which turned into a large mountain range which borders the Los Angeles metro area. This is where the San Andreas Fault runs, luckily the Big One didn't hit while we passed by it.

In San Bernardino we stopped at the McDonald's Museum, located where the very first McDonald's stood which was owned by the McDonald Brothers before Ray Kroc took over.

We left the Inland Empire and entered Los Angeles, staying faithful to the original road and avoiding the main freeways. One thing to keep in mind, it takes about 3 hours to drive across Los Angeles on Route 66 which can be very deceiving since it is so close to the end.

Yet we stayed the path and reached our final destination on the Mother Road Santa Monica Pier as the sun set. The last hundred feet you must accomplish on foot, so we parked (after driving in circles for a while) and were determined to see it through!

And yes after walking under the neon glow of the Santa Monica Pier Sign we saw it the End of the Trail Sign. The end of our journey on Route 66, the historic highway that continues to evolve, the many miles exploring the heart and soul of the USA. Route 66 is everything they say it is and more. It is the greatest road trip I have ever taken in my life, a right of passage that everyone should experience at least once in their life.

What's more, through all the growth and strains the Mother Road has partaken over her nearly 100 years, I am optimistic that Route 66 is only just beginning. The use of social media, cell phones, photography has sparked more life in her as a new generation seeks adventure and can share their travels and discover/promote new & old places alike that otherwise would not have gotten the exposure.

As I've said before it's not the destination but the journey that makes it all worthwhile and I will cherish this experience I was able to share with my brother, the memories made on this Great American Road Adventure on Historic Route 66 to the end of my trail.

Route 66 Intro: 0:00
Route 66 Motel Barstow, CA: 0:50
Charred Ruins of the El Rancho Motel: 5:38
Liberty Sculpture Park: 7:48
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch: 15:51
Original McDonalds Site & Museum: 30:44
Los Angeles: 45:10
Santa Monica Pier The End of the Trail: 46:32
Wigwam Motel San Bernardino: 51:30
Outro Song: 53:21

Opening Song Route 66 Theme written and performed by me on my Stratocaster guitar

Closing Song Under the Neon Light written and performed by me on my Stratocaster guitar