Day 27 Aug 27

Victorville to Pasadena

Total miles 82

Less miles than yesterday but sure seem longer.  We saw all of the different parts on Los Angles suburbs the good the bad and the ugly.  Some of the scenery was great.  Most of the ride in towns running straight but a lot of stop lights so it was stop and go all the way making it a long ride for the day.  

The route followed all of Old route 66.

Towns passed through (all seemed like one town):

• Victorville
• Cajon Junction
• Devore
• San Bernardino
• Riatto
• Fontana
• Rancho Cucamonga
• Upland
• La Verne
• Glendora
• Duarte
• Monrovia
• Arcadia
• Pasadena

As for more news on the Hotel last night the bed look great but there were no sheets just a great looking cover and an top sheet and no top sheet.  We discussed and just suffered through.  Then in the morning found a coffee maker but no coffee.  

Left the hotel early and grumpy without coffee.  Got onto the route and missed the first turn due to traffic and my own stupidity. Caught the mistake quickly and got back on route after only half a  mile.  On this section the road became rather poor to say the least and ran next to the interstate.  Yet at least 4 yahoos passed us on solid lines.  There was no shoulder so there was no place to run so we slowed to let them go.  

Then the route threw us onto I-15 and the traffic was heavy.  This was pass down the mountain and the only way to do it.  At the first exit watching the traffic behind forces us off the exit.  So we decided it was a good time for coffee.  After gathering our breath we hopped back on the down hill run still on a shoulder and a police officer waved us down in a weighting station.  He asked how big our engine was and we told him 50cc.  He then said “you can not be on the interstate”.  We showed him the bike route and explained we were following it and only riding the shoulder as bicycles do.  He said “Bicycles are ok but you are not”.  Then he said get off the at the next exit and do not get on again.  That is what the route told us to do, and I hate riding the interstate so we agreed and he let us go.  I still can not explain how a bicycle is safer than us riding the shoulder, I guess the officer was just doing his job.  

So the next few towns Devore, San Bernardino, Riatto and Fontana seemed a little off.  Lots of Old Route 66 hotels and boarded up and abandoned buildings. Also lots of homeless people and people living under bridges.  The towns improved all the way to Pasadena.  Now there are few Old Route 66 that are not updated or just gone.  Even the store fronts are full with nice little shops.  

We are now in a Hilton Hotel.  The rate is more than $200 per night but there are sheets and decor is in better shape too.  As it is the last night on route Dianne had a big dinner with a drink each to celebrate.  Now we just have to ride 30 miles north to pick up the truck I am hoping the roads are good,  

                                                            Smoke makes it Hazy (and it proves we were at Cajon Junction)

                                                                Only spot the traffic was light to grap a picture of the mountain

Sights seen

To be honest I did not count today due to traffic and having to watch so much going on all time.  But here are some observations

• buses have been common during the last 70 miles. The buses are faster when the move but slower than us because the stop all the time.  Therefore we have to play with them a lot.  
• People are fools I watched 2 people pass me turn right in front of me and one do it to Dianne.
• People are also lazy they will not move over a lane to give us space but pass close to us even thought there is an empty lane right next to them.
• There are more bars and liquor stores than church and more churches than schools.
• Most people are polite and try to be helpful but with out for the ones that do not care
• bike lanes are nice but a lane that is full of ruts and pot holes are dangerous
• The good parts of towns are really clean the bad parts need a lot of loving care.  (Small changes make big differences)