ROUTE 66, Santa Monica, California

And, then finally, we saw the Pacific Ocean, the Shining Sea. We had not followed Route 66 from Nevada through California but had taken a little side trip north along the Sierra Nevada, up into Yosemite Park (where our little RV huffed and puffed up and up and up the mountain until I got worried it wouldn’t make it to the pass) and, after a few wonderful days in the shadow of El Capitan, decended to follow Route 101 south along the coast. We journeyed a little bit further south along the coast, and enjoyed Carmel and the beautiful Lone Pine on the 17-Mile Drive. Gorgeous!

Santa Monica at the End of the Trail, is buzzing with tourists of all races, colors, languages, and it’s a circus. The pier of Santa Monica reminded us of Chicago’s Navy Pier at the beginning of Route 66, or Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, or any other touristy pier or wharf in any other harbor city around the world; Restaurants, bars, carnivals and rides of all sorts, music, laughter and shops, shops, shops. And, of course, the little tourist museum must not be missed.

We “did” Route 66 in three different laps, and every time it was much fun. Would we do it again–oh yes, we would. It was worth it.

California State Food

The Golden State unconventionally declared four different nuts as its official state food, but almonds are the obvious choice. The state produces 80 percent of the world’s crops!