Santa Monica, California, United States
We made it: the western end of Route 66. Took us all day, as we drove from San Bernardino to Santa Monica down Route 66 the entire way--about 76 miles all on one big wide boulevard with stop lights about every quarter mile, and all of them red. Not to mention the traffic, which is certainly unmentionable. I was reminded of why I used to be an angry and aggressive driver. These people drive like maniacs! Richmond people: think of Broad Street through Short Pump for 76 miles.
Fortunately, there was much to look at, and we looked at it all. As usual, most of my observations will be in the comments on the photos, but here are a few key points from the day:
We stopped at a very old McDonald's to take pictures. (I don't eat at McDonald's--haven't for four decades.) It has the old double arches and the first mascot: Speedee. I would not have been interested at all before I went to the museum yesterday.
When we got to the official end of the road--that is the actual end of the road, and not the popular one on the Santa Monica Pier--we had celebratory ice cream (instead of lunch!) in Mel's Drive-In (which I mentioned in yesterday's blog).
There is a photo in the diner showing the grand opening in 1947. Turns out, however, as Tim discovered through some effective research later, that this Mel's Drive-In opened on June 27th. June 27, 2018. Two weeks ago. The whole story is here, and is pretty interesting. The basic facts are that the very first Mel's opened in San Francisco in 1947. This diner opened as the Penguin Coffee Shop in 1959. After that incarnation, it was a dentist's office for 25 years. Fortunately, the dentists kept the penguin, and the current owner decided to keep it when he restored the diner to its original state starting some time in 2017. Couldn't have been better timing for us! A sundae at a classic diner is the perfect ending to a journey down the western half of Route 66!
The history of the Mel's chain is here. Turns out that there is one in Walnut Creek, California, right down the road from my high school. It has been there since the late 50s or early 60s. I have no memory of it. Anyone else remember it? Photos here.
After our ice cream celebration, we headed north to Ventura, where we are going to take the boat out to the Channel Islands National Park tomorrow. The drive was a whole education--highway 1 goes along the beaches, and on a Saturday in July, every car for 100 miles is there, vying for $15 parking spaces so that the occupants can go sit (or stand?) on the massively crowded beach. Seems like a nightmare to me! Not our scene at all! Made us even more happy that there is a great Route 66 ending at the actual end of the road; didn't have to try to get to the pier, and didn't have to feel sorry about that!
We headed up to the Santa Monica National Recreation Area. We didn't have too much time (by then it was about 4:00), but we had a good look at the visitor's center and then went to see Paramount Ranch, a back lot which is inside the park. Quite interesting to see the set, which they just repaint, and re-sign, for each new project. Somebody is filming out there--lots of "star" trailers and a bunch of 18-wheelers hauling who knows what--but there was no filming that late in the day.
You may recognize the set from who knows how many movies and television shows; they specifically pointed out what was used for Westworld, so if you watch that, you'll feel right at home.
We had originally planned to go to Malibu Creek State Park, which is enclosed in the national park site, to make the five-mile (round trip) walk to the M*A*S*H set; but we got there too late. Turns out that the Paramount ranch was probably more interesting anyway, as the set is still there, and we didn't have to pay $12 each to go see it! At the M*A*S*H site, there are only a recreated signpost and some informational panels with photographs. Not much for two-hours' walk in 100 degree heat! Still, we probably would have enjoyed that, as well!
We're off Route 66 now, so we're staying in a regular (but very nice) hotel, with no quirky photos to be taken. When we head back, though, we will be staying in two more Route 66 hotels, so the adventure is not quite over!
2025-05-23