Harley Davidson riders in Rotary Club, Japan had made a plan of riding through Route 66 and Pacific Coast. Total of 12 members started Las Vegas and rode through , Needles, Barstow, Santa Monica L.A., Morro Bay to San Francisco. They covered 1,112 miles in 5 days.
During the ride, they felt that land of USA is huge.
Map
They departed Narita at October 28, 2000 and arrived McCarran Int'l Airport of Las Vegas at 9:00 of the same day. They moved to Hotel San Remo Casino and Resort, 115 East Tropicana Ave. (Hotel Serial No.170) Then, they rented a Chevrolet van from Alamo Rent A Car, Las Vegas Air Port, 6855 Bermuda Rd. All members took lunch at Harley Davidson Cafe. (Restaurant Serial No.157)
After lunch, They rented 5 of Heritage Softail and 2 of Road King at Cruise America, 6070 Boulder Highway, L.V. After settling all necessary procedures, all members enjoyed shopping, dining at Fremont Street.(Restaurant Serial No.158)
After taking photos and placing banner to the back of supporting car, they set out for cruising at 9:00. There was a MGM Grand Hotel just infront of Hotel San Remo.
infront of Hotel San Remo
Placing banner to the back of supporting car
Mr. Greenwood sat on navigator's seat of supporting car. They decided to use 144.90 MHz band for communication between supporting car and bikes through amateur radio. Just after start, one of shift lever of Road King became idle. Chief mechanic, Mr. Hirokawa fixed it immediately. Next stop was Hoover Dam which is 42 miles from Las Vegas. Mr. Michael explained the history of Hoover Dam.
Heading to Hoover Dam on Route 93
After Hoover Dam, they continued Route 93 down to Kingman. When all riders were allowed to go on their favorite speed, soon they disappeared from the site. They passed several wash. Near Kigman, they saw table mountains (Mesa) They fuelled the car and took lunch at Kingman.(Restaurant Serial No.159)
Mesa near Kingman
After lunch, Mr. Greenwood first rode on the bike. As shift lever design of Heritage Softal is different from his Softail Custom, he had to use his brain until he was accustomed to. He was dressed in leather jacket and chaps.
Original plan was to take Route 66 to west and visit Oatman and Topok. But navigator had made a mistake and went to east until they reached Peach Spring. As the group started at 15:00, it became dark when they reached Peach Spring. They run in complete darkness on Interstate 40. At Yucca, Mr. Greenwood again took navigator's seat and safely arrived at Needles. Best Western Colorado River Inn (Hotel Serial No.171) was easily found. They arrived at 19:00. Atchison Topeka Santa Fe Rairoad was running very close to the motel.
Morning run was Mr. Greenwood's turn on the iron horse. They started at 8:00 after fuelling. They took Interstate Freeway 40 to Essex. Then took Route 66 to Amboy. They they stopped at various places.
Before Amvoy
Michael taking rest on Route 66
It was 11:00 when all members arrived at Amboy. It was decided to take lunch at Ludlow and continued ride. Atchison Topeka Santa Fe Rairoad was still running along the Route 66.
Roy's Cafe at Anvoy
Anvoy Crater
Atchison Topeka Santa Fe Rairoad
They arrived Ludlow at 12:00 and took lunch and fuelled here. After lunch, Mr. Greenwood took navigator's position. They changed original plan of taking Interstate Freeway 40 and continued old heritage route to Calico ghost town. They arrived Calico at 14:45.
Sherif of Calico
After enjoying gun fight in Calico, They started Calico at 16:30 and took Interstate Freeway 15 to Barstow. They arrived Best Western Desert Villa Inn (Hotel Serial No.172) at 17:00. The motel was very close to Atchison Topeka Santa Fe Rairoad. They enjoyed Chinese dinner.
They started at 8:00 after fuelling. Mr. Greenwood took navigator's seat. They decided to continue heritage road instead of Interstate 15. They saw snow capped Mt. San Antonio (height 10,064ft?3,300 m) of San Gabriel Mountains. After passing Oro Grande and just before Victorville, they entered Interstate 15. Outside ambient temperature of Cajon Pass (height 4,269ft?1,500 m ) was 45 F. They stopped at Cajon Junction and refueled.
Cajon Pass
They entered plane east of Los Angeles and stopped at Ontario Mills at 12:00. They took lunch there. After lunch, Mr. Greenwood rode on iron horse. They took Interstate 10 and headed to Santa Monica. He stopped using Leather jacket and chaps as the weather became warmer. They stopped at little Tokyo and made paraded in Broadway and Figueroa in down town of Los Angeles. They finished at Santa Monica at the exit of Interstate 10. They stopped at Santa Monica Pier.
Mr. Greenwood and Mrs. Ishihara at Santa Monica Pier
They arrived Best Western Gateway Hotel, 20th St. of Santa Monica Blvd (Hotel Serial No.173) at 16:10. Mr. Greenwood met his friend, Ron there and received some of photos taken in his trip to Paris. All parties took dinner in Italian restaurant Remi in Third Street.(Restaurant Serial No.160)
Ron and Mr. Saitoh in front of Remi
They all enjoyed Halloween Party.
Halloween Party in Lincoln Blvd
Mr. Greenwood rode on iron horse. They started at 8:00 and took Pacific Coast Hwy (Route 1). Each bike run on their own speed but within the reach of radio. On the way to Oxnard, they stopped at Starbucks coffee shop. They entered Route 101 in Oxnard and headed to Santa Barbara. In Santa Barbara, they stopped at Stearn's Wharf and enjoyed Lobster.(Restaurant Serial No.161)
Stearn's Wharf in Santa Barbara
Mr. Greenwood enjoying Lobster
After lunch, Mr. Greenwood took navigator's seat. Instead of Route 101, they entered Route 154 which run along Lake Cachuma. The route was recommended by Kate, newly married wife of Michael. They passed San Marcos Pass (elevation 2,225 ft).
They refueled at Los Alamos. Finally they had arrived at Morro Bay before getting dark. The location of The Inn at Morro Bay (Hotel Serial No.174) was superb. They dined in the main dining room of the Inn.(Restaurant Serial No.162)
Mr. Greenwood took navigator's seat whole day. They didn't stop at Harst castle standing at hill top of Santa Lucia Range.
Big Sur
all members
Coastal winding road at Big Sur was very long. They had rest at various places.
An artist and HD with Mr. Ishihara and Hirokawa
Because of the stoppage of traffic by road construction, Bike and supporting car lost contact through radio. And they separated near Pebble Beach Golf Links. Supporting car abandoned rescue operation around 14:00 and headed to San Francisco via San Jose and arrived Hotel Nikko San Francisco (Hotel Serial No.175) at 16:00. Bike group arrived safely 1 hour later lead by Mr. Oshikawa. Switch of cellular phone in supporting car for such incident was not on.
Mr. Greenwood rode on iron horse and made a final ride around San Francisco Bay. They entered Route 80 East from 8th St. and headed to Oakland through Bay Bridge. refueled in Berkley and took Route 580 to San Rafael Bridge. Then they switched to Route 101. After riding through Sausalito, they finished the ride by going through Golden Gate Bridge. After Golden Gate Bridge, they went straight through Lombard St. They climbed up Russian Hill to Hyde St. and slalomed down under flashlight of tourist. They took pizza at Columbus Ave. After lunch, they took The Embarcadero to Bryant St. and reentered Route 80 East to Oakland. This time, they switched to Route 880 South. They returned their bike at Cruise America, 66th Ave. Supporting car was returned at Bush St.
Lonbard St. Photo by Ken Glaser Jr.
They enjoyed shopping at Pier 39 and took sea food at Castagnola (Restaurant Serial No.144) in Fishemans Wharf. After dinner, they hired Extended Body Lincolin Continental and returned hotel with deep satisfaction.
They started hotel at 8:30 to international airport.
Arrived Narita at.15:15.
2000/11/10