The longest road in American mythology runs out of land here. Route 66 was commissioned in 1926 to link Chicago with Los Angeles, and as it went through eight states on its two-thousand-mile journey it picked up the nickname the Mother Road. The official end of the highway is a matter of fine print, with the route having been rerouted several times, but the pier at Santa Monica carries a sign calling it the End of the Trail, and that is where riders photograph their bikes, so that is where this ride finishes.
The pier itself opened in 1909 and has been a seaside amusement ever since, with a carousel from the 1920s, an amusement park with a solar-powered Ferris wheel, arcades, fishing from the rails, and the sound of gulls and the hiss of surf beneath the boards. It has been repaired and rebuilt after storms and fires. The Pacific stretches out to the horizon, and on a clear evening the sun sets in a long orange ribbon over the water, while the mountains of Malibu line the coast to the north.
Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985, replaced by the interstates, but Americans refused to let it go, and the old road, in pieces, has become a pilgrimage. Reaching this point after a long trip across the desert is a reward in itself. The last miles through Los Angeles are slow and urban, with traffic lights, lane splitting by locals, and a lot of cars, so choose your hours carefully. Rush hours can be dense, and the best time to arrive is in the late morning or the evening.
Everything you need is here, including fuel, though prices in California are among the highest in the country. Parking for motorcycles near the pier is easier than for cars, but there are fees and rules, so look at the signs. The Venice boardwalk, with its muscle gym, skate park and street performers, is a short ride south. Fresh seafood and tacos are easy to find, and in summer, the marine layer can bring cool grey mornings, so a light jacket is welcome. The beach is wide, and the Pacific is cold, even in August.