back to the east...

Friday 15.th of October:

I woke up with quiet a hangover, but excited enough to jump on the bike and let the travel continue. After letting the terrible Los Angeles traffic behind me, passing Beverly Hills, I headed further on the coast of Malibu.

The weather was cloudy and it started to get really cold. So to my disappointment there were no beach babes to look at and the only silicon I saw was part of my sandwich's packaging. Even with pullover, two shirts and leather jacket it was still getting really cold wile riding the Harley. So I decided in Santa Monica to head east ... back to the desert. And believe it or not, within about 30 miles it got about 10 degrees warmer. In the middle of the Mojave desert, near the NASA rocket launch site I saw one of the most beautiful dawn in my entire life.

Finally I arrived at the ROUTE 66, but it was dark already, so I looked out for a motel and had my obligatory evening beer and got to sleep.

Saturday 16.th of October:

When I woke up this morning, I didn´t knew yet, that this would be the most exhausting day of the whole trip. But here I was: Austrian ... check; Harley.... check; Route 66... check. And I can tell you, riding a Harley Davidson Fatboy on this famous old school road is a feeling... hard to describe in words. Yea maybe one word would fit: It SUCKS. Really, I think this road has not been maintenanced since 20 years or longer. Full of road holes and cracks. I was just glad that my Harley was a rental bike and not my own ;)

This part of the road was actual in quiet good shape...

 So I got after a view miles on the route 66 back to the freeway which runs just a view meters parallel to the 66. I crossed the Colorado river again and just 350 miles later I was standing at the Grand Canyon. It´s so beautiful, like a painted picture. I was lucky enough to arrive there at dawn. But see for yourself.

Colorado River

Dawn at the Grand Canyon

It was dark when I came back from the view point and no (affordable motel) around. So I mounted the Fatboy again and drove back south towards flagstaff. It was really cold, I freezed and started shivering. To my bad there was a special event in the town Flagstaff, where I planned to get a motel room. Because of this event every single room was already in use, so I had no other joice as to go on. I warmed myself up at a near Subways and got back on the bike. The stone desert was in the south so it was just a matter of miles before it would be warmer again. And so it was... I arrived at 23:00 at our flat in Phoenix after about 600 miles drive this day. Exhausted but glad.

It was an amazing experience!

PS:

Oh before I forget, just for you to know, every time I started my engine a little piece of family was in my sight :)

I got this keyring pendant from my sister showing her an her son (my godson).