After five years, two children, and thousands of miles, I finally completed my Route 66 cycling journey at the Santa Monica Pier. From dramatic thunderstorms in 2019 to the quiet satisfaction of finishing the second half in 2025, this post reflects on adventure, motherhood, marriage, and what it means to keep pursuing big dreams while building a family. If you’re planning a Route 66 bike tour or dreaming about bicycling Route 66 yourself, this series shares the realities, logistics, and emotions of the journey.

After more than 1,000 miles of cycling Route 66, I finally crossed back into California expecting smooth roads, ocean air, and the triumphant final stretch of a cross-country bicycle journey. Instead, I found brutal traffic, rough pavement, industrial rail towns, and an unexpected realization about the kind of person I really am. This entry follows the penultimate day of my Route 66 bike tour through Barstow, Victorville, Cajon Pass, and Rancho Cucamonga — and reflects on adventure, labor, history, and what it means to leave something behind.

What should have been an easy recovery day while cycling Route 66 through the Mojave Desert became an exhausting eight-hour battle against relentless California headwinds. After more than 1,000 miles on the second half of this cross-country bicycle journey, I finally learned that the hardest condition in bicycling Route 66 isn’t heat or climbing — it’s wind. This post covers desert riding strategy, pacing, gear problems, morale, and an unexpected milestone on a Route 66 bike tour.

Cycling Route 66 across the Mojave Desert turned into one of the hardest and most memorable days of the entire trip. What began as an ambitious desert crossing quickly became a brutal battle against headwinds, 104°F heat, road closures, dehydration, and exhaustion. This post follows a long day bicycling Route 66 through Amboy, Roy’s Café, and Ludlow — and reflects on endurance, friendship, self-belief, and why difficult adventures are better shared with people you love.

Welcome to California! Lots of wind and picturesque desert views. We were able to get in before the heat took hold. So. Many. Donkeys. In. Oatman.

Where I encounter the loveliest stretch of Route 66 despite the wind assaulting my face, body, and soul; flat #7; and a sandstorm.

Solo Riding Day 1: An epic 7mi descent, two flats, LA is starting to appear on all the signs and the official last day of riding on I-40!

An inactive body leads to an overactive mind and isn't good for mental health.

We reach our hotel in the pouring rain, Dan finally dumps the fake Nutella and gets validation on his bike maintenance skills. My bike shines anew.

A storm, a bent derailleur, and a giant pivot! All wagons, head to Flagstaff! Also, the recipe for the perfect Arnold Palmer.

We've entered Arizona and are cruising for a bruising...

Finishing the last 20mi into Gallup this morning while I still have the SAG wagon. It was cooler with far less wind than yesterday afternoon. Uneventful except for some mud flinging...

Clear skies, light breeze, and sunny day. Its a good day to be alive.

Twenty miles on the interstate, big, wide open skies, and then a crash. When things start to go wrong...

I rode for five days and rested on the sixth. I couldn't make it to seven because I'm not God...

Exhilarating new experiences, hotels galore, and carefree kid-free fun? Feelings of fleeting emptiness and guilt? Am I having an affair? With myself? You know, I'm not going to overthink happiness.

An interesting day: two back-to-back flat tires sabotage an early-morning start. Normally, I'd be annoyed, but those flats may have saved my life!

Tailwinds, cool weather (77F), and riding mostly on empty frontage roads contributed to a glorious day! However, lack of services is foreboding for the days to come...

Less wind, less services, more elevation. Today's about grinding it out through Tornado Alley and the BEST cinnamon roll's on the entire route!

Every adventure has a first day. Sometimes everything happens according to plan, sometimes it's messy. Whatever happens, just keep moving forward and, eventually, you'll find yourself somewhere you want to be.