The Journal. Los Angeles to Daytona...

This is the second US bike trip that we are undertaking, this time a real road trip, on our own without a guide, only a couple of nights booked and ahead of us three thousand miles of back roads and black top. For this trip we have to say a big thank you to John, Dot and Nige at Hadrian V Twin Tours for making this happen, whilst not a tour, this ‘deliverance’ ride, taking bikes West To East for Eagle Riders would not be possible without their contacts and passion – thank you all.

Day 1 – great day in the van sightseeing, yes I know it’s touristy but a) we do not have bikes yet and b) the opportunity to take friends to sights around LA that they have not seen is also nice.
So Venice beach first after getting breakfast of course, we walked along the shore line with jeans rolled up splashing around, this is our first ocean, and hence the obligatory dipping of feet is a must. There is always a diverse mix of people here, selling wears, dressed in bright colours, doing their things. Skaters, boarders, hand ballers, walkers and hippies are all in the mix. Some are troubled souls others free spirits I am sure.

Up the coast is Santa Monica, the end of Route 66, or Roy Rogers Highway, with the marker sign inundated with snappies with smart phones. The Route 66 from this point takes you to Hollywood, to those that are stars and those seeking fame. Today it also attracted 500 million people going (largely) in fancy fresh dress as it is Halloween.
Needless to say we did not make it much past Beverly Hills due to the mass of traffic, so a quick guide of the ‘burbs and off to Deus Ex Machina in Venice, see the bikes, grab a very tasty lunch an even better coffee and buy a few tokens of appreciation.

Above: Santa Monic peer, for those skaters this was a haunt of Tony Alva and Jay Adams - aka Z Boys

To The Left: Items of beauty come out of Deus and this Sportster is a classic exemplar.

With the bikes calling, ready ahead of time thanks to John and Dot at Hadrian V Twin and Eagle Riders, for me a sof-tail, a fat boy, and for my partner a super glide, for our friends an ultra glide and heritage softail were all booked out and all in black.

The evening we enjoyed a lovely dinner in Manhattan Beach at OB’s pub and bar before packing for our first day on the road.

Now the road trip starts, across the Southern states from the Pacific to the Atlantic with the Gulf Of Mexico coastline to our right hand side

Laner
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