I have long dreamed of exploring the treasures of “the Mother Road”, Route 66.  Well, that dream comes  true today, as I embark on my journey along Route 66, though from the West Coast to the East, rather than vice versa.  I made it to Santa Monica Pier, the end of the line for those traveling Route 66 from the official starting point in Chicago, taking in all the wonderfulness there, including one of the most beautiful sunsets ever.  What a place.  I also made some new friends, including a cool couple from St. Louis who had just completed the trip, and Dan Rice, owner and proprietor of the awesome Route 66 to California shop on Santa Monica Pier.  Dan is a wealth of knowledge about all things Route 66, having made the journey 26 times already, and he’s just dang fun to hang out with.  The couple I mentioned and I spent several hours just chatting with Dan about all kinds of stuff, including Route 66.  If you are ever down on the Pier, do look him up, and tell him I sent you!  You won’t be sorry.