11. Pasadena to Fontana, CA, USA

The day began with a sendoff from the suburban peafowl of Arcadia, CA, followed by the Tour de Adorable Towns: Pasadena, LaVerne, Claremont, Pomona. They reminded me of cute Peninsula towns like Palo Alto and San Mateo, but with more greenery and fewer Teslas.

The Route 66 marking (and marketing) began in earnest. I regret not getting photos of the official start of the route back in LA, and so started making up for it here. When I stopped for a smoothie, a fellow cyclist struck up a conversation and showed off his mountain bike, on which he had just completed a 67 mile race with 9K feet of climbing (zoinks!).

I had every intention of camping in the Glen Helen Regional Park, but angry clouds were gathering in the direction I was traveling. Although I am not made of sugar, the prospect of hauling heavy wet gear over Cajon Pass the next day did not appeal. So I ducked into a Comfort Inn before the clouds broke.

Distance: 42.46 mi / 68.33 km

Climbing: 971 ft / 296 m

Totals: 564 mi / 908 km; 20,928 ft / 6,379 m

Sleep Spot: Comfort Inn, Fontana, CA

Song in my head: "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" by Bob Dylan

Route: