After completing her 2,390-mile trek on Route 66 on Sunday in Santa Monica, Michelle Thompson cycled south on Pacific Coast Highway and arrived at her brother’s home in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Christmas Day afternoon, like she had hoped.

KABC-TV in Los Angeles was there to see her ride through a congratulatory banner. There is a two-minute video with the above link if you want to see her brother, wearing a Route 66 T-shirt, welcoming her. It was an emotional moment for everyone.

Thompson promises to update her site later with photos from the trip.

UPDATE: The Daily Pilot in Costa Mesa has a story today about Thompson being with her brother on Christmas Day and her Route 66 trek.

Along the route, which has taken her through eight states, she has been collecting various bric-a-brac and sending it off to John. Her brother is now the proud owner of an obscenely large cowboy hat, a string of lights representing each state along Route 66, and hillbilly chopsticks — essentially an oversized clothespin.

Besides getting random tidbits of Route 66’s extensive history, Michelle’s favorite aspect of the journey was the helpful people she met at gas stations, motels and elsewhere. These “road angels” shared food, shelter and support along the way, many calling in or e-mailing to check on her progress, or offering advice.

“People I didn’t know anything about nine weeks ago have become lifelong friends,” Michelle said. “They have definitely stayed with me.”

Congratulations, roadies. You’ve made new friend of the road, simply by being your usual gracious selves.

Michelle Thompson, the woman who was trying to bicycle the 2,400-mile length of Route 66 to raise awareness of oral cancer and help her ailing brother, met her goal of finishing the Mother Road before Christmas.

According to her Web site, Thompson pulled onto the fabled endpoint of Route 66, the Santa Monica Pier, at 11 p.m. Christmas Eve.

On Monday morning, she rode her bike to Costa Mesa, Calif., to see her brother on Christmas.

The Inland Press-Enterprise reported that Thompson had cycled her way to Rialto by Sunday.

Even with the trek near its end, stories of generosity keep coming:

On Sunday at Don’s Bikes of Rialto, owner Scott McAfee gave her a discount on a new helmet and offered to tune up her bicycle for free. An employee gave her a big hug upon hearing her story, Michelle said.

“You don’t expect that. I have been getting a lot of encouragement,” she said. “People will come up to me or yell out the window, ‘Good for you.’

“A lot of times, I wondered if I was doing any good,” she said Saturday. “Then I would meet someone who would approach me at a gas station and tell me about their experience with cancer.”

She said she could have made it to Costa Mesa by Sunday night, but after spending weeks on Route 66 and learning of its history, she felt compelled to finish riding the storied road. [...]

“I’m going to pull into my brother’s driveway and give him a big hug,” Michelle said. “I’d like to go to Mass on Christmas Day, but that depends on what time I get there. I’d like to spend the day laughing and telling stories.”

The trip, she said Sunday, “has renewed my faith in family and human kindness and God.”

The Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph compiles an annual “10 to Watch” list of central Illinois residents who are rising fast in prominence and influence.

One who made the list is Geoff Ladd of the Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County, who’s already attracted attention for his preservation efforts of an area Route 66 icon.

Ladd started working for the tourism bureau little more than a year ago, and recently formed the Route 66 Heritage Foundation to help bring more into the county. One such project is the restoration of the former Mill restaurant into a Route 66 museum; that work is underway.

“No one thought that Mill could be saved, and after seeing Ladd’s plan, everyone is just so excited about it,” said Bartelmay. “He’s definitely got a lot he’s working on and is just so aggressive with all his endeavors.”

Another thing Ladd is working on is moving a giant covered wagon and giant Abe Lincoln from Divernon, Ill., to Lincoln.

One interesting tidbit about Ladd that’s revealed in the Pantagraph story: He’s a paranormal investigator.