Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Spring 2012
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Mojave National Preserve Bicycle-Camping and Hiking, Late Spring 2012 Mountain-bike ride from Twin Buttes to Fenner and Essex on historic Route 66 via Woods Wash Valley dirt roads: Day 10
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Mojave National Preserve Bicycle-Camping and Hiking, Late Spring 2012

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After a very short break at stinky Black Diamond Spring, I walk through an area full of white buckwheat flowers

After a very short break at stinky Black Diamond Spring, I walk through an area full of white buckwheat flowers

Date: May 26, 2012, 17h12

Mountain-bike ride from Twin Buttes to Fenner and Essex on historic Route 66 via Woods Wash Valley dirt roads: Day 10

My bud calls this the 73-mile beer run (I'll buy beer at the Fenner store). I explore some of the expansive cattle-grazing country in the Woods Wash Valley. High of 102F in the Essex area. 73 bicycle miles and about 3500 feet of elevation gain.

Date: May 29, 2012, 10h04
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My Fenner Hills Road route crosses the (gas) pipeline road, both roads lightly traveled

My Fenner Hills Road route crosses the (gas) pipeline road, both roads lightly traveled

I stop to take a look down the pipeline road toward Foshay Pass, that dent in the Providence Mountains over there. The pipeline road and the powerline road almost meet each other in that area.

Date: May 29, 2012, 16h21
Fenner Hills Road crosses a wide gravelly area thst was apparently once cleared of vegetation

Fenner Hills Road crosses a wide gravelly area thst was apparently once cleared of vegetation

Perhaps this was once a mining spot, or a landing pad? My maps don't offer any additional information.

Date: May 29, 2012, 16h36
Ugh, Fenner Hills Road passes through a couple of sandy stretches where I can barely ride my bike.

Ugh, Fenner Hills Road passes through a couple of sandy stretches where I can barely ride my bike.

I have to get off and walk the bike for a few minutes, nothing too serious, yet.

Date: May 29, 2012, 16h41
Out of the last sand-trap on Fenner Hills Road, the road briefly crosses a gravelly area, then returns to a soft earth surface

Out of the last sand-trap on Fenner Hills Road, the road briefly crosses a gravelly area, then returns to a soft earth surface

Date: May 29, 2012, 16h51
Occasionally, Fenner Hills Road almost fades away, in the gravelly stretches

Occasionally, Fenner Hills Road almost fades away, in the gravelly stretches

Date: May 29, 2012, 16h52
It seems that riding down Fenner Hills Road is getting slower and slower, even though I'm riding mostly slightly downhill

It seems that riding down Fenner Hills Road is getting slower and slower, even though I'm riding mostly slightly downhill

...or maybe I'm just getting impatient. It's a great ride, regardless, but I've decided that it's definitely best in the downhill direction.

Date: May 29, 2012, 17h08
Aha, I can now see trains down there rolling past Fenner by old Route 66, with the Piute Mountains Wilderness in the background

Aha, I can now see trains down there rolling past Fenner by old Route 66, with the Piute Mountains Wilderness in the background

I'm getting close to my next waypoint!

Date: May 29, 2012, 17h09
I'll be at Fenner shortly; I definitely need a break and I want some COLD water

I'll be at Fenner shortly; I definitely need a break and I want some COLD water

I'm staring at those palm trees down there where there's a store selling food and cold drinks!

Date: May 29, 2012, 17h33
34 miles into today's ride, just before arriving at Fenner, I exit Mojave National Preserve for a while

34 miles into today's ride, just before arriving at Fenner, I exit Mojave National Preserve for a while

I take a look back at where I came from. I'm having so much fun that it's easy to forget that I have a long ride to get back home to my tent.

Date: May 29, 2012, 17h38
I arrive at the store at Fenner, CA and the outdoor thermometer reads 89F in the shade; no wonder I'm hot and thirsty!

I arrive at the store at Fenner, CA and the outdoor thermometer reads 89F in the shade; no wonder I'm hot and thirsty!

I'll learn later that it hit 102F at nearby Essex, which I'll ride through shortly on the long ride back to my campsite in Mojave National Preserve.

Date: May 29, 2012, 18h09
Gotta love this weird sign in the door at the Fenner store just off I-40 and on old Route 66

Gotta love this weird sign in the door at the Fenner store just off I-40 and on old Route 66

Should I choose to not become a customer as suggested? I step into the store to buy cold water for the ride home, other refreshments, and two bags of potato chips for a carbo boost. I was hoping to order a falafel sandwich, but the kitchen just closed.

Date: May 29, 2012, 18h09
I take a good half-hour break in the shade of the Fenner store, drinking a couple of bottles of Sobe orange-carrot drink

I take a good half-hour break in the shade of the Fenner store, drinking a couple of bottles of Sobe orange-carrot drink

Best of all, they carry tall bottles of Sierra Nevada pale ale, so I buy a couple of those for later consumption. I'd love to drink one of those now while it's cold, but with almost 40 more bicycle miles ahead of me, that wouldn't be a great idea.

Date: May 29, 2012, 18h22
After my refreshment break at the Fenner store, I'm ready to ride on; I ride under the I-40 freeway and down old Route 66

After my refreshment break at the Fenner store, I'm ready to ride on; I ride under the I-40 freeway and down old Route 66

I haven't ridden my bike on this part of Route 66 in 10 years, so it's nice to be here again, however briefly. The freight trains along the road make me feel like I'm on old Route 66.

Date: May 29, 2012, 18h36
A few Desert milkweeds pick up the sun along old Route 66 as I get close to Essex, CA

A few Desert milkweeds pick up the sun along old Route 66 as I get close to Essex, CA

Almost there...

Date: May 29, 2012, 18h53
On the outskirts of Essex, CA, I stop to check out an old abandoned gas station and its empty sign

On the outskirts of Essex, CA, I stop to check out an old abandoned gas station and its empty sign

Date: May 29, 2012, 18h59
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Other bikepacking trips on drycyclist.com:
  • Mojave National Preserve Lanfair Valley Loop Bicycle Camping, Fall 2012 (8 days)
  • Cady Mountains, Sleeping Beauty and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2011 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking, Spring 2011 (15 days)
  • Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bikepacking, Fall 2010 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Hiking and Bicycle Camping, Spring 2010 (two weeks)
  • Mojave National Preserve Hiking and Bicycle Camping, Fall 2009 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Spring 2009 (16 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking 2008 (14 days)
  • Henry Coe State Park Bikepacking 2008 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Xmas 2007 Mountain-Bike Camping (one week)
  • Henry Coe State Park Mountain-Bike Camping 2007 (eight nights)
  • Death Valley Bicycle Camping 2007 (two weeks)
  • Henry Coe State Park Bicycle Camping 2006 (four nights)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 2006 (two weeks)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 2000 (11 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 1999 (one week)
Contact mojave2011 at drycyclist dot com