Mail Spring to Mid Hills Campground by bicycle via New York Mountains Road, Mojave National Preserve: Day 4
I wasn't planning on visiting Mid Hills Campground, but the hot weather is changing my plans. It's a few degrees cooler than yesterday, but still *hot*: (92F at Lanfair and 99F down at Nipton). 27.4 bicycle miles and about 1800 feet of elevation gain.
|
Date: May 23, 2012, 12h14
Size: 17 items
|
|
I make a last-minute decision to leave Mail Spring and ride to Mid Hills campground today (I was going to stay here another day)
I pack up and leave around 13h15. A breeze this morning kept the tent a bit cooler this morning, so I managed to sleep in until 9h30. Really needed the sleep, but it's still hot enough that I can't eat much.
Date: May 23, 2012, 12h14
|
1.5 downhill miles on the old Mail Spring Road, then 3.5 miles down Ivanpah Rd into the Lanfair Valley
I rapidly lose a few hundred feet of elevation as I ride down Ivanpah Road, but due to the bumpy, washboarded road, I ride almost as slowly as if I were riding uphill. A bit sweaty even on the downhill!
Date: May 23, 2012, 14h11
|
I make a quick stop along Ivanpah Road to climb up onto an old railway grade that is marked as a road on some maps
It's hard to tell this is a an old railway grade extending into the distance because it's so grown in.
Date: May 23, 2012, 14h25
|
|
The 10-ton bicycle leaves Ivanpah Road for the Sagamore Cut-off Road
I rode this peaceful 5-mile road through the Joshua-tree forest last year and am looking forward to doing it again.
Date: May 23, 2012, 14h35
|
Video snippet of riding the 10-ton bike through the Joshua tree forest on the Sagamore Cut-Off Road
It's tricky trying to ride the ungainly 10-ton bike with one hand on a camera, and only one hand on the handlebars. Youtube adjustments to the video to reduce shakiness produce interesting effects at times.
Date: May 23, 2012, 14h39
|
Way off in the distance, I can see flat-topped Table Mountain, which I'll pass later on the way to Mid Hills campground
The road rolls up and down across drainage areas. I like this kind of terrain for mountain-biking.
Date: May 23, 2012, 14h44
|
|
Riding (and walking the 10-ton bike) up the Sagamore Cut-off Road, looking for shade under a Joshua tree
Time for an energy-bar break. The heat is still killing my appetite, so I might not be able to eat it all, but I'll eat as much of it as I can.
Date: May 23, 2012, 15h19
|
An hour goes by, and I'm still riding, and pushing, the bike up the Sagamore Cut-off Road
I still haven't seen any people yet today (nor yesterday, nor the day before). Occasionally, there's a bit of shade to provide a spot for a brief rest.
Date: May 23, 2012, 16h14
|
I arrive at the junction of New York Mountains Road and Carruthers Canyon, the first of two summits today
There's a hint of a cool breeze up here at 5500 feet, unbelievable after the past few hot days. I've risen almost 1000 feet since I left Ivanpah Road a while back, but it doesn't seem like it because the grade is fairly gradual, and the trip so enjoyable.
Date: May 23, 2012, 17h23
|
|
Postcard view of the New York Mountains while mountain-biking through the Carruthers Canyon area
There are many nice campsites in this area; I'd consider camping here tonight if I were carrying more water. I'm tired already!
Date: May 23, 2012, 17h24
|
A gentle downhill begins as I start crossing the Watson Wash area on New York Mountains Road, Mojave National Preserve
I still have about 15 miles to go and will drop down to about 4800 feet before climbing back up to 5600 at Mid Hills Campground.
Date: May 23, 2012, 17h57
|
The 10-ton bicycle rides down New York Mountains Road alongside Watson Wash toward Cedar Canyon Road
I quickly drop down about 400 feet to join Cedar Canyon Road. Nice to have some downhill, but loose sand on the road requires that I pay close attention in order to not slip and lose control.
Date: May 23, 2012, 18h27
|
|
Dead coyote on Cedar Canyon Road, Mojave National Preserve
The short, steep climb out of Watson Wash was tiring, and now I'm riding slowly uphill into a fierce headwind, so the dead coyote gives a good excuse to take a short break.
Date: May 23, 2012, 19h07
|
Riding (and walking the 10-ton bike) up the Black Canyon Cut-off Road as the sun goes down
A few desert mallow flowers are blooming. Sometimes there are thousands of these orange flowers here. I like this short-cut road, only .75 miles long, excellent for mountain bikes.
Date: May 23, 2012, 19h46
|
Nice sunset (belt of Venus) on the way up the Black Canyon Cut-off Road: my final 5 uphill miles of the day will be in the dark
I feel beaten down the last few miles before Mid Hills Campground (as usual!), but riding in the dark means less heat. The campground is almost empty. Like. I don't feel like eating, but make Mountain House Teriyaki Chicken and Rice a bit before midnight.
Date: May 23, 2012, 19h50
|
|
