Twin Buttes / Woods Mountains to Nipton by bicycle: Day 15
Another hot one for the final day of the trip, with a high of 96F at Cima, and 103F down at Nipton. I'm glad that much of this is downhill today! 50.9 bicycle miles, about 30 of which are downhill riding, almost 4000 feet of downhill elevation loss: fun!
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Date: June 03, 2012, 08h38
Size: 34 items
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I've been at this great campsite by the Woods Mountains for a week now; this morning I pack up and leave
Of course, I don't really want to end this trip, but it has been hot weather and I really need a shower after two weeks out here. Off to Primm (or maybe only as far as Nipton) I go on this final day!
Date: June 03, 2012, 08h38
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Everything is nicely packed up into my saddlebags and attached to the 10-ton bike
And off I go... Gee, I'm sweating already. Another hot day.
Date: June 03, 2012, 09h31
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I've ridden Woods Wash Road quite a few times while camping here this past week; this is my final commute out of the area
I've made a lot of bicycle tracks in the sand here this past week and most of them are still there due to a lack of motor-vehicle travel on this road.
Date: June 03, 2012, 09h58
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My first stop is the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre (again) to fill up on water; it's over 80F in the shade already
... of course, I have to recharge my cell phone a bit more while here so I can take more photos on today's ride.
Date: June 03, 2012, 11h11
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The 10-ton bike enjoys the rocky backdrop at Hole-in-the-Wall one last time while my cell phone recharges
... and the shade on the porch.
Date: June 03, 2012, 11h12
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I stop to watch a cow and her calf as I ride up Black Canyon Road
... against a Twin Buttes and Table Mountain backdrop.
Date: June 03, 2012, 12h05
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Also noteworthy on upper Black Canyon Road is the Gold Valley Ranch that I'm passing right now
Date: June 03, 2012, 12h13
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Upper Black Canyon Road narrows somewhat before it crosses through the pass ahead at just under 5350 feet elevation
This is my high-elevation point for the day; it will be mostly downhill from now on. I most often ride through the pass here around sunset, on return rides to Mid Hills Campground, so it feels unusual for me to be riding here at midday.
Date: June 03, 2012, 12h42
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The rough washboard of upper Black Canyon Road prevents me from gaining any speed as I decend to the Cedar Canyon Road
I'll turn left at the three-way just ahead.
Date: June 03, 2012, 13h26
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A jet flies overhead while I ride Cedar Canyon Road; the passengers note in unison that 'there's nothing down there'
From a distance, the desert looks brown and empty, so people often don't realize that it provides the same sense of quiet, beauty and solitude that one seeks on a nice empty beach (once you get away from the main roads).
Date: June 03, 2012, 13h34
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This stretch of Cedar Canyon Road is always slow and rough (but scenic) on a bicycle
Just ahead, the road will rise out of the canyon. A couple of motor vehicles slowly pass me along this "busy" stretch of road in Mojave National Preserve.
Date: June 03, 2012, 13h46
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Once Cedar Canyon Road rises out of the canyon, I can see across to the Cima Dome area
I've hiked slowly through some of this area, but am just riding through it today.
Date: June 03, 2012, 13h56
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I have a 700-foot elevation drop ahead of me here on the west end of Cedar Canyon Road
Down we go!
Date: June 03, 2012, 14h06
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After a nice, fast downhill on Cedar Canyon Road, I arrive at the famous stop sign at Kelso-Cima Road
That was a fun 700-foot downhill. Right turn for me here toward Cima, almost five miles away. Will the Cima store be open today?
Date: June 03, 2012, 14h14
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I have almost five miles to ride up the gently rising Kelso-Cima Road until I reach Cima and the possibly open Cima store
The thermometer is supposed to reach 96 degrees F at Cima, and I'm feeling the heat on this little uphill here.
Date: June 03, 2012, 14h24
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