I leave Mid Hills Campground and ride over to the Twin Buttes area, Mojave National Preserve, to set up a campsite there: Day 8
Easy day (hey, I'm on vacation!): 16.4 bicycle miles on the 10-ton bike plus about 800 feet of elevation gain, and a fun 1700 feet of elevation drop. Another perfect day temperature-wise: it only hits 77F at Cima and drops to 41F at night.
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Date: May 27, 2012, 11h28
Size: 20 items
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I rinse my hair under a tap at Mid Hills Campground as part of breaking camp today
As usual when I'm here, I've been sucked into the Mid Hills campground vortex and don't want to leave. I keep looking for excuses to stay here another night, but I do need to recharge my cell phone again, now that I'm taking photos with it more often.
Date: May 27, 2012, 11h28
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Ortlieb waterproof bicycle saddlebags make a great washing machine or ice bucket!
After a typical breakfast of granola, almonds, vitamin C drink and coffee, I eat an orange that Russ gave me the other day, and a can of spicy Moroccan sardines. Then it's time to rinse out some of my dirty clothes.
Date: May 27, 2012, 11h33
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My laundry dries fairly quickly at Mid Hills Campground, Mojave National Preserve
... except for the socks. I love these Smartwool t-shirts, great for hot weather, and they don't hold odours—not mine, at least. They do smell a bit sheepy at times when they're hot and sweaty.
Date: May 27, 2012, 11h48
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I finally leave: on my way out of Mid Hills Campground, I run into Ranger Greg, and we have a great chat
He knows the less-visited areas of the Preserve that I'm interested in and shares some good information: thanks! I regret missing his geology talk the other day. I'm always so caught up in my own travels that I never go to any of the visitor events here.
Date: May 27, 2012, 15h25
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Wild Horse Canyon Road is all scenic, but I especially enjoy riding down this part with the Providence Mountains in the distance
I'm riding Wild Horse Canyon Road down to Hole-in-the-Wall visitor Centre, where I'll recharge my phone and fill up on water before heading out to the Twin Buttes area for a backcountry campsite.
Date: May 27, 2012, 15h35
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Wild Horse Canyon Road rolls along as it approaches the Barber Peaks area
I never get tired of this ride.
Date: May 27, 2012, 15h58
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I pause along Wild Horse Canyon Road to watch a cow trudge along in an adjacent wash
Date: May 27, 2012, 16h00
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I reach a point where I have a view over to Bluejay Mine Road and Wild Horse Mesa above
That's another road I've ridden a few times on past trips here, and worth doing again, with good hiking at the end of the road. But it's not on my route today. The climb up to Wild Horse Mesa via the saddle just to the left of my glasses is memorable too.
Date: May 27, 2012, 16h04
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I ride the 10-ton bike slowly on the heavy washboard of this part of Wild Horse Canyon Road
It's a nice downhill here, and I wish I could ride faster, but with the weight of all my gear, I don't want things to be bouncing around any more than necessary.
Date: May 27, 2012, 16h13
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Cool rock formations abound on lower Wild Horse Canyon Road, Mojave National Preserve
It gets even better closer to the Hole-in-the-Wall visitor centre, and there's some good hiking there that I might do during the next few days.
Date: May 27, 2012, 16h20
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I try to keep up with a cow and a wild burro that I spot along Wild Horse Canyon Road
They seem to be friends and comfortable with each other, though my presence spooks them both a bit.
Date: May 27, 2012, 16h33
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I take a break at Hole-in-the-Wall visitor centre to recharge my phone
My regular (and new) Canon pocket camera is getting worse, refusing to take still photos, and sometimes refusing to shoot video now too. So I'm using my Casio Commando ruggedized phone often now, which means it needs more frequent recharging.
Date: May 27, 2012, 17h10
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I'm excited to be heading up Woods Wash Rd toward my new campsite, though I don't know exactly where that is yet
My water load is full and heavy (I filled up back at Hole-in-the-Wall visitor centre), so it's slow riding on the sandy road here, slightly uphill.
Date: May 27, 2012, 19h00
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Table Mountain on the left, and Twin Buttes: a classic Mojave National Preserve view that I usually see from Black Canyon Road
... but this evening I'm a bit closer, on the U-shaped Woods Wash Road. Soon, I'll be passing by the Twin Buttes hill on the right.
Date: May 27, 2012, 19h06
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This stretch of Woods Wash Road follows an old range fence toward Twin Buttes, with old rough-hewn wood posts
History...
Date: May 27, 2012, 19h19
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