Mojave Desert bicycle ride from Sleeping Beauty mountains to north side of Kelso Dunes Wilderness: Day 3
Beautiful, sunny morning. The inside of my thighs feel bruised from yesterday's short, steep hike. 24.9 bicycle miles, with about 1200 feet of elevation drop. A fun and easy ride with a stop at the Ludlow Café for home-cooked lunch. This is vacation!
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Date: November 22, 2011, 09h29
Size: 24 items
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First order of this sunny morning is to dig a desert cat hole since I don't have access to a toilet out here!
Actually, this toilet is more scenic than most.
Date: November 22, 2011, 09h29
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From my campsite on the Sleeping Beauty foothills, I can zoom in on a long freight train down by the freeway
I slept really well last night, though it was chilly. I have instant coffee while packing up, and I nibble on a bit of my dried food, but I don't eat a lot since I'll be eating at the Ludlow Café while on the road.
Date: November 22, 2011, 10h16
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I'm almost finished packing up the tent and its contents; good-bye Sleeping Beauty!
Nothing left but a bit of flattened earth, a view of the Sleeping Beauty mountains, and memories of yesterday's excellent hike. Despite being November, it's almost warm this morning, probably around 60F.
Date: November 22, 2011, 10h51
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All packed up, I start riding down the hill away from my Sleeping Beauty campsite
I had to walk the 10-ton bike through this sandy stretch (and a few others) a couple of nights ago on my way up to my campsite. It's much easier in the downhill direction!
Date: November 22, 2011, 11h38
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Off in the distance below, a puff of dust hovers
A vehicle driving across the desert or the result of one of those explosions from the military base somewhere down there?
Date: November 22, 2011, 11h46
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Oh, a stray balloon on the side of the road leading down from Sleeping Beauty!
How many of these lost balloons will I see during this trip? It's been only six minutes since the previous photo: the big dust cloud still hovers above the desert floor down there.
Date: November 22, 2012, 11h52
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I'm just far enough down the dirt road now to have a panoramic view of the Sleeping Beauty peaks behind me
Gee, I was way up there along that high ridge yesterday afternoon... It's interesting to see how this road looks in daylight since it was dark when I rode up to my campsite two nights ago.
Date: November 22, 2011, 12h07
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Sleeping Beauty road crosses a gas pipeline
Instructions for reporting a gas leak appear on those pipes over there. My gears are sticky, so I stop to add some lube and scrape off some gunk.
Date: November 22, 2011, 12h08
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After 2 miles of dirt road from Sleeping Beauty, I ride 8 miles, mostly a bit downhill, to Ludlow, for lunch on old Route 66
I'm hungry and looking forward to a meal at the Ludlow Café down there! I have a slight headwind, so I only reach 16 mph, despite riding downhill. My left knee is sore from yesterday, and I hope it doesn't get worse!
Date: November 22, 2011, 12h27
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After 10 easy bicycle miles, I reach the Ludlow Café and have one of their famous breakfast plates
Mmmm. I've been here a few times before, and the really special item in the meal for me is the homemade biscuit. Good biscuits like these don't need additional butter. Today I get the pork chops for a change (I rarely eat them).
Date: November 22, 2011, 13h31
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Full belly, I leave the Ludlow Café and head down the nearby dirt road toward Kelso Dunes Wilderness
Ludlow only has about 20 residents, so you're always on the outskirts of town here. The Ludlow ghost town on the other side of the train tracks is interesting, but it's not on my agenda today.
Date: November 22, 2011, 14h00
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I slowly ride along Crucero Road toward Broadwell Dry Lake, a slight downhill
I stocked up on water (4 1.5-litre bottles) before leaving "town," so my load is heavier now. I'll cross Broadwell Dry Lake and camp on the other side of the Bristol Mountains straight ahead.
Date: November 22, 2011, 14h21
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On the way down to Broadwell Dry Lake, I stop briefly at the junction of a powerline road that leads into the Bristol Mountains
I don't recall this nice BLM "Heart of the Mojave" sign when I rode down this way last year. I'd like to ride up that road again and explore more, like I did last year.
Date: November 22, 2011, 14h37
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Also along Crucero Road is this BLM Kelso Dunes Wilderness sign
Loose gravel on the road makes it a bit slippery on the 10-ton bike, but I think the road is in slightly better shape than it was last year. I'll know for sure in a few days when I ride back up the gentle hill here.
Date: November 22, 2011, 14h39
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When Crucero Road reaches Broadwell Dry Lake, it forks to make two separate northbound roads
The straight-ahead road follows the old railway grade that goes down the middle of the lake, while the left road skirts around the lake. I follow the left road around the lake.
Date: November 22, 2011, 15h17
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An old sign announcing a proposed toxic waste dump here at Broadwell Dry Lake has been appropriately well shot-up
Fortunately, the proposal for a toxic-waste dump here failed, A more recent proposal to industrialize Broadwell Dry Lake by covering it with solar panels fortunately also failed.
Date: November 22, 2011, 15h42
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The clay soil on Crucero Road as it skirts the shore of Broadwell Dry Lake has big cracks
It's probably quite muddy here on those few occasions when it rains here. But today, it's a nice hard riding surface, easy after the kitty-litter gravel on the road on the way down the hill.
Date: November 22, 2011, 15h48
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With sunset approaching in half an hour or so, I'm starting to cast nice long shadows on the edge of Broadwell Dry Lake
The rugged Bristol Mountains stare back at me from the other side of Broadwell Dry Lake. I hiked over that way twice during last fall's trip and this is the ideal time of day to be riding along the dry lake.
Date: November 22, 2011, 16h02
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