Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2011
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Route 66 bicycle-camping (Cady Mountains, Sleeping Beauty and Kelso Dunes Wilderness), November 2011 Bicycle ride the length of Broadwell Dry Lake on the way back to Ludlow, Thanksgiving Day: Day 5
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Route 66 bicycle-camping (Cady Mountains, Sleeping Beauty and Kelso Dunes Wilderness), November 2011

1. Route 66... 2. Sleeping... 3. Mojave... 4. Hyten... 5. Bicycle... 6. Ludlow to... 7. Cady... 8. Cady...

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There's one of the Sleeping Beauty peaks up above me; how close can I get without getting vertigo?

There's one of the Sleeping Beauty peaks up above me; how close can I get without getting vertigo?

Date: November 21, 2011, 12h32 Views: 276

Bicycle ride the length of Broadwell Dry Lake on the way back to Ludlow, Thanksgiving Day: Day 5

A pleasant lazy day, just 14.7 miles across Broadwell Dry Lake to get back to Ludlow for a meal and motel room. High 60s this afternoon and almost hot while pedaling in the sunshine, despite the cool breeze.

Date: November 24, 2011, 11h30
Size: 15 items
There's a bit of a wind this morning as I pack up to leave Kelso Dunes Wilderness; my now-empty tent blows over

There's a bit of a wind this morning as I pack up to leave Kelso Dunes Wilderness; my now-empty tent blows over

I needed to sleep in a bit today, so I did! I keep looking at the area behind me leading up into the Bristol Mountains, thinking I'd like to do a hike up there. Another future destination!

Date: November 24, 2011, 11h30
First, I ride down the bumpy powerline road 1.7 miles back to Crucero Road

First, I ride down the bumpy powerline road 1.7 miles back to Crucero Road

I'll make a left at Crucero Road toward Broadwell Dry Lake and Ludlow, but I'm looking at the Cady Mountains further ahead where I'll do a hike a couple of days from now.

Date: November 24, 2011, 12h46
It gets slippery here and there on Crucero Road due to powdery surface sand

It gets slippery here and there on Crucero Road due to powdery surface sand

Apparently no other vehicles have driven up this road since I did two days ago because my tire tracks (and a few footprints) from then are still visible. I add a few new tracks today.

Date: November 24, 2011, 13h10
I stop just before starting the ride across Broadwell Dry Lake to check out a couple of big mushrooms

I stop just before starting the ride across Broadwell Dry Lake to check out a couple of big mushrooms

I don't often see mushrooms in the desert, but there must be significant moisture accumulation here at times on the edge of the Broadwell Dry Lake.

Date: November 24, 2011, 13h25
Wheee, here we go riding straight ahead the 4.5-mile length of Broadwell Dry Lake!

Wheee, here we go riding straight ahead the 4.5-mile length of Broadwell Dry Lake!

I decide to avoid the old gravelly railway grade that passes down the middle of Broadwell Dry Lake, and ride on the solid lake surface. It's pretty smooth for the most part.

Date: November 24, 2011, 13h29
There's nobody else out here on Broadwell Dry Lake today, so it's very peaceful

There's nobody else out here on Broadwell Dry Lake today, so it's very peaceful

That will probably change tomorrow with the Thanksgiving holiday in swing. I was hoping to miss the Thanksgiving rush by riding here today! This area is fairly popular with four-wheel drive folks and dirt-bikers, as I learned last year.

Date: November 24, 2011, 13h31
I take a break out in the middle of Broadwell Dry Lake to walk around and enjoy the expanse without the noise of my bicycle

I take a break out in the middle of Broadwell Dry Lake to walk around and enjoy the expanse without the noise of my bicycle

I keep expecting to run into at least a couple of four-wheel drive folks out here, but I guess not on Thanksgiving Day. I enjoy the solitude.

Date: November 24, 2011, 13h34
20 minutes later, I stop for another break further out on Broadwell Dry Lake

20 minutes later, I stop for another break further out on Broadwell Dry Lake

Time to stop for an energy bar; I send a text message. I listen to silence. And the wind.

Date: November 24, 2011, 13h53
On the south end of Broadwell Dry Lake are scattered many small rocks which look like they may be volcanic in origin

On the south end of Broadwell Dry Lake are scattered many small rocks which look like they may be volcanic in origin

This is reminiscent of the famous Racetrack Dry Lake in Death Valley, except that these rocks here don't move across the lake...

Date: November 24, 2011, 14h13
After Broadwell Dry Lake, I crawl up Crucero Road toward Ludlow, which is about 2 miles beyond the transmission tower

After Broadwell Dry Lake, I crawl up Crucero Road toward Ludlow, which is about 2 miles beyond the transmission tower

It's a slow 6-miles-per-hour ride up this sandy road out of the Broadwell Dry Lake basin. Maybe I have a bit of a tailwind today; it feels slightly easier than it did last year.

Date: November 24, 2011, 14h56
I stop briefly on Crucero Road as I pass the powerline road leading toward the Bristol Mountains Wilderness

I stop briefly on Crucero Road as I pass the powerline road leading toward the Bristol Mountains Wilderness

I camped on the edge of that Wilderness last year and would like to explore those dry mountains more. I would go there as part of this trip if I had a couple more days off work...

Date: November 24, 2011, 15h02
A cactus thorn punctures my tire and some Slime spurts out to fill the wound

A cactus thorn punctures my tire and some Slime spurts out to fill the wound

Luckily, my tire doesn't lose much air before the puncture is sealed, so I don't even need to pump up my tire. Slime does a great job on fixing small punctures like this, even though it can make an awful mess on a big puncture that it can't repair.

Date: November 24, 2011, 15h03
The dirt of Crucero Road comes to an end as I reach pavement at Ludlow and the I-40 freeway

The dirt of Crucero Road comes to an end as I reach pavement at Ludlow and the I-40 freeway

A lot of noisy ravens live up in those palm trees here on the edge of town by the Dairy Queen gas station.

Date: November 24, 2011, 15h32
I've arrived early enough to have supper at the Ludlow Café.

I've arrived early enough to have supper at the Ludlow Café.

I have scrambled eggs and hamburger patty at the Café, which is almost empty today due to the holiday. Such a lazy, but scenic, day as far as bicycle-camping goes today. No camping tonight; I'll stay at the Ludlow Motel next door.

Date: November 24, 2011, 16h40
Big rigs park at the Ludlow gas station with the Sleeping Beauty mountains as a sunset backdrop

Big rigs park at the Ludlow gas station with the Sleeping Beauty mountains as a sunset backdrop

Gee, I was up on one of those ridges a few days ago... Tomorrow I'll head to the Cady Mountains, behind Sleeping Beauty for one last hike before I head back to San José. I watch pointless crime shows on TV, send texts from my motel room, and sleep well.

Date: November 24, 2011, 16h40
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Other bikepacking trips on drycyclist.com:
  • Mojave National Preserve Lanfair Valley Loop Bicycle Camping, Fall 2012 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Hiking and Bikepacking, Spring 2012 (15 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve and Area Hiking and Bikepacking, Spring 2011 (15 days)
  • Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2010 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Camping, Spring 2010 (14 days)
  • 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 route66 at drycyclist dot com