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.
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Date: November 24, 2011, 11h30
Size: 15 items
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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