Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2010
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Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2010 Day 6: Broadwell Dry Lake to Ludlow by bicycle
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Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2010

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On my way down this Newberry Mountains wash, I stop at a joining side wash that I saw last night on the way here

On my way down this Newberry Mountains wash, I stop at a joining side wash that I saw last night on the way here

Date: November 28, 2010, 13h18

Day 6: Broadwell Dry Lake to Ludlow by bicycle

I seriously oversleep this morning, which changes my plan to ride some miles on old Route 66 toward Barstow today. I pack up and ride back to Ludlow for a warm motel room instead, enjoying another desert sunset along the way. 10.5 bicycle miles.

Date: November 26, 2010, 11h43
Size: 27 items
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Wow, I've really overslept this morning, just woke up at 11h30 after a rather sleepless (and cold, low 20s) night

Wow, I've really overslept this morning, just woke up at 11h30 after a rather sleepless (and cold, low 20s) night

I fell asleep before midnight, but two vehicles drove up the road past my tent to the Old Dominion Mine site at 1h15. I couldn't get back to sleep after that until around 5h. They're still there this morning (white blot on ridge at upper left).

Date: November 26, 2010, 11h43
I'm hearing noises, not too distant, and notice that it's coming from vehicles riding on Broadwell Dry Lake

I'm hearing noises, not too distant, and notice that it's coming from vehicles riding on Broadwell Dry Lake

That's quite a dust storm down there! I'm sure it's fun, but I'm glad I'm not hiking across Broadwell Dry Lake today in a quest for solitude like I was yesterday. Note to self: avoid potentially popular places like this on holidays!

Date: November 26, 2010, 11h46
If I zoom in on Broadwell Dry Lake, I see a number of ant-like items on the playa that might be a convoy of 4WD vehicles

If I zoom in on Broadwell Dry Lake, I see a number of ant-like items on the playa that might be a convoy of 4WD vehicles

Today is the day after Thanksgiving, which most people have as a vacation day, hence the extra traffic in this otherwise quiet area.

Date: November 26, 2010, 12h39
I've already made two cups of hot coffee, but I decide that I need a more substantial breakfast today

I've already made two cups of hot coffee, but I decide that I need a more substantial breakfast today

I was planning to walk up to the Old Dominion Mine site before packing up, but my "neighbours" are still there. Instead, I'll make a pouch of instant Mountain House Beef Stew, if I can get water to boil.

Date: November 26, 2010, 13h25
The wind has picked up, and my water just won't boil, so I bring my propane burner closer to my tent, hoping to block the wind

The wind has picked up, and my water just won't boil, so I bring my propane burner closer to my tent, hoping to block the wind

Finally, my water does boil, and I make my instant Mountain House Beef Stew. Tasty, and I can tell that I needed the calories.

Date: November 26, 2010, 13h47
I'm about to start packing up when I hear the two vehicles from last night driving down the road away from Old Dominion Mine

I'm about to start packing up when I hear the two vehicles from last night driving down the road away from Old Dominion Mine

I wonder if they noticed me nestled in the creosote-bush scrub when they passed by... They've been noisy all morning, banging on something up there. Now that they've left, I'll go for a quick walk up that way before packing up.

Date: November 26, 2010, 14h09
I don my hiking gear and go for a short walk toward the Old Dominion Mine site

I don my hiking gear and go for a short walk toward the Old Dominion Mine site

When I reach this clearing, I start hearing more of the banging sounds I was hearing earlier. Oh, nobody is demolishing anything, this is the sound of gunshots, and someone is doing target practice or other random shooting up here.

Date: November 26, 2010, 14h33
I decide that it might be best to turn back since there were no gunshot sounds until I reached this area

I decide that it might be best to turn back since there were no gunshot sounds until I reached this area

Yeah, nice fire ring.

Date: November 26, 2010, 14h36
I start walking back to my tent, wondering if maybe I should have ignored the gunshots and continued with my short hike

I start walking back to my tent, wondering if maybe I should have ignored the gunshots and continued with my short hike

Maybe those gunshots weren't intended to scare me away. At any rate, this part of the road is much clearer than further down where I couldn't even find it in the dark a couple of nights ago.

Date: November 26, 2010, 14h40
OK, there's my tent, today's abortive one-mile hike to Old Dominion Mine comes to an end

OK, there's my tent, today's abortive one-mile hike to Old Dominion Mine comes to an end

I still wonder whether the gun folks up by the old mine site have seen me or not...

Date: November 26, 2010, 14h57
It's not my routine to be breaking camp late in the afternoon, but here I am

It's not my routine to be breaking camp late in the afternoon, but here I am

I still have water remaining, probably enough for another day, given the cold weather. But perhaps not.

Date: November 26, 2010, 15h21
It's almost 16h and I'm just now starting today's bicycle ride out of Broadwell Dry Lake?

It's almost 16h and I'm just now starting today's bicycle ride out of Broadwell Dry Lake?

Maybe I should have gotten up eight hours earlier? But no, sleeping all morning in the warm tent this morning was sooo nice. I don't think I woke up once.

Date: November 26, 2010, 16h00
We're ready to ride the half mile down from the Old Dominion Mine area to Crucero Road

We're ready to ride the half mile down from the Old Dominion Mine area to Crucero Road

It still bugs me that I couldn't find this road two nights ago, even though I was sometimes on it!

Date: November 26, 2010, 16h02
I ride down the faint road from the Old Dominion Mine site at sunset

I ride down the faint road from the Old Dominion Mine site at sunset

I'll turn right as soon as I reach Crucero Road, just ahead.

Date: November 26, 2010, 16h08
Back down on "the main road," I look north on Crucero Road near Broadwell Dry Lake

Back down on "the main road," I look north on Crucero Road near Broadwell Dry Lake

There's more worth exploring further up that road. I didn't expect this road to be passable by bicycle, so I didn't plan on attempting to travel any further up this road. Maybe next time.

Date: November 26, 2010, 16h13
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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)
  • Cady Mountains, Sleeping Beauty and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2011 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve and Area Hiking and Bikepacking, Spring 2011 (15 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