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 7: Ludlow to Newberry Mountains by bicycle on Route 66
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Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2010

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Atop the rocky outcrop marked "prospect" is a small wall, perhaps used as wind protection (I see no cabin remnants)

Atop the rocky outcrop marked "prospect" is a small wall, perhaps used as wind protection (I see no cabin remnants)

Date: November 25, 2010, 13h06

Day 7: Ludlow to Newberry Mountains by bicycle on Route 66

The forecast of a strong headwind doesn't materialize, so it makes for great riding. As the day unfolds, my plan to camp in the Rodman Mountains Wilderness changes, and I end up in the Newberry Mountains foothills instead.

40 bicycle miles with about 1200 feet of elevation gain.

Date: November 27, 2010, 08h13
Size: 48 items
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I slept so well last night here at the Ludlow Motel: the breakfast menu in my room invites me over to the café for FLUFFY

I slept so well last night here at the Ludlow Motel: the breakfast menu in my room invites me over to the café for FLUFFY

I don't order the FLUFFY, but instead order an omelet. It's good, but it's really just an excuse to have another one of Ludlow Café's tasty homemade biscuits.

Date: November 27, 2010, 08h13
Ludlow Motel, in the heart of the Mojave Desert, has soap in the bathrooms called "Coastal Breezes"

Ludlow Motel, in the heart of the Mojave Desert, has soap in the bathrooms called "Coastal Breezes"

There's always lots of wind in the desert, but none of it is coastal.

Date: November 27, 2010, 08h13
Between the Ludlow Café and the Ludlow Motel rests a former gas station, decorated with a couple of old vehicles

Between the Ludlow Café and the Ludlow Motel rests a former gas station, decorated with a couple of old vehicles

I like the old fire truck with built-in water tank. The other vehicle is an old van.

Date: November 27, 2010, 09h06
Please, have a seat

Please, have a seat

I wonder why they once painted over the old window. The long-lost padding from this seat probably made it into birds' nests years ago.

Date: November 27, 2010, 09h06
Loadmaster

Loadmaster

Classic period design with a deco moderne touch.

Date: November 27, 2010, 09h07
The two antique vehicles are protected from sun and rain under the old gas-station canopy

The two antique vehicles are protected from sun and rain under the old gas-station canopy

Flat tires make it more difficult for passing freeway thugs to steal the vehicles.

Date: November 27, 2010, 09h07
Interesting switches on the dashboard panel of the old van

Interesting switches on the dashboard panel of the old van

Those little plastic labels look very 1970s.

Date: November 27, 2010, 09h07
Faux wood paneling in the back of the old van, sagging a little

Faux wood paneling in the back of the old van, sagging a little

This looks like a kitschy update to the van during a later period of its life. Where's the fake brick that should accompany it?

Date: November 27, 2010, 09h08
I'm out of my motel room by 10h30 and start my way up the first 8-mile segment of Route 66 toward Barstow from Ludlow

I'm out of my motel room by 10h30 and start my way up the first 8-mile segment of Route 66 toward Barstow from Ludlow

The "old road" parallels the speedy freeway here, just a few feet away at my left. A strong headwind is forecast, but I'm not getting one yet (yee haw!). Still, it's slow-going since I'll rise about 600 feet on this stretch.

Date: November 27, 2010, 11h21
After almost six miles, I notice a little sign for "Sleeping Beauty Road"

After almost six miles, I notice a little sign for "Sleeping Beauty Road"

I didn't see this sign when I passed by here almost a week ago because it was already dark then.

Date: November 27, 2010, 11h42
I stop at Sleeping Beauty Road for a very short break; it occurs to me that I could ride up this road and do a nice hike

I stop at Sleeping Beauty Road for a very short break; it occurs to me that I could ride up this road and do a nice hike

If it were late in the day, I would stop and camp around here. But with strong headwinds forecast for my bicycle ride back to the Amtrak bus stop in Barstow, I should keep going, just in case.

Date: November 27, 2010, 11h44
Old Route 66 makes a couple of 90-degree turns in order to cross the I-40 freeway

Old Route 66 makes a couple of 90-degree turns in order to cross the I-40 freeway

There's that "tube of civilization" again, beneath me, of people driving through the desert without experiencing it. That black hill in the distance is part of the Pisgah lava formation, and I'll be passing by it shortly.

Date: November 27, 2010, 11h53
As old Route 66 crosses the tracks just after an I-40 overpass, I'm briefly facing Pisgah Crater

As old Route 66 crosses the tracks just after an I-40 overpass, I'm briefly facing Pisgah Crater

I consider an unplanned side trip over to Pisgah Crater, but remind myself that I want to camp further on in the Newberry Springs area today, perhaps in the Rodman Mountains.

Date: November 27, 2010, 12h12
Not long after I cross the tracks, another one of those endless freight trains passes by

Not long after I cross the tracks, another one of those endless freight trains passes by

...presumably headed to Los Angeles.

Date: November 27, 2010, 12h19
I'm on that rough part of old Route 66 again between Newberry Springs and Pisgah siding

I'm on that rough part of old Route 66 again between Newberry Springs and Pisgah siding

Since this is no longer the main road through the area (the adjacent I-40 freeway is now), it's not well-maintained. Only a few cars have passed me since I left Ludlow a couple of hours ago. Bump, bump, bump.

Date: November 27, 2010, 12h26
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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