Day 7: New Year's Eve ride from Kelso Dunes to Baker via Kelbaker Road to conclude the trip (and 2007), Mojave National Preserve
I've enjoyed this classic Mojave National Preserve ride several times over the years. This won't be a day of exploration, but the scenery is great and I may have a few good desert chats along the way. The trip isn't over yet! 49.1 bicycle miles.
Kelso Dunes Road rises slightly over four miles from 2500 feet to about 2800 feet at Kelbaker Road, which I will ride all the way to Baker.
The first eight miles of Kelbaker Road are downhill to Kelso Depot at about 2100 feet, followed by a 12-mile climb up to 3800 feet and the final 23-mile descent into Baker at 925 feet.
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Date: December 31, 2007, 08h00
Size: 36 items
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Frost on my bicycle this morning near Kelso Dunes
I fell asleep easily enough last night, but kept waking up. I woke up restless and cold at 2h45. By 3h15, I still hadn't fallen back asleep, so I heated a pouch of boil-in-bag lentil biriyani to get something warm in my tummy.
Date: December 31, 2007, 07h15
Views: 47
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All bundled up, I go for a short walk around the campsite in the cold sun to warm up a little
I wish I were a morning person because I love the light at this time of day. However, the late-evening hours have always been my best time of day.
Date: December 31, 2007, 07h20
Views: 30
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It's time to make some coffee using a toilet-paper filter and get started
I really, really need coffee this morning, or on any morning that I get up so early. The strong coffee tastes great and I make a second cup immediately afterwards.
Date: December 31, 2007, 07h30
Views: 41
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While sipping my coffee, I notice that the water bottles which I left outside last night have quite a bit of ice in them
I guess it was colder last night than I thought. I'll save this bottle of water for later. During my usual hotter weather trips, it would be mighty refreshing, but not right now thanks!
Date: December 31, 2007, 07h34
Views: 37
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Breaking camp on the final morning of a trip produces mixed emotions
I feel like I'm just getting into this trip, and don't want it to end so soon. On the other hand, I'm glad that I won't find myself sleeping uncomfortably outside in the cold tonight.
Date: December 31, 2007, 09h12
Views: 42
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The 10-ton bike has been rebuilt and is ready to leave Kelso Dunes
I take one final walk around the campsite to see if perhaps there's an item on the ground that I forgot to pack.
Date: December 31, 2007, 10h20
Views: 44
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I ride away from the campsite up Kelso Dunes Road toward the Providence Mountains
Good-bye! Until next time! I stop at the Kelso Dunes outhouse to use the facilities and dump my a couple of pounds of garbage in the trash bins.
Date: December 31, 2007, 10h23
Views: 40
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At the end of Kelso Dunes Road, I rejoin the pavement of Kelbaker Road
The almost-four-mile ride up Kelso Dunes Road was pleasantly uneventful. A few cars heading to or from the dunes passed me on the way, and a couple of them politely slowed to a crawl while passing so as to produce as little dust as possible.
Date: December 31, 2007, 11h09
Views: 29
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A car passes while I descend Kelbaker Road toward Kelso Depot
A strong headwind has kicked in on this eight-mile gentle downhill from about 2800 feet to 2100 feet.
Date: December 31, 2007, 11h11
Views: 38
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The further I descend this hill toward Kelso Depot, the stronger the headwind
Even though I'm supposedly going downhill, wind is much stronger than gravity right here right now, and I'm pedalling a lot just to maintain 12 miles per hour!
Date: December 31, 2007, 11h35
Views: 33
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The little town of Kelso is now visible down in the valley below, as are the low mountains beyond that I will ride over later
The wind intensity seems to be increasing and I'm pedalling pretty hard just to stay moving.
Date: December 31, 2007, 11h39
Views: 28
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On the last few miles before Kelso Depot, the wind is so strong that I can barely maintain 7 miles per hour
I'm a little concerned about all this wind because I have 35 miles more ahead of me today. But high winds are a fact of life out here in the Mojave Desert, and I've been lucky this past week to not have too much of it to deal with.
Date: December 31, 2007, 11h59
Views: 28
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