The 10-ton bike waits outside the doors to the Kelso Depot visitor centre

I step inside Kelso Depot to buy a souvenir T-shirt from the gift shop, which I always forget to do. The woman at the entrance counter says, "You're back," remembering me from my Spring 2006 Mojave National Preserve trip.

I'm a bit surprised that she remembers me, since that was 18 months ago, but I do sometimes stand out in a crowd. I chuckle and tell her that I won't be asking her this time to unlock the downstairs closet with the water tap, since I filled up at Coyote Springs yesterday.