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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The strong wind pushes my empty sardine can around while I eat lunch outside Kelso Depot
I'm eating two cans of sardines for lunch. I hold the empty first can while I devour the contents of the second one, to keep the wind from blowing it away and splattering me with stinky fish juice.
Date: December 31, 2007, 12h34
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National Parks Service did an excellent job restoring Kelso Depot
Desert-chat time! I always enjoy this. I end up talking with a Park Volunteer doing landscape maintenance at Kelso Depot who moved out here from the east so he could live in this environment.
Date: December 31, 2007, 12h43
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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, and the woman at the entrance counter says, "You're back," remembering me from my Spring 2006 Mojave National Preserve trip.
Date: December 31, 2007, 13h06
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Enough chatting; it's time to get on with the day's business of riding up out of Kelso Valley to Baker
It's just after 13h, so I should have enough time to get there by dark, unless a heavy headwind gets in the way.
Date: December 31, 2007, 13h14
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After 45 minutes of slow uphill, I see someone ahead in the road. Stranded? No, he's taking photos of the area, and of me
Photographer Joerg Boetel and his wife flag me down as I approach and offer me hot tea from their thermos, as well as granola bars. I'm not sure I have enough time to stop and chat, but I do anyway.
Date: December 31, 2007, 14h44
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Joerg and Elke and I have a fun desert chat for a good half hour; they visit Death Valley frequently and are on their way home
Elke mentions that she rides her bicycle to work often because it's practical, while coworkers sometimes wonder if a problem is preventing her from driving her car (a California attitude that I face daily).
Date: December 31, 2007, 14h44
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Photographer Joerg Boetel snaps one last photo of me as I ride away up Kelbaker Road
I'm so used to my cheap camera that I often forget how much difference it makes when a professional like Joerg Boetel with professional equipment gets behind the camera.
Date: December 31, 2007, 14h46
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A discarded Bud Light beer can at roadside is a sign that I've re-entered "civilization"
Garbage equals life.
Date: December 31, 2007, 14h55
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Climbing up the sometimes-rough pavement of Kelbaker Road; those who have ridden it know it
At many spots along here, a bicyclist must ride out in the middle of the lane to avoid dangerous texture problems near the edge of the road.
Date: December 31, 2007, 15h03
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Ah, my 12-mile climb up to the Kelbaker Road summit ends just ahead at the power lines...
As I arrive at the summit at 3800 feet, a vehicle passes slowly and the driver asks out the window if I need a ride the rest of the way into Baker; it turns out to be the Park Volunteer with whom I spoke to earlier down at Kelso Depot.
Date: December 31, 2007, 15h25
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I take a quick break at the Kelbaker Road summit to put on my winter jacket and scarf in preparation for the downhill ahead
No bees are buzzing around at this location today, as I have occasionally encountered during previous trips.
Date: December 31, 2007, 15h38
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Baker, California: 23 miles and 2900 feet below the Kelbaker Road summit
The fun starts now! It's 16h and unlikely that I'll reach Baker by 17h when it gets dark. But I should get close.
Date: December 31, 2007, 15h59
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