Day 6: Water in the Mojave Desert! Coyote Springs round trip bicycle ride from Kelso Dunes campsite, Mojave National Preserve
This afternoon's ride wasn't planned, but since I finished my Kelso Dunes hike early, I should have just enough time to discover what's at Coyote Springs a few miles from here on the edge of the Granite Mountains.
16.7 bicycle miles today, including my earlier short ride up to Kelso Dunes and back from my campsite.
|
Date: December 30, 2007, 13h00
Size: 34 items
|
|
Back at my campsite near Kelso Dunes for a few minutes, I stuff a few items in my saddlebags for the ride to Coyote Springs
I refill the water in my Camelbak and pack the usual items: flashlight, insect-sting kit, bike tube and tools, Clif bars, scarf, windbreaker, maps, as well as my water filter and extra water bottle in case there's water at Coyote Springs.
Date: December 30, 2007, 13h25
|
I mount the bike and ride the 1/4-mile shortcut at the end of Kelso Dunes Road to the nearby power-line road
I'm headed directly toward the Bristol Mountains (or is it the Granite Mountains? I'm not sure where one begins and the other ends). This only takes a few minutes.
Date: December 30, 2007, 13h40
|
Eastbound on the power-line road toward Providence Mountains, I see that somebody suffered a tire blow-out here
I'm getting a bit tired of power-line roads on this trip, but this is a segment that I haven't ridden before, and which I've often considered riding all the way to Ludlow (about 17 miles).
Date: December 30, 2007, 13h56
|
|
After a couple of miles on the power-line road, I locate the nearly invisible road that leaves on my right toward Coyote Springs
On the way here, I spotted several short roads that weren't what I was looking for, and which turned out to lead only to the base of transmission towers.
Date: December 30, 2007, 14h09
|
Heading up this sandy road, I notice a plastic pipe along the shoulder
I remember seeing a similar white plastic pipe on the road from Arrowweed Spring on my Mojave National Preserve Spring 2006 trip on the other side of...
Date: December 30, 2007, 14h20
|
The soft sand on this road results in my walking the bike for about a mile, leaving nice tire tracks behind
This road appears to be in a wash, hence the heavy sand. The slow trudge up this wash, walking the bike, is enjoyable though because I like the scenery in this area and it's a bright sunny day.
Date: December 30, 2007, 14h40
|
|
This sandy road-in-a-wash ends after a couple of miles and the rest of it ahead is blocked Wilderness barrier posts
I'm hoping that the road surface around the corner is better packed and more ridable. I stop here to eat an energy bar and drink more water. I've sweated a fair amount walking up this road and am still wearing just my T-shirt.
Date: December 30, 2007, 14h42
|
On the road to Coyote Springs at the base of the Granite Mountains
The sand on this road is well-packed and easy to ride, except in soft spots where drainages cross the road.
Date: December 30, 2007, 14h58
|
At another junction on the way to Coyote Springs, I pull out my map to look for this fork in the road
I don't have the USGS topography map with me, but the road to the right looks like the correct way to Coyote Springs.
Date: December 30, 2007, 15h06
|
|
This final piece of the road to Coyote Springs is a little rocky, but has fresh tire tracks
If it weren't for the fresh tire tacks, I'd guess that this road is rarely travelled.
Date: December 30, 2007, 15h10
|
The road to Coyote Springs ends at a cul-de-sac, a small stone fire ring, and Wilderness-barrier posts
I didn't know there is a campsite here and I'm immediately thinking that this could be a nice place to set up the tent during a future Mojave National Preserve trip.
Date: December 30, 2007, 15h12
|
The old Coyote Springs Road obviously continues beyond the Wilderness-barrier posts, so I park my bike here and walk onward
Coyote Springs is shown on my road map, but it's hard to tell precisely where it's situated. I can guess it's beyond the Wilderness barrier (the barrier probably wouldn't be here otherwise).
Date: December 30, 2007, 15h15
|
|
