| Distance | 46.30 kms | 28.58 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Climbed | 459 meters | 1,506 feet |
| Ride time (hours) | 5.03 | - |
| Avg speed | 9.2 kph | - |
| Distance | 551.04 kms | 342.38 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Climbed | 3,513 meters | 11,526 feet |
| Ride time (hours) | 42.93 | - |
Monday, October 23rd, 2017
The wind is at it again this morning, from the north, the direction I have to ride today. I decide to calm that annoyed feeling by going for breakfast at a restaurant down the the street. It's full of German Harley Davidson riders doing Route 66. This is becoming a cliche...
I'm going to Fort Mojave because Needles doesn't have a proper supermarket nor a laundromat (of which I am in desperate need). I cross over the Colorado River on 95, briefly back into Arizona. I load up on food and water at Walmart then go to the laundromat to de-grime my festering clothes.
When I hit the road again, heading west on a road that will cross back over the river into CA, the bike is so heavy it feels like driving a tank. I have two gallons of water on board plus 5 days of food. I'm planning on riding through the Mojave National Preserve so I'm not going to have many opportunities for resupply in the coming days.
The wind is just brutal on Needles Highway. I guess it's blowing 35-40 mph. I turn left onto Mojave Road, a sandy BLM track that goes over the mountains to join up with 93 in the next valley. I'm able to ride it for a while but at higher elevations the sand is just too thick. I end up dragging the bike for at least a couple of miles. That's hard work right there...
Near the top I find a spot to camp behind a rock outcropping that will give me some relief from the wind. At 4:30 the sun is already going down behind the mountains so I might as well just camp for the night here.
