Tenth state I have visited this year.
Today I started moving early for bfast and then driving down to do my wash in Hurkin before leaving. Clean clothes and line dry ones strung w/ care in hopes that warm air will soon visit. Stopped at OTE to pick up my Ibis rims and to say goodbye to Quentin. Then I put the van in gear towards Las Vegas.
Virgin river gorge is an engineering feat to carve out an interstate 4 lanes thru the canyon. I stopped at Lees in Mesquite and bought a bottle of moonshine, no more tequilla.
Las Vegas’ skyline became visible. As I drew closer I watched airplanes coming and going, almost like worker bees and the hive.
Today’s ride is at Blue Diamond. I parked in a crowded parking lot at McGhies, the starting pint of the ride. The Blue Diamond loop is one of the IMBA and BLM backyard to backcountry rides. I met Chris, the manager of a 1 person shop. we enjoyed working each other. He gave a detailed route description that overwhelmed me after just a few navigation points. I used MTBProject which was pretty much what he gave me. I carried my phone to keep on route from MTB Project which is great because it also locates a rider. Some of the trail intersections are signed, the app kept me on track. I was all by myself out there.
Back at the TH my van was all alone. Chris told me about a place to stay out off Bird Spring road. I followed his directions taking several pokes to find the unsigned road. Worse 200 yards of road the van has ever been on. Too rough to go very far back. 3 leveling blocks under the front wheels still doesn’t level me off. Windy is an under statement, it is more of a gale. The van is being buffeted and rocked making the keyboard keys not be where they are supposed to be.
My big overhead light in the van checked out. I used my headlamp for kitchen tasks. Yesterday I stopped at an RV store and bought an led light. Pretty expensive. I learned after unpacking it from the box that there was no switch. The thing is engineered to wire into a switched line which I do not have. I searched 2 auto parts stores and an ACE and did not find the kind of switch I wanted. I’ll make it work. My right arm doesn’t work above my head, I will need a helper to install the new light.
Happy Holidays.
Joshua Tree has a wonderful high desert landscape. I have visited there a couple times back when I was rock climbing [before I really started riding “mountain bike”, so I have never ridden there, I can imagine some interesting trail systems there. Wish you “FULL” recovery and good health for 2016.
Is a yucca but not a Joshua. They have shorter, bluer leaves. Might be a Banana Yucca or it’s something close. Joshuas do grow near where you are.
Abe, Thanks for the correction which I have made. I would like to ride down near you. I’ll keep you involved.