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- It was fun checking out Slaughterhouse Spring; time to continue up the old road on today's hike
- I pass a few buckwheat blossoms along the old road near Slaughterhouse Spring
- Looking back behind me, I have a view of the old Goldome mine buildings off in the distance on the other side of Ivanpah Rd
- The old road here that serves as part of today's hiking route rolls up and down, and is rocky in places
- Nice views down to Ivanpah Valley behind me as I hike up the old road
- I run across some ruins on the way toward the canyon
- Nipton to Slaughterhouse Spring by bicycle, elevation profile
- Nipton to Slaughterhouse Spring by bicycle, route
- I decide I don't feeling like riding up Ivanpah Road any further and look for a campsite on adjacent Slaughterhouse Spring Road
- Fluffy post-flower residue along Slaughterhouse Road
- Almost a mile up Slaughterhouse Spring Road, I start looking for a campsite more seriously
- While setting up camp, a pickup truck drives by, not seeing me, and drives up the hill a bit (see the headlights at bottom-left)
- I didn't travel as far as hoped today, but I'm very happy camping here by Slaughterhouse Spring, now planning tomorrow's hike
- I take several short breaks along Nipton-Moore Road, enjoying the solitude and the plant life
- I don't pass any other vehicles while riding Nipton-Moore Road today, but it clearly does get some use
- Against my will, I can't help but look across Ivanpah Valley to the Primm Brightsource solar plant under construction
- One of those long freight trains that crosses the Mojave Desert passes me on Nipton-Moore Road
- A jet-exhaust stream glides by effortlessly in the sky while I rattle along Nipton-Moore Road, hugging the train tracks
- As a result of recent rains, Nipton-Moore Road has had recent washouts that have been freshly repaired
- I arrive at the pavement of Ivanpah Road just after mile 10 and have over 3 miles of pavement ahead
- I ride past the old Ivanpah general store building, a landmark in this area
- After more than 3 miles of pavement on Ivanpah Road, the pavement ends
- Yesterday, to get out here, I boarded the Amtrak train in Stockton, followed by an Amtrak bus to Primm, NV in the Mojave Desert
- I considered staying at a Primm casino hotel last night, but they were full, so I rode 12 dark miles to Nipton and camped there
- Morning at Nipton is nice and sunny; the tent sits at the back of the cactus garden by some eucalyptus trees
- I recharge my cell phone and my headlight battery in the shower building before leaving Nipton
- Elevation profile of bicycle route from Twin Buttes campsite to Nipton via Cima: Day 15
- Bicycle route from Twin Buttes campsite to Nipton via Cima: Day 15
- I decide to stay in one of the Nipton tent cabins tonight; I'll get up early tomorrow and ride to Primm to catch the Amtrak bus
- Just beyond my tent cabin at Nipton are a few others, but it's mostly quiet tonight
- I park the 10-ton bike inside my tent cabin at Nipton, titled the Surveyor, and settle in for the night
- Just around the corner here, I've got 10 miles of downhill, and about 1300 feet of elevation loss!
- 35 minutes later: after 10 miles of gliding downhill (and pedaling too), I arrive at the stop sign and turn left on Ivanpah Road
- I exit Mojave National Preserve here, and am now headed over to Nipton, the village over there at the bottom of the mountains
- Riding Nipton Road, just a few more miles until I reach Nipton village over there
- I haven't had a flat tire yet on this trip, so I celebrate upon arriving at the Nipton store with a bottle of Fat Tire beer
- A residence and and old truck sit behind the Cima store, lost in time
- An old railway box car also sits next to the Cima store, with nowhere to go
- My break finished at the Cima store, it's time to hit the road again and ride on down the hill to Nipton: 25 miles ahead
- As I ride down Morning Star Mine Road away from Cima, I take in the views of the New York Mountains
- On upper Morning Star Mine Road, I'm heading toward the Ivanpah Mountains, with Kessler Peak at the left
- Well, the Cima store might be closed right now, but it's an interesting place to take a break nonetheless
- The board-and-batten structure of the old Cima store hasn't been whitewashed in a very long time
- The Cima store is closed today, or at least right now; the hours posted are basically meaningless
- After a nice, fast downhill on Cedar Canyon Road, I arrive at the famous stop sign at Kelso-Cima Road
- I have almost five miles to ride up the gently rising Kelso-Cima Road until I reach Cima and the possibly open Cima store
- Oh, there's Cima just up ahead past that Joshua tree
- The rough washboard of upper Black Canyon Road prevents me from gaining any speed as I decend to the Cedar Canyon Road
- A jet flies overhead while I ride Cedar Canyon Road; the passengers note in unison that 'there's nothing down there'
- This stretch of Cedar Canyon Road is always slow and rough (but scenic) on a bicycle
- Once Cedar Canyon Road rises out of the canyon, I can see across to the Cima Dome area
- I have a 700-foot elevation drop ahead of me here on the west end of Cedar Canyon Road
- Also noteworthy on upper Black Canyon Road is the Gold Valley Ranch that I'm passing right now
- Upper Black Canyon Road narrows somewhat before it crosses through the pass ahead at just under 5350 feet elevation
- The 10-ton bike enjoys the rocky backdrop at Hole-in-the-Wall one last time while my cell phone recharges
- I've ridden Woods Wash Road quite a few times while camping here this past week; this is my final commute out of the area
- My first stop is the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre (again) to fill up on water; it's over 80F in the shade already
- I've been at this great campsite by the Woods Mountains for a week now; this morning I pack up and leave
- Everything is nicely packed up into my saddlebags and attached to the 10-ton bike
- Borrego Canyon hike route, Mojave National Preserve, elevation profile
- Borrego Canyon hike route, Mojave National Preserve
- Lots of shiny volcanic-looking rock and barrel cacti love the heat here on this little Borrego Canyon mesa
- I pass some horizontal layers of rock on the way back to my bicycle parked near Borrego Canyon Road
- Borrego Canyon is quite pristine, except for the cow grazing and this fresh roll of barbed wire
- Just before I arrive at my bicycle at the end of Borrego Canyon Road, I run into a big herd of cows
- One final quiet evening of solitude in Mojave National Preserve near Twin Buttes
- Borrego Canyon hiking: climb over the rocks
- I look back at the mouth of the south fork of Borrego Canyon across a field of dry grey-pink buckwheat twigs
- I walked around this mini-mesa on the way up Borrego Canyon; now it's time to walk up it
- On the way back down Borrego Canyon, I get a good view of some rock igloos a bit like the ones I saw near Cave Spring yesterday
- As I pass the rock igloos in Borrego Canyon, I take a look back
- I like this rock outcrop in Borrego Canyon because it briefly gives me a smooth surface to walk across, for a change
- It's fun climbing down the rocks here at a small dry waterfall on the way back down Borrego Canyon
- A typical moment while hiking in Borrego Canyon
- I take a look up the dry waterfall in Borrego Canyon and the small boulders clogging the drainage
- I decide that the dry waterfall is a good place to turn around and start heading back down Borrego Canyon
- Hiking Borrego Canyon is a bit faster in the downhill direction
- On the way back down Borrego Canyon, I climb up a hill on the side of canyon and take a look back
- I pass a cavelet in the rocks on the way back down Borrego Canyon
- I guess it's time to stumble upon a stray balloon, since I haven't seen one yet today here in Borrego Canyon
- A closer look shows that the lost balloon blew in from a Red Robin restaurant
- Borrego Canyon is quite rocky, making for slow hiking, as I thought might be the case
- I like this stretch of Borrego Canyon because there isn't as much vegetation to avoid, due to the rocky floor
- I see fragments of animal trails here and there in Borrego Canyon, probably created by animals like these cows
- A couple of aggressive yellowjacket wasps follow me as I slowly rise up this part of Borrego Canyon
- I sit down for a moment in the little bit of shade provided by this tree in Borrego Canyon
- Much of Borrego Canyon is rocky and brushy like here, offering no obviously good hiking route up the canyon
- Hiking up Borrego Canyon is getting slower and slower as I encounter obstacles like these large rocks with increasing frequency
- Hmmm, my next few steps in Borrego Canyon will be climbing over that boulder at the left
- I take a look behind me and realize I am slowly gaining elevation in Borrego Canyon
- I arrive at a small dry waterfall in Borrego Canyon and ponder my next steps
- I pass a few small stands of Desert senna flowers in lower Borrego Canyon
- Borrego Canyon splits into a north and south fork; I choose to follow the south fork
- A couple of bees are swimming (or are they drowning?) in the spring tub at the end of Borrego Canyon Road
- I stash the bicycle behind some Catclaw bushes with fragrant flowers and begin the hike up Borrego Canyon.
- It's Saturday, so the Hole-in-the-wall Visitor Centre is open; this Say's Phoebe nest is nearby whether open or not
- Here's one of the butterflies I see in the Desert willow (Chilopsis) flowers on Black Canyon Road: probably a Monarch butterfly
- I stop briefly at a stand of Desert willows (Chilopsis) while riding almost 2 miles down the paved Black Canyon Rd
- Desert willow (Chilopsis) flowers are also popular with hummingbirds, but I can't seem to catch one on camera here
- I ride the 3/4-mile rough road into the mouth of Borrego Canyon off Black Canyon Road
- I'm surprised to find a spring and water tank at the end of the road: it's not marked on my maps
- Breezes keep the tent somewhat cool after the hot sun wakes me at 7h30, then I ride over to Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre
- Elevation profile of Cave Spring hike, Mojave National Preserve
- Bicycle route (red) and hiking route (blue), Cave Spring, Mojave National Preserve
- After a stop at Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre to recharge my phone and fill up on water, I ride over to Woods Wash Road
- Great views behind me of Woods Mountains (left) and Wild Horse Mesa as I ride back to camp
- Back at the tent on Woods Wash Road for sunset, I crawl inside, home again for the night!
- A close-to-full moon sits above the Woods Mountains just before sunset on this hot day
- Hmm, a leaning barrel cactus ahead
- I suppose this leaning barrel cactus will eventually fall over like the one I saw on the trail a short while ago...
- Life in a tilted world for this barrel cactus near Cave Spring, Mojave National Preserve
- On my way back to my bicycle near Black Canyon Road, I pass a rather svelte Mojave yucca
- Cholla cacti and barrel cacti pick up the late-afternoon sun while I walk across this area above Cave Spring
- I walk though the Cave Spring area again on this short and pleasantly aimless hot-weather hike
- Oops, this barrel cacti fell over and, I think, died
- Bighorn-sheep-head rock?
- Maybe it's a seahorse head?
- No, it's a hawk head!
- I decide to walk down the hill and around this volcanic outcrop, since I have no hike plan for the day
- So many little holes in the rocks provide shelter for wildlife
- I hike a short distance up an adjacent canyon near Cave Spring, but decide not to continue too far, given the heat of the day
- Barrel cacti and layered rocks near Cave Spring
- Since I've seen so few flowers on this trip, it's great to come across a few barrel-cactus flowers
- The beginnings of a nest in one of the igloos near Cave Spring
- Close-up of one of the rock igloos (I guess it's a natural arch, really) near Cave Spring
- I catch a good front-on view of the Cave Spring area from the rock igloos
- I walk away from the rocks igloos to further explore the area near Cave Spring
- I find that many big air bubbles made holes in the volcanic rock in the area beyond the rock igloos
- More little natural arches in the Cave Spring Hills area
- Cave Spring rock igloos
- Cave Spring igloos
- You could crawl through this rock igloo near Cave Spring
- Apparently, water has flowed over this rock at Cave Spring for a very long time
- I think I'll walk over to that rock outcrop over there and see what I find...
- I stumble across some cool rock igloos in the Cave Spring area
- I see a bit of greenery over there; that must be Cave Spring
- Yes, Cave Spring, Mojave National Preserve, just ahead
- There it is, the old road leading to Cave Spring, closed by a couple of Wilderness markers; I stash my bike behind some bushes
- The old road to Cave Spring is easy to lose at first, but I eventually find it and follow it up a gentle hill
- This old water tank on Cave Spring Road is dry and shot-up, but has great views over to the Woods Mountains
- There are so few flowers on this hot late-spring trip that a few expiring Desert senna flowers here are an exciting find
- I recharge my phone and headlight battery from the outdoor plug at the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre, which is closed today
- I arrive at the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre after 5.5 bicycle miles, 3 cups of coffee and granola breakfast
- Elevation profile of Table Mountain hike
- Table Mountain hike route
- A snake!
- Well, I exit the Wilderness boundary and take a look back at Twin Buttes and Table Mountain before hiking back up Woods Wash Rd
- It has been quite windy all day, and still is, as these windblown shrubs show
- Several patches of buckwheat display their white flowers along a stretch of Woods Wash Road
- On the final 1.3 miles hiking up Woods Wash Rd, I think about how no motor vehicles have come down this road in a few days
- It's always nice to see that my tent is intact when I return from a day hike!
- Another memorable day in paradise closes: sunset near Twin Buttes; my first time camping in this area and I love it
- More false-teeth rocks between Table Mountain and Barnett Mine
- I walk down into a brushy area that is the headwaters of Upper Black Diamond Spring Valley
- OK, it's time to start going back down; my tent is behind rocky Twin Buttes South in the middle of the photo
- One last vista down into Woods Wash before starting the climb back down
- Looks like I should be able to carefully zigzag my way down the steep canyon ahead
- It's steep, but I haven't run into any major obstacles yet: good!
- Lots of rock, but coming down the hill has been feasible so far
- Since it's steep, the downhill behind me from Table Mountain has passed rather quickly
- A few Brittlebrush flowers add a rare bit of colour to this hot-weather hike
- I come across shit and a lost deflated balloon on the plateau area northeast of Table Mountain; weird combination
- Fist rock, with New York Mountains in the background
- I take a look at Table Mountain from the northeast side
- This scorched pinon pine survived the 2005 brush fires here
- False-teeth rocks on the plateau between Table Mountain and Barnett Mine
- Well, I guess I'll keep looking at Table Mountain and wondering what's up there, since I didn't make it to the top
- As I wind around the flank of Table Mountain, I start to see across to the New York Mountains; this is as high as I can go
- Spectacular views across Upper Black Diamond Spring Valley, and all around
- Hmmm... the Table Mountain summit is just up there, yet I'm going to pass and head downward... I hate vertigo!
- One of several burned trees on the flank of Table Mountain looks toward Hackberry Mountain
- One last view down toward Woods Wash for a while as I walk around the flank of Table Mountain toward its east side
- Now I can see down into Upper Black Diamond Spring Valley, where I hiked a few days back
- Wow, I've never seen all of Gold Valley like this before...
- Boulders frame this view over to Hackberry Mountain from the south flank of Table Mountain
- Another view around boulders on the side of Table Mountain, this time down to Woods Wash
- An interesting collage of rocks and ridgetops from the flank of Table Mountain
- Woods Wash Road is visible in this view from the side of Table Mountain
- The views across Gold Valley are even better now!
- Hmmm... it's getting a bit steep along here....
- As I reach a saddle between Twin Buttes North and Table Mountain, it looks like Table Mountain isn't that far away
- Nice view back down the canyon I just climbed up between Twin Buttes North and Table Mountain
- Wow, I can now see across Gold Valley to the Hole-in-the-Wall area where I hiked yesterday
- Table Mountain is getting a bit closer now; I didn't expect to come this far up
- Today's hike up into the rocky Twin Buttes area starts with a walk down Woods Wash Road
- I pass the remains of an old corral fence in front of the Woods Mountains made from unhewn wood
- I leave the road and cross the Wilderness boundary to begin walking toward flat-topped Table Mountain
- Shade! A big boulder with a few pinon pines around it in the canyon between Twin Buttes and Table Mountain
- I take five minutes under the pinon pine and behind the rock, might be the last shade I get for a while!
- Elevation profile of Mojave National Preserve: Rings Trail and Barber Mountain Loop Trail day hike: Day 11
- Mojave National Preserve: Rings Trail and Barber Mountain Loop Trail day hike: Day 11
- Walking down the Barber Mountain Loop Trail, slowly approaching Black Canyon Road
- After a break at Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre to recharge my phone, I ride the 5.5 miles back to camp on Woods Wash Road
- The Flintstones would be proud to live here!
- I take a final look at the hotel as I continue my way along the Barber Mountain Loop Trail
- The next stretch of the Barber Mountain Loop Trail dips down into a familiar part of Gold Valley
- Gold Valley burned pretty bad in the 2005 brush fires here, but 4/5 of this tree survived
- This patch of Gold Valley by Barber Mountain is still largely devoid of vegetation almost 7 years after the brush fires
- For a while, Barber Mountain Loop Trail follows an old road
- Well, this is as close as I've ever been to Lobo Point, Mojave National Preserve, that outcrop in front of me