Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2008: Bikepacking in Henry Coe State Park / Day 6: Bicycle ride from Paradise Lake back to Pacheco Camp, the beginning of my route out of Henry Coe State Park 32
The heat is catching up with me today and I'm having a hard time sustaining a decent energy level as I plod back up Orestimba Creek and over Mississippi Ridge and then Pacheco Ridge.
Yesterday's Red Creek Road ride felt like a death march at times, but today is tougher on me, even though the ride is easier. 11.2 bicycle miles.
- My final morning at Paradise Lake, I'm up early in an attempt to get packed up before the hot sun becomes unbearable
It's cool enough by Paradise Lake this morning that I have to wear my sweater for the first time during the trip. But only for an hour, and then the heat sets in. I only drink one cup, instead of two, of my beloved strong Peets coffee this morning due to the heat. I sometimes wish I could be a morning person and get up earlier and still enjoy the day. - I pack up the disorganized mess that my tent has become after living here for three nights
If I had more vacation time to spend here, I'd probably stay another night and hike up to Robison Mountain as I intended to do two days ago. - Finally, the tent comes down and my departure from Paradise Lake is now imminent
The sun has come over the hill and the day is heating up quickly, even at this early hour. Sweat drips off my face as I pack my saddlebags and assemble the 10-ton bike. - I park the 10-ton bike at the bottom of the hill on the road that leaves Paradise Lake
I walk down to the lakeshore to filter 4.5 litres of water, which should be plenty to get me to Pacheco Camp a few hours from now. - I can smell the plant growth in the lake under the hot morning sun as I pump water through the water filter
Quite a few yellowjackets are buzzing around and I'm watching them carefully due to my wasp allergy. They seem busy gleaning vapours off the water's edge and uninterested in me, even though I'm transpiring enough to become attractive to them. - I carry my saddlebags up the hill separately from the bike and reassemble the rig at the top of the hill in a shady area
I'm feeling so lazy this morning that I didn't even want to try dragging the bike up the short, slippery hill here, a few feet at a time, like I do on longer hills of this sort. Maybe I should have camped up here in the shade, instead of down by the lake... - After riding a mile down Red Creek Road across Paradise Flat, I'm back at the gravel of Orestimba Creek
I'm hot already, so I stop here in the shade for a few minutes while it's available. - The gravel crunches beneath my tires on Orestimba Creek Road
I'll have to come out here some year during the spring to see what this looks like when it's underwater. It's only around 10h30, but the gravel is already giving off lots of heat. - Orestimba Creek Road climbs out of the creek, then drops back down into the gravel, then back up on dry land
I meant to watch out for the trail that leads over to Mustang Pond, just like I did when I was out here last year. But I got into the rhythm of mountain biking and missed it again. - I forgot to look for the trail to Mustang Pond, but I haven't forgotten to look for the trail to Kingbird Pond; here it is
Kingbird Pond is only a half-mile down this dead-end trail and I have plenty of time today. I leave the 10-ton bike here and do the short hike to the pond to check it out, since I haven't been there before. It might make a good future camping spot. - Kingbird Pond Trail dips down to a dry (in summer) drainage, then rises up the other side
I munch on Clif bar as I walk down the trail. The dry stream at the bottom of this hill would channel overflowing water from Kingbird Pond down to Orestimba Creek during the wet season, but not today. - Kingbird Pond Trail crosses a dry area studded with ceanothus shrubs
Ceanothus bushes stay green all summer, through the drought months, and can put on an incredibly vivid and fragrant flower show for a few weeks in the spring. The whole bush will become white or blue, depending on the flower colour. I'd love to see this area at that time. - I walk around a bend and here it is: Kingbird Pond
Nice area and good potential future camping spot, but I'm baking here in the sun while looking at the spectacle. - Aquatic plant life at Kingbird Pond
With so much plant life in the water here, I wonder if the water here tastes really green, even after filtering, like the water at Mississippi Lake. Hmmm... I walk back to the bike. - Back on the bike, I can't help but think that the rolling hills of Orestimba Creek Road are probably more fun in cooler weather
Usually my energy picks up after a while, even in 100-degree heat like this, but I've been on the road for close to two hours today and still feel exhausted. Maybe I need a rest day... - I'm happy when I reach the picnic tables of Orestimba Corral, which has become a designated break stop for me
I spend about 15 minutes here drinking water and eating a Clif bar and some Cajun almonds that usually taste too salty to me, but which are perfect today. - One final mile up Orestimba Creek Road and I'm at the junction of County Line Road
The next mile will be a 350-foot climb up to the top of Misissippi Ridge. - The climb up County Line Road isn't steep, but I just can't seem to get any energy going on this hot day
I find myself walking the bike up much of the hill, even though I feel like I should be able to ride it. - Little by little, I make my way up toward Mississippi Ridge
I get a nice view back down to Orestimba Creek Road along the way. I might be feeling a bit pooped, but I'm making decent progress anyway. - A bit higher up, I'm treated to views out toward Orestimba Wilderness and Paradise Lake
Already, the three nights I spent out there at Paradise Lake are a memory. - I've reached Mississippi Ridge and I'll turn left here on Coit Road
I take a short break here in the hot sun, and try to make a call from my cell phone, but the reception isn't quite strong enough. - I coast down Coit Road to Mississippi Creek
It feels great to have air blowing on me, even though it's hot air. It must still be 100 degrees today... Pacheco Camp, where I'm headed, is over below the next ridge. - At the bottom of the hill, I cross dry Mississippi Creek again
The buckeye trees on the left with their dry reddish-brown leaves await the fall rains and the winter return of the creek. - It's uphill for the next mile to the top of Pacheco Ridge, 550 feet above
There's a bit of shade down here, so I stop for another short break to take advantage of it. - The climb up to Pacheco Ridge brings with it more excellent views of the ridges beyond
I'm disappointed that the descent down to Mississippi Creek didn't succeed in invigorating me much in this heat. This hill isn't so difficult, but I find I can only ride the upper segment, which is flatter. - I suck back water at the joyous moment of attaining Pacheco Ridge
Here I finish off the last of the 4.5 litres of now-hot water that I filtered from Paradise Lake this morning. I've consumed (and sweated out) all that in 3.5 hours? - OK, it's downhill now for the last 3/4 mile to Pacheco Camp in the canyon below; phew
I'm not an especially strong hiker-biker, but I do have good stamina. On a low-energy day like today, I seem to be propelled by stamina alone. - Pacheco Camp = cold water!
The first thing I do upon arrival at Pacheco Camp is soak my head with cold water from the hose. I need this badly, since I obviously have a bit of heat exhaustion happening. - 94 degrees down here in the shade where it feels "cool"
During the past several days, I've been presuming that it was over 100 degrees, but didn't really know for sure. Now I know. - I set up the tent and get to the business of taking a cold spring-water shower in the shower shed
I'm hot, sweaty and salty, and I've been waiting for this shower for a few days now! - Whoever came up with the idea for an outdoor shower at Pacheco Camp deserves a round of applause
To make it work, you bring in the garden hose from the outdoor sink and hook it up to the shower head, and voilà! Even in the heat of summer, the water drawn in from Pacheco Spring is quite cold, and I can only stand under it for a few seconds at a time. But it's so refreshing... - Away from the stream of water in Pacheco Camp's shower shed sits an old car seat
Once you wipe off a few spider webs and some dust, it's a great place to leave glasses and clothes while showering. Even after my cold shower, I'm still feeling a bit sluggish. During the next couple of hours, I drink two cups of electrolyte-replacer, more cold water, 2/3 of a pouch of Snackmaster turkey jerky (yum), then 1/2 cup of coffee, in the hope that something can revive me. All this helps a little, but the reality is that I've reached my limit and need more rest. I wash a few clothes in the sink. A little later, supper is Backpacker's Pantry Kathmandu Curry, a really good vegan meal that successfully brings together the flavours of brown lentils, potatoes and curry spices. Another quiet night, and I sleep well.