Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / Fall 2011: Route 66 bicycle-camping—Cady Mountains, Sleeping Beauty and Kelso Dunes Wilderness / Day 8: Cady Mountains to Barstow by bicycle; one last day 32
46.2 bicycle miles and about 1000 feet of elevation gain. Perfect weather today: a cool fall breeze, but warm enough that I could wear short pants if I wanted, however, not necessary. Amtrak bus and train back to San José out of Barstow tomorrow morning.
I'm awake somewhat early this morning since I have the 45-mile ride back to Barstow today and I might have a big headwind
As I eat a quick dry breakfast and get ready to pack up, I notice a thorny cholla piece that I tracked into my tent
The tent and all is packed up and I start riding the powerline road back down to old Route 66
The Cady Mountains powerline road cuts a straight line across this part of the Mojave Desert
A short paved section of road passes under the I-40 freeway and connects me to old Route 66
Back on old Route 66! Only another 40 miles or so until I reach Barstow, my destination for the day
This stretch of old Route 66, heading into Newberry Springs, parallels the I-40 freeway, clearly visible to my right
A number of old trailers dot the outskirts of Newberry Springs along old Route 66
I pass a lava field along old Route 66 east of Newberry Springs
Near the lava field east of Newberry Springs is the end of Troy Dry Lake
I take a very short break along the shores of Troy Dry Lake to enjoy the Mojave Desert scenery
I pass another collection of old mobile homes along Route 66 east of Newberry Springs
I enjoy looking at this well-kept property in Newberry Springs when I pass by; perhaps a former gas station
Also in Newberry Springs is this abandoned A-frame building with a roof of wood shingles
A playful, and perhaps vicious, group of dogs protect a former gas-station/restaurant property in Newberry Springs
I pass the Bagdad Café in Newberry Springs, famous for its appearance in the movie of the same name
Next-door to the Bagdad Café is the old Henning Motel, with its metal roof being stripped by vandals
Fast-food break! Subway restaurant at the Newberry Springs gas station at the I-40 freeway
After another 10 lonely miles riding old Route 66, I arrive at the village of Daggett and ride down some of the side streets
I ride up a quiet residential street in the village of Daggett
Abandoned something in Daggett, California
I still wonder about this former gas station fashioned into Mugwumps printing business at some point; I've noticed it before
Another old Route 66 mobile home
I ride the 2.5-mile segment of the I-40 freeway where bicycles are allowed, since there is no practical alternate route
After I get off the freeway, I have another two miles to ride on a frontage road into Barstow, parallel to the I-40 freeway
I'm having problems switching gears in Barstow, so I pull over to take a closer look
I arrive at the Route 66 Motel in Barstow and its collection of old cars 'n' such, and check in for another night
I love the quirky old round beds at the Route 66 Motel in Barstow
Junk plays on TV at my room at the Route 66 Motel in Barstow
Tomorrow morning, I look across the train tracks at Barstow Station toward old cabins while waiting for my Amtrak bus
I'm always intrigued by the airplane graveyard here at Mojave, CA when the Amtrak bus drives by
Bicycle route elevation from Cady Mountains to Barstow via Route 66