Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2000: Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping Trip #2 / Day 8: Hole-in-the-Wall Campground, Mojave National Preserve, to Goffs via Essex Road and historic Route 66 22
Again, the cold prevented me from sleeping well last night, but at least I managed to sleep in after sunrise. My fellow bicyclists from Minnesota were awake early and they deserted Hole-in-the-Wall well before dawn (probably frozen).
Since it's looking like another cold day, today's goal is to reach a lower-elevation location. I'll leave Hole-in-the-Wall here at 4500 and aim for Goffs, California, at 2600 feet, passing a low point at Essex, California at about 1800 feet.
45.8 miles, 3:33 hours, 22.3 mph max speed, 12.8 mph average.
Bright sun warms up this cold November morning at Hole-in-the-Wall Campground, Mojave National Preserve
The water taps at Hole-in-the-Wall Campground are still functional this morning
One final view of my campsite at Hole-in-the-Wall campground, Mojave National Preserve, before I pack up and leave
The 10-ton bike is all packed up and we're leaving Hole-in-the-Wall Campground, Mojave National Preserve
After exiting Hole-in-the-Wall Campground, I gradually descend Black Canyon Road southbound toward I-40
Black Canyon Road winds through the Colton Hills as it approaches Essex Road
At the foot of Black Canyon Road, Essex Road is reached
Looking northwest up Essex Road from the bottom of Black Canyon Road toward Mitchell Caverns and Providence Mountains
Essex Road has been rather desolate so far, so it's amusing to ride over the tube of civilization that is Interstate 40
On Essex Road, it's 6.3 miles past Interstate 40 to the nearly dead town of Essex, California at the base of the distant hills
Closer to Essex, I pass the "This is IT" RV park, and not much else
Still on Essex Road, I look back at the IT RV Park and a number of trailers or buildings which weren't apparent while riding by
The village of Essex on historic Route 66 is that collection of buildings a mile or so ahead
Abandoned café and gas station at Essex
The Essex post office next to the abandoned café and gas station
On the other side of Route 66 from the Essex post office sits this old house, which appears empty
Fenner, California is mostly just this big gas station serving freeway traffic from Interstate 40
After buying water at the Fenner gas station, I ride 10 miles further up Route 66 and arrive at Goffs, California
Goffs, California on old Route 66
The old Goffs school house property
From "downtown" Goffs, California, a dirt road called Mountain Springs Road runs south, connecting to Essex
The Goffs General Store has just closed for the day (I wasn't expecting it to be open anyway)