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Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2009, Spring: Mojave National Preserve / Day 10: Nipton to Black Palisades and back hike, Mojave National Preserve /

Last night's light rain never became heavy; now I enjoy the shade of the eucalyptus trees during the warm morning at Nipton

03407-nipton-tent.jpg ThumbnailsAfter breakfast, I take a shower and explore the rustic garden in front of the bed-and-breakfastThumbnailsAfter breakfast, I take a shower and explore the rustic garden in front of the bed-and-breakfastThumbnailsAfter breakfast, I take a shower and explore the rustic garden in front of the bed-and-breakfastThumbnailsAfter breakfast, I take a shower and explore the rustic garden in front of the bed-and-breakfastThumbnailsAfter breakfast, I take a shower and explore the rustic garden in front of the bed-and-breakfast

After the big meal and beer last night, I fell asleep easily around 22h45 and even the trains passing by during the night barely woke me up. Around 3h, however, I woke up to the sound and feel of light rain.

After mounting the outer shell on my tent to keep the rain from coming in, I listened to the crickets singing until I finally got back to sleep around 4h30. A bird started whistling at about that hour, which at first sounded human (why would someone be walking around Nipton at this early hour whistling; in the downtown San José ghetto where I live, this kind of insanity would be normal).

Next thing I know, I'm rolling over to check the time and it's 8h45. I rush over to the café, hoping that I didn't miss breakfast, and Bill cooks me a tasty omelet with shrimp and Asian vegetables. And I drink two cups of coffee to wake up.

On the way over to the café I chat with Federico, from Italy, who stayed at the bed-and-breakfast last night.