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Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2007: Death Valley National Park bikepacking / Day 2: Tecopa Hot Springs to Greenwater Valley (upper Gold Valley Rd) /

I visit the general store in Shoshone across the road from the Crowbar Café

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04749-shoshone-bike-water-550px.jpg Behind the old Shoshone ranger stationThumbnailsWhile filling my bottles, I glance across the road at the Crowbar CaféBehind the old Shoshone ranger stationThumbnailsWhile filling my bottles, I glance across the road at the Crowbar CaféBehind the old Shoshone ranger stationThumbnailsWhile filling my bottles, I glance across the road at the Crowbar CaféBehind the old Shoshone ranger stationThumbnailsWhile filling my bottles, I glance across the road at the Crowbar CaféBehind the old Shoshone ranger stationThumbnailsWhile filling my bottles, I glance across the road at the Crowbar Café

I replenish the ten-ton bike's water reserves, which amounts to a bit over two gallons (8-9 litres). I use use four 1.5 litre bottles (two in the pocket of each rear saddlebag), two small drinking bottles mounted to the frame, and a two-litre Camelbak "water bladder" that straps onto my back like a backpack.

In preparation for the potentially dry trip ahead, I also fill my usually empty, supplementary two-gallon water bag and strap it onto the top of my rear rack with bungee cords.

Whoa, the bike is suddenly really heavy! Each gallon of water weighs a bit over eight pounds (roughly 3.75 kilograms).

I drink a cold Sobe grapefruit drink while I pack up, and round out my grocery order with a bottle of wine and a small loaf of date-nut bread from the China Ranch date farm and bakery.