Just before I stop, a passing dust devil pelts me with sand. Ouch. It's a very windy day, which is common in the Mojave Desert, and I'm lucky that most of the wind has been behind me so far.
I spent two nights at Indian Springs during my Xmas 2007 Mojave National Preserve trip a few months ago and did a day hike in the area; great place. I may stop here again at the end of this trip on my way back to Baker.
Since leaving Baker a while ago, I've risen close to 1200 feet (to 2100 feet elevation here), but it doesn't seem like it because the uphill is so gradual.