dryfj.com / drycyclist.com (kevin cook)

7/28
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My race against time is over when I reach the gravel of Kelso Dunes Road and head toward the camping area at the end of the road

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07071-kelso-dunes-road-800px.jpg Once in Kelso Valley, the silo near Kelso Depot comes into viewThumbnailsMy miles of walking the bike through kitty litter come to an end when Jackass Canyon Road rises out of the washOnce in Kelso Valley, the silo near Kelso Depot comes into viewThumbnailsMy miles of walking the bike through kitty litter come to an end when Jackass Canyon Road rises out of the washOnce in Kelso Valley, the silo near Kelso Depot comes into viewThumbnailsMy miles of walking the bike through kitty litter come to an end when Jackass Canyon Road rises out of the washOnce in Kelso Valley, the silo near Kelso Depot comes into viewThumbnailsMy miles of walking the bike through kitty litter come to an end when Jackass Canyon Road rises out of the washOnce in Kelso Valley, the silo near Kelso Depot comes into viewThumbnailsMy miles of walking the bike through kitty litter come to an end when Jackass Canyon Road rises out of the wash

A car leaving the dunes is heading toward me, but besides that, there's no other traffic on this road.

As I near the end of the gravel road almost four miles down, I pass a well-lit campsite and the two people there shout "hello" at me.

I select a random spot for my tent near the cul-de-sac at the end of the road, almost the same spot where I camped during my Spring 2006 trip. My cell phone has a signal here (just barely), so I call a friend and then settle in for another instant backpacker meal (Backpacker's Pantry Kathmandu Curry; very good).

At 37 miles and significant hike-a-biking out of Jackass Canyon, I have a few tired muscles to relax, but I'm surprised how relatively easy the day's trip was.