Disbelief: traction problems gone! But in total desert darkness, I can't find the side road to Old Dominion Mine when I reach it. I follow the GPS route I prerecorded, not sure if I'm on the road or hiking the bike cross-country through the creosote bushes.
The road has probably moved a bit over the years since the USGS maps were made, and I'm probably right next to it, but I still don't see it after bike-hiking it for half a mile.
I don't want to go all the way up to the former Old Dominion Mine site in case there is old debris there that makes loud noises in the wind and disturbs my sleep.