MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE:
THE MOJAVE ROAD
THE MOJAVE ROAD
What . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dualsport Overnight, 3 days
When . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Meet Friday, 28 March, 7:30 AM
Where . . . . . Meet @ BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County
Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laine MacTague
When . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Meet Friday, 28 March, 7:30 AM
Where . . . . . Meet @ BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County
Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laine MacTague
WHERE WE GO
Meet @ BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County @ 7:30AM Friday, 28 March. Show up on time with a full tank. Remember to show up at the shop at 7:30 – not the gas station.
FRIDAY: We’re going to the Nevada / Arizona / California border. I have a direct route planned (a little over 5 hours), and a route including a lot of random mountain & desert roads / trails. We will explore when we want, and make tracks when we want. We have the whole day. Once we reach the Three Corners area, we will eat and relax at Avi Resort & Casino, and in the evening toss down sleeping bags not too far off.
SATURDAY: After a quick morning run back to the Resort for breakfast, we will follow the Mojave Road. We will go as far as we go, eat lunch on the trail when we feel like it, etc. Sunset will be around 7pm. About 4:30 then, we will depart the Road for the nearest restaurant, eat, freshen up, and steal back out to the desert for another night on the sand.
SUNDAY: Same general plan as Saturday morning re breakfast. There are several options for routes toward Barstow, once we leave the Preserve; the current plan is to try the most adventurous one first, moving to different options if we meet insurmountable obstacles (or just feel like it).
We could conceivably arrive in Barstow as late as after dark Sunday, or as early as late Saturday. There is plenty of exploring to be done in the area if we are early. Barstow is not renowned for it’s culinary marvels, but I did find a restaurant option a few miles out of town that I think we will enjoy. After a meal, we will be heading homeward by whatever route time and inclination allow. The direct route takes around 2.5 hours.
HOW WE GO
We will use Standard Formation most of the time. There will be a lot of intersections; it will be extremely important that we maintain formation as described in the Read Before You Ride posts. Please read them. The last thing I want is for riders to feel trapped in place in a pack train, but be sure you understand the potential consequences of striking out ahead (to the side, whatever) of the group.
WHAT GOES [Items listed here represent changes to the list in the What To Bring post, to which you should refer if you can’t recall what is listed there…]
Remember that this is only a kinda-sorta Overnight – more like an extra-long day ride: Pack light, for the terrain is somewhat challenging, and the less weight you bring the easier it will be to handle the bike. This is probably the only Overnight we will ever do on which I will recommend not to bring saddlebags. Waddling seated and feet down through all that sand in full regalia could take a season or two. Not fun!
Here's what I'm packing, for example. In the backpack will go: Spare H2O bottle, atlas, siphon, spare shirt, sleeping pad, jeans, light, insulating layer (wrapped around a thin windbreaker), sleeping bag, spare sox, H2O filter, hat, towel, tow rope (not pictured). This is assuming I am wearing the stuff on the right: Pressure suit, 3L water bag (with cool dragon on it) swimming / walking shorts, riding pants. You don't see a riding jacket because the pressure suit / insulating layer / windbreaker combination is lighter, potentially cooler, provides more protective covering than my jacket, and is generally more versatile, IMHO. I think this is pretty good desert ATGATT.
As it is, there is spare room in the bag for food, and if it is cold, there will be much more spare room since I will be wearing most of the clothing. All my tools, spare tubes, jumper cables, etc. fit under the seat, and the sunscreen fits in the trunk. I'll toss a small handheld radio in there somewhere, and my cell phone rides in my riding pants with the camera. The 105 recoilless mounts on an old camera tripod I strapped to the tail with bunjee cords... No, wait, wrong ride... The bag itself mounts on the tail of the bike using the belt of the bag as one strap, which is actually enough, and I'll include a backup bunjee or two. The whole rig weighs less than 20 lbs, I bet.
Also, see (and feel free to add to) the Comments section of this post.
PLANNED STOPS
Friday Afternoon: Leonard’s Café at the Apple Valley Airport is close to the halfway point on our outward run, and all departure and return trip options cross near here. My thinking is that if we want to stop for a break on the way out, we might as well get to ogle the aircraft while we relax.
Friday Night: Avi Resort & Casino – A ton of restaurant options, The River is right here, and most importantly, On Saturday we leave the pavement about a mile from here. We can camp a couple miles away (or you can even get a room, if you’re feeling decadent…).
Saturday Morning – Quick run back to Avi for breakfast, then, we ride.
Saturday Afternoon – Legend tells of a post office and sometimes-open General Store in Cima, not too far off our track, in the middle of the Preserve. We might swing by and have a look if we happen to be nearby during lunchtime. I hear tell the owner is ailing, though, and not around to open the shop of late… We’re probably on our own for lunch.
Saturday Night – The only place I found where I want to stop for dinner is in Nipton. However, it is highly likely that we will be far past Nipton by Saturday afternoon. The next option along our route is where Cima Road leaves I-15, then Baker. There are several dining options here. We may well stop at Baker anyway, to replenish traveling food supplies & fuel. There is plenty of open camping throughout this area; we’ll camp near where we plan on having breakfast.
Sunday Morning – Quick breakfast run into wherever we were the night before, then, we ride.
Sunday Afternoon – We will refuel in Barstow, and then head for our victory meal at the SlashX. We might find another trail or two worth riding, nearby, on the way home…
KNOWN HAZARDS
Mired in sand on the Mojave Road.
Sand. Also, watch out for the sand. There is also, sand. When you have mastered the sand, after say fifteen miles or so, and are getting complacent, one of two things will suddenly appear: A section of uneven bedrock, or a vertical sided ditch one foot deep and two wide. Or perhaps a strand of barbed wire. Which is to say, there are lots of hazards out there… hidden in the sand… Stay alert!
Heat. There will likely be plenty of it. Bring lots of water. I would say 3 litres is the bare minimum you should carry with you.
Avi, center bottom. The Mojave Road
leaves the frame in the upper left section.
Orientum Finitum. See Comments below.
Meet @ BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County @ 7:30AM Friday, 28 March. Show up on time with a full tank. Remember to show up at the shop at 7:30 – not the gas station.
FRIDAY: We’re going to the Nevada / Arizona / California border. I have a direct route planned (a little over 5 hours), and a route including a lot of random mountain & desert roads / trails. We will explore when we want, and make tracks when we want. We have the whole day. Once we reach the Three Corners area, we will eat and relax at Avi Resort & Casino, and in the evening toss down sleeping bags not too far off.
SATURDAY: After a quick morning run back to the Resort for breakfast, we will follow the Mojave Road. We will go as far as we go, eat lunch on the trail when we feel like it, etc. Sunset will be around 7pm. About 4:30 then, we will depart the Road for the nearest restaurant, eat, freshen up, and steal back out to the desert for another night on the sand.
SUNDAY: Same general plan as Saturday morning re breakfast. There are several options for routes toward Barstow, once we leave the Preserve; the current plan is to try the most adventurous one first, moving to different options if we meet insurmountable obstacles (or just feel like it).
We could conceivably arrive in Barstow as late as after dark Sunday, or as early as late Saturday. There is plenty of exploring to be done in the area if we are early. Barstow is not renowned for it’s culinary marvels, but I did find a restaurant option a few miles out of town that I think we will enjoy. After a meal, we will be heading homeward by whatever route time and inclination allow. The direct route takes around 2.5 hours.
HOW WE GO
We will use Standard Formation most of the time. There will be a lot of intersections; it will be extremely important that we maintain formation as described in the Read Before You Ride posts. Please read them. The last thing I want is for riders to feel trapped in place in a pack train, but be sure you understand the potential consequences of striking out ahead (to the side, whatever) of the group.
WHAT GOES [Items listed here represent changes to the list in the What To Bring post, to which you should refer if you can’t recall what is listed there…]
Remember that this is only a kinda-sorta Overnight – more like an extra-long day ride: Pack light, for the terrain is somewhat challenging, and the less weight you bring the easier it will be to handle the bike. This is probably the only Overnight we will ever do on which I will recommend not to bring saddlebags. Waddling seated and feet down through all that sand in full regalia could take a season or two. Not fun!
YOU MUST BRING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YOU SHOULD BRING
Sleeping bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sleeping pad
YOU MIGHT LIKE TO BRING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YOU SHOULDN’T BRING
Binoculars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Changes
Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Flashlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bug spray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shorts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spare undergarments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .
GPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
Auxilliary lighting . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Extra fuel bottle . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
Extra snacks for Lunchtime (I mean for the rider, not the meal) . .. . . . . . . . . . . .
Sleeping bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sleeping pad
Basic tool kit for your bike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .- - [Item moved to MUST list]
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sunscreen
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Plenty of snack / lunch food for Sat. & Sun.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sunscreen
YOU MIGHT LIKE TO BRING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YOU SHOULDN’T BRING
Binoculars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Changes
Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Flashlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bug spray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shorts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spare undergarments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .
GPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
Auxilliary lighting . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Extra fuel bottle . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
Extra snacks for Lunchtime (I mean for the rider, not the meal) . .. . . . . . . . . . . .
Here's what I'm packing, for example. In the backpack will go: Spare H2O bottle, atlas, siphon, spare shirt, sleeping pad, jeans, light, insulating layer (wrapped around a thin windbreaker), sleeping bag, spare sox, H2O filter, hat, towel, tow rope (not pictured). This is assuming I am wearing the stuff on the right: Pressure suit, 3L water bag (with cool dragon on it) swimming / walking shorts, riding pants. You don't see a riding jacket because the pressure suit / insulating layer / windbreaker combination is lighter, potentially cooler, provides more protective covering than my jacket, and is generally more versatile, IMHO. I think this is pretty good desert ATGATT.As it is, there is spare room in the bag for food, and if it is cold, there will be much more spare room since I will be wearing most of the clothing. All my tools, spare tubes, jumper cables, etc. fit under the seat, and the sunscreen fits in the trunk. I'll toss a small handheld radio in there somewhere, and my cell phone rides in my riding pants with the camera. The 105 recoilless mounts on an old camera tripod I strapped to the tail with bunjee cords... No, wait, wrong ride... The bag itself mounts on the tail of the bike using the belt of the bag as one strap, which is actually enough, and I'll include a backup bunjee or two. The whole rig weighs less than 20 lbs, I bet.
Also, see (and feel free to add to) the Comments section of this post.
PLANNED STOPS
Friday Afternoon: Leonard’s Café at the Apple Valley Airport is close to the halfway point on our outward run, and all departure and return trip options cross near here. My thinking is that if we want to stop for a break on the way out, we might as well get to ogle the aircraft while we relax.Friday Night: Avi Resort & Casino – A ton of restaurant options, The River is right here, and most importantly, On Saturday we leave the pavement about a mile from here. We can camp a couple miles away (or you can even get a room, if you’re feeling decadent…).
Saturday Morning – Quick run back to Avi for breakfast, then, we ride.
Saturday Afternoon – Legend tells of a post office and sometimes-open General Store in Cima, not too far off our track, in the middle of the Preserve. We might swing by and have a look if we happen to be nearby during lunchtime. I hear tell the owner is ailing, though, and not around to open the shop of late… We’re probably on our own for lunch.
Saturday Night – The only place I found where I want to stop for dinner is in Nipton. However, it is highly likely that we will be far past Nipton by Saturday afternoon. The next option along our route is where Cima Road leaves I-15, then Baker. There are several dining options here. We may well stop at Baker anyway, to replenish traveling food supplies & fuel. There is plenty of open camping throughout this area; we’ll camp near where we plan on having breakfast.
Sunday Morning – Quick breakfast run into wherever we were the night before, then, we ride.
Sunday Afternoon – We will refuel in Barstow, and then head for our victory meal at the SlashX. We might find another trail or two worth riding, nearby, on the way home…
KNOWN HAZARDS
Steve Atkin
Mired in sand on the Mojave Road.Sand. Also, watch out for the sand. There is also, sand. When you have mastered the sand, after say fifteen miles or so, and are getting complacent, one of two things will suddenly appear: A section of uneven bedrock, or a vertical sided ditch one foot deep and two wide. Or perhaps a strand of barbed wire. Which is to say, there are lots of hazards out there… hidden in the sand… Stay alert!
Heat. There will likely be plenty of it. Bring lots of water. I would say 3 litres is the bare minimum you should carry with you.
Avi, center bottom. The Mojave Roadleaves the frame in the upper left section.
5 comments. Click here to add yours!:
There are a lot of items that it doesn't make sense for all of us to bring, even though many of us will need them. For instance, 8 or 10 full bottles of sunscreen seems like a waste of space, to me. Feel free to use the comment section to organize who brings what, if desired. I, for example, will bring a just-in-case water filter and a fuel siphon. I always have a small tow rope. Anybody want to offer to bring an air pump?
Here are a few links to videos that show a bit of the Road:
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4080941453056251627
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoCPXrMpNg8&feature=related
Temperatures should range from the 80's to the 40's btw.
I'll bring my air pump.
From Steve Atkin:
Have fun on the Mojave trail, fun ride. If you ride from east to west, I dont know how the sand is this year, but I would encourage the 1200's to split to the highway a few miles below the mailbox (left and straight to the highway) and avoid the 5 miles of sand wash. It was much deeper than you and I encountered in baja. see attached. After this it got much deeper with hidden obstructions (underneath). If either of us stopped, neither could get going again because somebody had to push to get the bike up on top. Despite this, it is wonderful.
The ride yesterday was about as good as it gets. I don't think the dreams we all have when buying the GS's were as good as that actual ride. Thanks for all the effort in putting that together. I'm bummed that I missed today's section of the ride. I hope everything went OK and can't wait to see the pics and hear about it.
My ride home was interesting. It was windy as hell, my headlight didn't work (rode with the high beams on) and it started to rain a little just past San Bernardino. I made it home around 9 p.m. and the surprise on the girls faces made it worth the ride back.
Talk to you soon.
Steve
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