Lost with Mike
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      • Jaw-ja Trip #2 - Cousin's Wedding
      • "You rode 1300 miles for BBQ?!?" (2010)
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        • Day 1: Arlington, VA > Arlington, VT
        • Day 1-2 (Continued) Back to VA!!!
        • Day 3: Newburyport, NH > Sandy Cove, NS
        • Day 4: Loafing around "The Neck"
        • Day 5: Sandy Cove, NS to Antigonish, NS
        • Day 6: Antigonish, NS to Meat Cove, NS
        • Day 7: Meat Cove, NS to Port Aux Basques, NFL
        • Day 8: Port Aux Basques to Port Saunders
        • Day 9: Port Saunders to Big Brook
        • Day 10: Big Brook, NL to Trans Lab Hwy
        • Day 11: Trans Lab Hwy to Pinware River
        • Day 12: Pinware River, LAB to Norris Point, NL
        • Day 13: Norris Point to Blue Beach
        • Day 14: Blue Beach, NL to Port Aux Basques Ferry
        • Day 15: Sydney, NS to Sandy Cove, NS
        • Day 16: Chillin on the Digby Neck
        • Day 17: Sandy Cove, NS to No. Sandwich, NH
        • Day 18: Sandiwch, NH to Arlington, VA (Home)
      • Algonquin Park 2013 >
        • Day 1: Home to New York
        • Day 2: Chataugay State Forest to Brent, ON
        • Day 3: Brent, ON to Nipissing River Portage at Nadine Lake
        • Day 4: Nipissing River @ Nadine Lake Portage to first island in Red Pine Bay
        • Day 5: Red Pine Bay to Hogan’s Lake
        • Day 6: Hogan’s Lake to Catfish Lake
        • Day 7: Catfish Lake to Cedar Lake to Fredonia, NY
        • Day 8: Fredonia, NY to Brookville, PA
        • Day 9: Brookville, PA to Alexandria, VA
      • Think I'll ride to Montreal this weekend...
      • Ontario on a Whim
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      • How to Hit a Tree, By ME!
      • Ruckus Stealth Camping in MD
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      • White's Ferry and some Maryland Backroads
      • 1000mi right near da' beach (2010)
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      • From a Wedding to "Where-da-fugawi?"
      • Pennsylvania Leaf Peeping (2012)
      • First Big Trip to PA (2010)
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      • Ruck'n Across Virginia (2010)
      • Impromptu Camping with 'DC Rider' (2010)
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      • Rella-Vous and Skippii Rescue
      • New River Gorge Ghost Town Exploration (2011)
      • Five States from Laurel Fork (Spring 2013)
      • A Little Dirt, A Little Clouds, A lotta Fun, WV (2012)
      • GS and an NSX? (2012)
      • Seneca Rocks Camping Two-Up (2011)
      • Panniers Only Club at Seneca Rocks, WV (2010)
      • Laurel Fork Fall 2010 on the Honda Ruckus 50cc (2010)
      • Dog Days Rally and Rella's Gift (2010)
      • Pops and Richmonders in WV (2010)
      • Rocket Boys (2010)
      • New River Gorge and Rella's (2010)
    • Cross Country 2009 >
      • Trip Preparation
      • Day 1: (Sept 3, 2010)
      • Day 2: (Sept 4, 2010)
      • Day 3: (Sept 5, 2010)
      • Day 4: (Sept 6, 2010)
      • Day 5: (Sept 7, 2010)
      • Day 6: (Sept 8, 2010)
      • Day 7: (Sept 9, 2010)
      • Day 8: (Sept 10, 2010)
      • Day 9: (Sept 11, 2010)
      • Day 10: (Sept 12, 2010)
      • Day 11: (Sept 13, 2010)
      • Day 12: (Sept 14, 2010)
      • Day 13: (Sept 15, 2010)
      • Day 14: (Sept 16, 2010)
      • Day 15: (Sept 17, 2010)
      • Day 16: (Sept 18, 2010)
      • Day 17: (Sept 19, 2010)
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69'000 miles on a      Honda Ruckus named
La Tortuga

California's Southern Desert

11/27/2014

2 Comments

 
A few sprinkles of rain overnight were completely evaporated by the wind and dry climate by morning. The new tent held up respectably in the windy conditions, a bit cramped fro my liking but easy enough to hide behind the Ruckus!  Out on the highway, the small city of Hesperia unfolds around me where I stop for coffee and a brief blog post to update any followers as to my whereabouts.  When in "Travel Mode" on the short sunny days of fall, I find it difficult to stop and waste time blogging or dealing with internet when the daylight is so precious. My GPS is set on Joshua Tree National Park, roughly 80 miles away across the open expanses of shrubs and rock that comprise the high Mojave Desert.  My saving grace for neck fatigue and mpg is the glorious tailwind propelling me toward my destination as if some agreement had been reached with the heavens.
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By 10AM, I regain feeling in my fingers after the sun bakes away the morning chill.  It takes a few hours of riding and skirting the higher speed highways but I eventually make it to the surprisingly populated town of Yucca Valley.  Tall palm trees dot the skyline and a number of subdivisions and buildings pepper the desert valley.  The military base of Twenty-Nine Palms as well as a number of other defense related industries help to sustain the surrounding towns.  A brief stop for groceries, water and fuel (my three essentials), then I head for the park.  Flashing my National Parks Pass, I smile and accept a map of the park road and available recreation in the area.  The main road through the park was relatively traffic free and empty on this weekday, which weekday? I have no idea. 
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The high Mojave Desert climate on the northern end of the park represents an amazing diversity of desert plants such as Pinyon Pine, Juniper and Joshua Trees.  Amazed at the unusual landscape, my mind struggles to describe the sharp pointed spikes, thorns, cacti and water conserving plants. I lack a suitable history of experience and have no clue where to begin in photographing or writing about the life before me.  Perhaps during sunset where the rocks are painted red and the trees silhouetted against the mountains it will all make sense? A lizard runs across the sandy surface near my footfall to hide underneath a cool rock.  
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 The park is crisscrossed by hundreds of faults and evidence of recent geologic changes shape the rocks and mountains wherever I look.  Overwhelmingly curious, my mind struggles to comprehend the environment unlike any place I've traveled before.   Sandy tire tracks stretch off on side road adventures but the relatively narrow and small Ruckus tires prevent me from chasing dreams of bounding over sand dunes.  The Park Road soon drops lower in elevation and the gnarly alien Joshua Trees begin to dwindle, overtaken by low vegetation of chollo and ocotillo and sage. 
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Before me is a magnificent panormaic view of protected wilderness stretching to the mountains 20-30 miles distant.  
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Exiting the park through BLM land, I promptly head over an Interstate without even glancing for consideration.  The elevation begins to drop as I travel south down Box Canyon Rd toward the Salton Sea.

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 Near vertical sandstone walls devoid of vegetation reflect the extremes of desert erosion by wind and rain.  A small pull off into a dry tributary of the canyon offers a simple fire pit and small tree bordering the wilderness in which to camp.  I go for a hike up the canyon along a meandering course cut deep into the soft sandy rocks.  Debris scattered through the riverbed hints at human presence upstream and the off-roading past of this now protected wilderness.  

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Temperatures overnight never fall below 50 and the breeze is nearly non-existent. Falling asleep, my eyes carry through the mesh toward the array of stars appearing the darkening sky.  A quiet night, not even a coyote's howl to gleefully break my sleep.
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2 Comments
RichardM link
11/27/2014 07:09:27 am

Unfortunately, it'll probably be crowded tomorrow after Thanksgiving Day. I learned the basics of rock climbing out there since there is so much forgiving rock. A wonderful place to spend some time in Southern California. Are you headed to Anza Borrego as well?

Reply
Mike Saunders
11/27/2014 07:17:25 am

I haven't mentioned but I'm actually in Ramona just outside San Diego visitng friends for Thanksgiving. I'm just taking the time now with WiFi to post up some computer written entries instead of using my phone. I can describe and write more with the chromebook.

Yesterday I went for a ride up near Palomar Mtn and San Ysabel and was constantly passed by the huge RV'S and toy haulers headed for Ocotillo Wells. More to come ... :) Thanks for your insight, it's fun to see you enjoying your old haunts.

Reply



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    Where is Mike?

    Mike Saunders

    In May 2014 I quit my job to ride a Honda Ruckus over 69'000 mi and counting. Wild camping most nights and cooking most of my own meals, I keep the costs low and the landscape changing. 

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  • Scoot
  • Paddle
  • Pedal
  • Moto
    • The South >
      • Merchant's Millpond State Park, NC
      • BRP and a visit to Charlotte, NC
      • South Carolina and Back on my GS (2011)
      • Jaw-ja Trip #1 - Visiting my Nephew
      • Jaw-ja Trip #2 - Cousin's Wedding
      • "You rode 1300 miles for BBQ?!?" (2010)
    • Canada (eh) >
      • 2012 - Beards to Canada >
        • Day 1: Arlington, VA > Arlington, VT
        • Day 1-2 (Continued) Back to VA!!!
        • Day 3: Newburyport, NH > Sandy Cove, NS
        • Day 4: Loafing around "The Neck"
        • Day 5: Sandy Cove, NS to Antigonish, NS
        • Day 6: Antigonish, NS to Meat Cove, NS
        • Day 7: Meat Cove, NS to Port Aux Basques, NFL
        • Day 8: Port Aux Basques to Port Saunders
        • Day 9: Port Saunders to Big Brook
        • Day 10: Big Brook, NL to Trans Lab Hwy
        • Day 11: Trans Lab Hwy to Pinware River
        • Day 12: Pinware River, LAB to Norris Point, NL
        • Day 13: Norris Point to Blue Beach
        • Day 14: Blue Beach, NL to Port Aux Basques Ferry
        • Day 15: Sydney, NS to Sandy Cove, NS
        • Day 16: Chillin on the Digby Neck
        • Day 17: Sandy Cove, NS to No. Sandwich, NH
        • Day 18: Sandiwch, NH to Arlington, VA (Home)
      • Algonquin Park 2013 >
        • Day 1: Home to New York
        • Day 2: Chataugay State Forest to Brent, ON
        • Day 3: Brent, ON to Nipissing River Portage at Nadine Lake
        • Day 4: Nipissing River @ Nadine Lake Portage to first island in Red Pine Bay
        • Day 5: Red Pine Bay to Hogan’s Lake
        • Day 6: Hogan’s Lake to Catfish Lake
        • Day 7: Catfish Lake to Cedar Lake to Fredonia, NY
        • Day 8: Fredonia, NY to Brookville, PA
        • Day 9: Brookville, PA to Alexandria, VA
      • Think I'll ride to Montreal this weekend...
      • Ontario on a Whim
    • Maryland >
      • How to Hit a Tree, By ME!
      • Ruckus Stealth Camping in MD
      • Ruck'n around Southern MD
      • White's Ferry and some Maryland Backroads
      • 1000mi right near da' beach (2010)
    • New York >
      • Cornell, Niagara Falls and PA Coal Country (2012)
      • Finger Lakes trip to NY (2011)
      • New York City Trip (2011)
    • Pennsylvania >
      • Early Spring in PA
      • Michaux Camping
      • From a Wedding to "Where-da-fugawi?"
      • Pennsylvania Leaf Peeping (2012)
      • First Big Trip to PA (2010)
    • Virginia >
      • From the Mountains to the Sea in Ol' Virginny'
      • What the Fog? (Northern Neck, VA - 2013)
      • Uncle Bucks Ride to Eat and Snowy SNP
      • Charlottesville Area Ride
      • Serious Helmet Time in VA (2011)
      • Ruck'n Across Virginia (2010)
      • Impromptu Camping with 'DC Rider' (2010)
    • West Virginia >
      • Rella-Vous and Skippii Rescue
      • New River Gorge Ghost Town Exploration (2011)
      • Five States from Laurel Fork (Spring 2013)
      • A Little Dirt, A Little Clouds, A lotta Fun, WV (2012)
      • GS and an NSX? (2012)
      • Seneca Rocks Camping Two-Up (2011)
      • Panniers Only Club at Seneca Rocks, WV (2010)
      • Laurel Fork Fall 2010 on the Honda Ruckus 50cc (2010)
      • Dog Days Rally and Rella's Gift (2010)
      • Pops and Richmonders in WV (2010)
      • Rocket Boys (2010)
      • New River Gorge and Rella's (2010)
    • Cross Country 2009 >
      • Trip Preparation
      • Day 1: (Sept 3, 2010)
      • Day 2: (Sept 4, 2010)
      • Day 3: (Sept 5, 2010)
      • Day 4: (Sept 6, 2010)
      • Day 5: (Sept 7, 2010)
      • Day 6: (Sept 8, 2010)
      • Day 7: (Sept 9, 2010)
      • Day 8: (Sept 10, 2010)
      • Day 9: (Sept 11, 2010)
      • Day 10: (Sept 12, 2010)
      • Day 11: (Sept 13, 2010)
      • Day 12: (Sept 14, 2010)
      • Day 13: (Sept 15, 2010)
      • Day 14: (Sept 16, 2010)
      • Day 15: (Sept 17, 2010)
      • Day 16: (Sept 18, 2010)
      • Day 17: (Sept 19, 2010)
  • Photos
  • Articles