Northwest of Landers I make camp beneath the cleaved section of the Giant Rock. This was a Hopi spiritual location and has rich history in the 20th century worth a Wiki.
It took a solid morning of riding to escape the pull of Los Angeles. I decided to attempt crossing El Cajon Pass on a dirt road instead of I-10. The GPS didn't show the road continuing over the Santa Fe rail lines but Satellite view showed otherwise. The northern winds buffeted the scooter and whipped sand. A freight train rumbled past up the grade in a clacking processional. I drove through a sandy wash and up behind a road grader. Using Maps.me and google satellite view I meandered north along the rail line. The trail was rugged but avoided the bustling freeway to my right. I was soon clear of the mountains and dropped into Hesperia and on into the Mojave. Crossing through Lucerne Valley and Johnson Valley remind me of previous times I've crossed these grounds. They grow more familar and comfortable with each passage. Northwest of Landers I make camp beneath the cleaved section of the Giant Rock. This was a Hopi spiritual location and has rich history in the 20th century worth a Wiki. In the morning I meet up with Matt in 49 Palms Oasis Trailhead for a 3 mi hike. It was a nice way to spend the morning exercising. It still felt necessary to get some miles down so I left off into the eastern expanses of the Mojave on Hwy 62. The odd ghost town and remnant ranch of another era stood weathered but in a stasis due to the dry air. We camped out in the former Tank training grounds used by Patton in WWII. Miles of tracks snake through the expansive desert of creosote bush. I got the twig stove roasting and made up some sausage and peppers with cous cous. A delicious meal washed down by a Stone IPA as the sun set in the western ranges. Still owe you a few bucks for that meal so don't let me forget.
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Mike SaundersIn 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. Archives
April 2018
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