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Bill Bikes My bicycling expeditions and jaunts |
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Mecca, March 2018
From J-Tree down, down, down: A Photographic Log
21 March 2018, 29 miles
Cycle Life Challenge 2018: Ride 5
The Cycle Life Challenge, now in its third year, is a virtual "global fest" of riders who follow a few simple rules, which can be boiled down to this: (1) Ride your bike. (2) Spend a modest sum before, during, or after in connection with your ride. (3) Post a bit about the ride along with photographic evidence of your purchase. (4) Repeat for a total of seven rides between 9 March and 30 April (for 2018). In 2013 I pedaled a short tour through Joshua Tree National Park. In 2016 I pedaled a short tour around the Salton Sea. In both cases, I nearly pedaled between the Cottonwood Visitor Center at J-Tree and the town of Mecca. Today, on the way back from the Phoenix area with a hike in Joshua Tree on the agenda for tomorrow, my ace support crew dropped me and the Ogre at the visitor center. While she explored the park and hiked up Mastodon Peak, I climbed aboard the Ogre and pedaled down to Mecca. That finally connected my 2013 and 2016 tours. My ace support crew met me in Mecca—much warmer than J-Tree—where we consumed cold drinks.
Everyone is probably sick of all my photos anyway, but my camera malfunctioned along the way. After spending too much time trying to fix it, I switched to my iPhone, but by then I was running late for the rendezvous in Mecca, so I stopped pausing to take more shots. That meant I missed documenting the dramatic transformation from the dry canyon to the irrigated fields of vineyards, corn (!), and citrus trees, as well as the dusty streets of Mecca. I guess I'll need to ride this route again some day with a functional camera and no deadline.
By the way, Box Canyon Road was a surprisingly terrific ride. Fascinating geology. Decent road surface. Very light traffic. Downhill. It's no wonder a local company offers a "geological extravaganza" guided bicycling tour for 20 miles with a descent of 1200 feet. Only US$145-250 (depending on group size), including bike, helmet, water, and snacks. I don't know about the guided tour, but ride down Box Canyon (or all the way down from the Cottonwood Visitor Center in J-Tree) if you get a chance.
PS: Scooter and Rocky rode Box Canyon from Mecca to J-Tree a couple of years ago as part of a longer tour. They were riding uphill. I was quite happy with my easy-peasy downhill. :-)
Old Grumble-Face, looking just about as demure and respectable as possible.
Lots o' rocks around here.
The Ogre wants to go off road.
Going down the park road.
Didn't see any.
Going down the park road.
Going down the park road.
Going down the park road.
A message under a rock along the park road.
Going down the park road.
Going down the park road.
Going down the park road.
Going down the park road.
Exiting J-Tree.
At the intersection with I-10, not a single gas station, convenience store, fast food joint, or anything else.
Crossing I-10.
From Box Canyon Road, looking north toward I-10 and Joshua Tree.
Going down Box Canyon Road.
Going down Box Canyon Road.
Always a welcome sign.
Going down Box Canyon Road.
Going down Box Canyon Road.
Going down Box Canyon Road.
Proof of purchase. Yes, I am habituated to tea. Okay, addicted.
Summary
Date: 21 March 2018
Time: 1:00 - 4:00
Weather: 70-85° F, mostly to partly cloudy
Route: Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree National Park to Mecca
Distance: 29 miles
Bike: Surly Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
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