Death Valley: Warm and Saline: Arrival and Ride 1

Due to never-ending pandemic, wildfires burning up to the edge of our home, and family obligations back East, 2020 has prevented me from undertaking as many bicycling expeditions as I would in a typical year. I made it to Death Valley in January and Nevada in February, but that’s about it.

Despite those triple constraints, I’ve remained determined to spend a few more days off grid with Ogre before the year passes into history. As often happens, Death Valley seemed to best fit my needs for proximity, weather conditions, biking options, etc. As soon as the first opportunity presented itself this month, I was on the way.

Read more at Bill Bikes: Arrival

Read more at Bill Bikes: Ride 1

They call me Old Grumble-Face. I have no idea why they do that....

10 response to "Death Valley: Warm and Saline: Arrival and Ride 1"

  1. By: Scooter Posted: November 14, 2020

    Death Valley twice in the same year? That is SO self indulgent. I’d never think of doing that myself, but thanks for planting the idea.

  2. By: Suzanne Posted: November 14, 2020

    Looks like Death Valley was an absolutely brilliant idea, a beautiful sunny place far away from contagious crowds. I am so envious. And lovely pictures of your ace support crew!

    Those e-bikers looked pretty cool! If I were the right age, in the right place and had the means, I would love to join them. Sigh

    • By: Bill Stone Posted: November 16, 2020

      We started camping with our son in Death Valley over 30 years ago. I wish I’d been bringing a bike along for all those years, although I also have some Type 2 hiking stories from those olden days. In any event, I haven’t completely given up hope of a multi-day bikepacking loop through remote parts of the park. You and Janos are welcome to join me!

  3. By: The Navigator Posted: November 14, 2020

    Great that you could get out with the Ace Support Crew to keep you in line. Must be so good for your head after a crap 2020. I would be so afraid over there right now with the virus levels. I would be hunkered down at home with home delivery of essentials. 6-8 other campers using the same pit toilet would freak me out even with liberal use of hand sanitizer (I still haven’t used a public toilet since March). It looks like there is a heap of more great Ogre territory to explore though and plenty of space for social distancing!

    • By: Bill Stone Posted: November 16, 2020

      Yes, the park has many more places to explore on the Ogre if my ace support crew will allow. On every drive home I’m always formulating new plans. As to virus-laden pit toilets, there aren’t all that many convenient bushes in the desert. 😉

  4. By: gregblood Posted: November 15, 2020

    Would you believe that when I saw the picture of you and the Ace Support Crew waving at the bat pole, I instinctively waved back? Well, I did. And I felt a little foolish for waving at a computer screen.

    To me, there is no better sleeping accommodation than a dispersed campsite in the desert. And there is no better desert than the Death Valley-Mojave area.

    • By: Bill Stone Posted: November 16, 2020

      I thought I saw you waving back while the self-timer on the camera was clicking away!

  5. By: BobinVT Posted: November 15, 2020

    Deserts are pretty foreign to me, but man, this looks like a great adventure.

    • By: Bill Stone Posted: November 16, 2020

      And your photos of Vermont always look exotic and enticing to me. But maybe not during winter. 😉

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