Leaving Mid Hills Campground

It was cold last night, so I get up at 7h as soon as there is promise of a bit of warmth from the awakening sun. It is a slow, relaxing morning under the cold sun packing up, making morning tea and brown-rice ramen soup.

Heading back down the upper part of Wild Horse Canyon Road with a great view of Round Valley beyond

I clearly remember this delightful view from last year's trip out here.

Descending Black Canyon Road to Cedar Canyon Road at the bottom

Upper Black Canyon Road here is a bit sandy, as I know from having ridden it in the uphill direction in complete darkness last year. Fortunately, I'm heading downhill today!

Stopping under a Joshua tree on Cedar Canyon Road

I ride three miles along Cedar Canyon Road, which is rather washboarded and sandy. I've managed to ride most of it without stopping and walking, but it is difficult here and there.

Now on Death Valley Mine Road, I cross the junction of the old Mojave Road

Before starting up this road, I check my maps twice because this looks so remote and untravelled, perhaps not even a road. But this is it, and it's great out here.

Death Valley Mine Road is almost just a trail in places

Death Valley Mine Road has a remote feel to it. Not a great place to get stranded. It's difficult here and there where it crosses a sandy wash, but most of it has enough traction for me to ride it.

Death Valley Mine Road is also rocky in places

But the rocky spots do provide some much-needed traction. Many of the rocks are pinkish quartz which adds to the luminescent quality of the landscape.

At the end of Death Valley Mine Road, I hit patches of deep sand on the Cima Road

It's slightly downhill from here to pavement at Cima, almost three miles away. I have to drag the bike through some of this sand, but it's ridable in between sandy stretches.

Beautiful open views across the Joshua tree forest on the way down to Cima

Cima Dome is visible from here behind that Joshua tree on the left; it's that ever-so-gentle curve on the horizon that constitutes the barely perceptible dome.

I reach the pavement of Kelso-Cima Road and the Cima Store

There doesn't seem to be any residences here at Cima, just this combination store/post office.

Close-up of the Cima Store and post office

I ring the bell and the shopkeeper, an older woman, comes out and opens the store.

Beginning the ride down Morning Star Mine Road toward Nipton

I'm up around 4000 feet right now and will descend down toward 2500 feet.