My Nipton campsite
Another nice sunny morning with clouds floating around; still cool and windy though.
Date: November 09, 2000
My campsite is actually an RV site, complete with hookups, but since there are no RVs here right now, I'm camped in a parking spot.
Another nice sunny morning with clouds floating around; still cool and windy though.
I take the morning lazily, take a much-needed shower and drink several cups of coffee from the Nipton General Store to get going.
A chat with Gerry, Nipton's owner, has me convinced to try riding up the Walking Box Ranch Road tomorrow, which I hadn't planned.
Another nice sunny morning with clouds floating around; still cool and windy though.
I take the morning lazily, take a much-needed shower and drink several cups of coffee from the Nipton General Store to get going.
A chat with Gerry, Nipton's owner, has me convinced to try riding up the Walking Box Ranch Road tomorrow, which I hadn't planned.
One of the tent cabins at Nipton
It would be interesting to rent one of these on a cold night and have some heat during the evening.
Date: November 09, 2000
It would be interesting to rent one of these on a cold night and have some heat during the evening.
The historic Hotel Nipton building
I love the rustic cactus garden in front of this bed-and-breakfast. There's another such garden just off to my right.
Date: November 09, 2000
I love the rustic cactus garden in front of this bed-and-breakfast. There's another such garden just off to my right.
The shower building (quonset hut) at Nipton
With fiberglass walls, it's not quite an outdoor shower, nor is it quite an indoor shower.
Date: November 09, 2000
With fiberglass walls, it's not quite an outdoor shower, nor is it quite an indoor shower.
Inside the rustic Nipton shower building, dirt floors and all!
The dirt floors (or maybe I should say "sand floors") add a special character.
Date: November 09, 2000
The dirt floors (or maybe I should say "sand floors") add a special character. Fortunately, there are wooden platforms outside the shower stalls so that you don't get your feet dirty after getting out of the shower.
These showers are free for campers and can be used by folks passing through for a small price (five dollars?). People staying in the bed-and-breakfast don't use these; they have their own facilities inside the hotel.
These showers are free for campers and can be used by folks passing through for a small price (five dollars?). People staying in the bed-and-breakfast don't use these; they have their own facilities inside the hotel.
Picnic table behind the Nipton campground
Those jagged hills are the Castle Peaks, which are inside the Mojave National Preserve (Nipton is just barely outside the Preserve).
Date: November 09, 2000
Those jagged hills are the Castle Peaks, which are inside the Mojave National Preserve (Nipton is just barely outside the Preserve).
Castle Peaks is one of those spots that's on my very long list for a possible future visit.
Castle Peaks is one of those spots that's on my very long list for a possible future visit.
Nipton General Store and the café building
The café is the building on the right.
Date: November 09, 2000
The café is the building on the right.
Nipton Road crosses ugly I-15
I go on my day ride, climb a hill, and end up at I-15, nine miles away from Nipton.
Date: November 09, 2000
I go on my day ride, climb a hill, and end up at I-15, nine miles away from Nipton.
Looking down into Ivanpah Valley, west of the I-15/Nipton Road interchange
At the end of Nipton Road, on the other side of I-15, exists a network of backroads, some of which lead to Wilderness Areas managed by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management).
Date: November 09, 2000
At the end of Nipton Road, on the other side of I-15, exists a network of backroads, some of which lead to Wilderness Areas managed by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management).
Riding down the old road just west of I-15
I ride just a mile or so to get a taste of what the area looks like in case I decide to venture into the area beyond one day.
Date: November 09, 2000
I ride just a mile or so to get a taste of what the area looks like in case I decide to venture into the area beyond one day. This is my "day off" and I'm not intending to do serious distance or climbing today.
It is a very scenic area, but significantly marred by the presence of the freeway passing through. To seriously enjoy this area, I would need to continue on much further, which I'm not prepared to do today.
It is a very scenic area, but significantly marred by the presence of the freeway passing through. To seriously enjoy this area, I would need to continue on much further, which I'm not prepared to do today.
Cattle-guard on Nipton Road at I-15
I turn around and head back toward Nipton, about nine miles away, crossing the freeway again and riding over this cattle-guard along the way.
Date: November 09, 2000
I turn around and head back toward Nipton, crossing the freeway again and riding over this cattle-guard along the way.
Nipton is down in the valley below on the left (not quite visible in this photo), about nine miles away.
Nipton is down in the valley below on the left (not quite visible in this photo), about nine miles away.
Top of Nipton Road, looking back toward "town"
Nipton is that little spot off in the distance on the way up to the hills in the background. I have a great downhill ahead of me to conclude today's short ride. Haze, sunshine and clouds intermingle in the sky.
Date: November 09, 2000
Nipton is that little spot off in the distance on the way up to the hills in the background. I have a great downhill ahead of me to conclude today's short ride. Haze, sunshine and clouds intermingle in the sky.
By 17h, dark clouds, heavy winds and a few sprinkles arrive at Nipton, but by 19h the bad weather system has cleared out, leaving only cold, clear skies and a full moon behind for the rest of the night.
Continue to day 6: Nipton to Keystone Canyon area via Walking Box Ranch Road.
By 17h, dark clouds, heavy winds and a few sprinkles arrive at Nipton, but by 19h the bad weather system has cleared out, leaving only cold, clear skies and a full moon behind for the rest of the night.
Continue to day 6: Nipton to Keystone Canyon area via Walking Box Ranch Road.