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HadesOmega
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So the plan is to ride down 6 to 395 and pretty much backtrack and ride all the way to Mojave and Tehachappi and then head to around bakersfield and I guess head to 101. I'd rather take 101 back than 5. Maybe if I was on the KLR I'd take 5 but it's so boring. Heard it raining in the bay area right now. As I type this it's sunny in Benton but it's 32F outsite 
' Going to get frostbite today gotta take breaks I guess. The adventure isn't over until I get home.
Oh yeah I wanted to check out the Reward Mine that was on the BDR. I sinch we are backtracking and I know where it is around where Manzanar is I'll check it again if it's not too soupy out there. I really wanted to ride into the mine =P Since we're going back why not go for it!
So riding down the 395 not too far from Benton gotta stop and take a picture of those snow covered mountains
I stopped at the Law's Railroad Museum on the way just before bishop. I remember passing by it on the BDR, it literally passes right by it but I was kind of in a hurry. So this time I stopped by, it free admission too. Pretty neat its like an old trainstation.
Snowy Sierra Nevada
Borax cart
Stopped by big pine again it's was pouring rain last time, there's the Roosevelt Tree again
More Snow Sierra Nevada, you'll notice the farther we go down south the mountains get less snowy.
' Going to get frostbite today gotta take breaks I guess. The adventure isn't over until I get home.Oh yeah I wanted to check out the Reward Mine that was on the BDR. I sinch we are backtracking and I know where it is around where Manzanar is I'll check it again if it's not too soupy out there. I really wanted to ride into the mine =P Since we're going back why not go for it!
So riding down the 395 not too far from Benton gotta stop and take a picture of those snow covered mountains
I stopped at the Law's Railroad Museum on the way just before bishop. I remember passing by it on the BDR, it literally passes right by it but I was kind of in a hurry. So this time I stopped by, it free admission too. Pretty neat its like an old trainstation.
Snowy Sierra Nevada
Borax cart
Stopped by big pine again it's was pouring rain last time, there's the Roosevelt Tree again
More Snow Sierra Nevada, you'll notice the farther we go down south the mountains get less snowy.
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HadesOmega
Well-known member
Stopped by the Eastern California Musuem in Independence. You totally go around the small town of Independence when you are riding the BDR
Nice scenery here too
Nice scenery here too
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HadesOmega
Well-known member
There is also an indoor museum. I actually really enjoyed this one. The outdoor museum isn't as good as the Laws museum but the indoor museum was really nice in my opinion. They have the largest collection of native american weaved baskets and other native american stuff. There is also photos and artifacts from Manazanar. Then there is a section on Norman Clyde a famous mountain climber. An adventurer like me!
Manzanar photos
Norman Clyde conquerer of the Sierras
Manzanar photos
Norman Clyde conquerer of the Sierras
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HadesOmega
Well-known member
Manzanar Artifacts
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HadesOmega
Well-known member
So I forgot to hit up Reward Mine on the CABDR. I totally missed it. There was even a waypoint for it on the GPS tracks. I figured out where it was since I was taking 395 I made a left towards the mountains across from Manzanar. Then just follow the tracks/dirt road all the way to the mountain. The first obstacle was this lake I had to get around, not too hard.
Onward towards Reward Mine!
I start to see evidence that there was a mine out here like this concrete pad and that rusty drum type thingie.
There are amazing views up here!
Sooooo I heard that there is this steep rocky climb going to the mine entrance. Well this looks like a steep rocky climb... but apparently it is too steep rocky a climb for the CactusPuncher you need to be a pro hillclimber to get up this. The DR just dug itself in.
So I set off on foot and hike up the rest of the way and well this is not the mine entrance there's really nothing up there so I tried to climb this for no reason haha and now I'm hella sweaty.
There's something up there but it ain't no mine entrance.
Onward towards Reward Mine!
I start to see evidence that there was a mine out here like this concrete pad and that rusty drum type thingie.
There are amazing views up here!
Sooooo I heard that there is this steep rocky climb going to the mine entrance. Well this looks like a steep rocky climb... but apparently it is too steep rocky a climb for the CactusPuncher you need to be a pro hillclimber to get up this. The DR just dug itself in.
So I set off on foot and hike up the rest of the way and well this is not the mine entrance there's really nothing up there so I tried to climb this for no reason haha and now I'm hella sweaty.
There's something up there but it ain't no mine entrance.
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HadesOmega
Well-known member
Soooo I get the bike turned around somehow and I look at the GPS more closely. There is no tracks going to the mine but there is the waypoint. So after studying the map (my GPS is loaded with some maps BTW) I see that there is a road that goes to the mine and it right around the corner sorta. So off I go. It was indeed rocky and steep but not too bad.
AND BAM I found it! There it is the entrance to reward mine here we go! It is total darkness in there also almost immediately the GPS says it has lost reception. So good lucky finding your way back if you get lost. Might as well leave some bread crumbs.
Into the mine we go, it's a little spooky
Interesting graffiti inside
So about this point I want to turn around. There are forks in the tunnel now and there are a buncha corridors that go off to who knows where.
ZOMG it's an ALIEN! Nah it's just me taking a picture
AND BAM I found it! There it is the entrance to reward mine here we go! It is total darkness in there also almost immediately the GPS says it has lost reception. So good lucky finding your way back if you get lost. Might as well leave some bread crumbs.
Into the mine we go, it's a little spooky
Interesting graffiti inside
So about this point I want to turn around. There are forks in the tunnel now and there are a buncha corridors that go off to who knows where.
ZOMG it's an ALIEN! Nah it's just me taking a picture
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HadesOmega
Well-known member
So I turn the bike around. I also notice that there is not much oxygen in here. I blip the throttle and the engine stalled. Freaked me out, but good thing I got the bike started again. Definitely don't want to spend extended amounts of time here. I kinda creeped into the mine but on my way out I blast outta there and it was so much fun haha. What a blast! Can't say I've ever done anything like this ever!
There are some great views from here also it would make a great place to camp. It's right up next to the mountainside so you get good wind protection. You can see evidence of camping, fire rings also.
This is the road in took that road on the right in but I took the left one out. The left one was actually easier and took you straight to where I did that crazy hillclimb earlier.
Time to head back that was a fun adventure!
On the way back I stopped by Lone Pine and ate a Mt. Whitney burger at the Mt. Whitney Restaurant. It was delicious. I noticed that on this trip my metobolism has shot skyhigh. I can down these large meals and will be hungry in a few hours again. Adventuring burns a lotta calories apparently. The Mt Whitney burger is two 1/3 lbs patties burger. It was so good you can tell they grilled em. The restaurant is pretty cool. Alabama Hills is close to here and that's where they shot a bunch western films and they have lots of photos of those movies and actors.
There are some great views from here also it would make a great place to camp. It's right up next to the mountainside so you get good wind protection. You can see evidence of camping, fire rings also.
This is the road in took that road on the right in but I took the left one out. The left one was actually easier and took you straight to where I did that crazy hillclimb earlier.
Time to head back that was a fun adventure!
On the way back I stopped by Lone Pine and ate a Mt. Whitney burger at the Mt. Whitney Restaurant. It was delicious. I noticed that on this trip my metobolism has shot skyhigh. I can down these large meals and will be hungry in a few hours again. Adventuring burns a lotta calories apparently. The Mt Whitney burger is two 1/3 lbs patties burger. It was so good you can tell they grilled em. The restaurant is pretty cool. Alabama Hills is close to here and that's where they shot a bunch western films and they have lots of photos of those movies and actors.
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HadesOmega
Well-known member
ZOMG what a miserable night and morning. So had to head south and I camped at some ohv area Indian Wells. It was horrible so much wind hardly got any sleep. It's like 40mph winds so I as soon as the sun is up I pack up very carefully not let my stuff fly away. I camped next to this walled structure for a wind break I hate to see what it'd be like in the open. Then I see a cloud moving towards me up on the mountain that brings snow, so I book it. Head down the 14.
You can see Ridgecrest from here. You can see the lights at night also.
I actually rode up Indian Wells a bit to see if it really was snowing. It was but its farther away than I thought.
Riding down the road I see the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Haha I've actually ridden next to this before at Jawbone Canyon.
The road in was a sandy kinda dirt road with a lot of mud washed into it from the recent rains. The road was in terrible shape there were cracks in it everywhere and evidence of mudslide. Nothing the CactusPuncher couldn't ride though
You can see Ridgecrest from here. You can see the lights at night also.
I actually rode up Indian Wells a bit to see if it really was snowing. It was but its farther away than I thought.
Riding down the road I see the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Haha I've actually ridden next to this before at Jawbone Canyon.
The road in was a sandy kinda dirt road with a lot of mud washed into it from the recent rains. The road was in terrible shape there were cracks in it everywhere and evidence of mudslide. Nothing the CactusPuncher couldn't ride though
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HadesOmega
Well-known member
Actually right next to it they had the Indian Wells microbrewery and a restaurant/saloon. Too bad they were closed.
Hands freezing still at 3kfeet I have to take breaks. Heated grips no workie. Stopped at Jawbone Ranger Station to warm my digits up a bit. I didn't know they had a pet tortoise here named Mr. Bob. I couldn't find him though supposedly he was hibernating. I think they said he's 120 years old.
The worst is when you get to 58 you have to go over the pass after Mojave so cold and snowing at the top. I knew I had to get outta there fast. So after a coffee break I head down and it was so sketchy couldn't see anything face shield fogging. Goggles work but my face gets pelted with snow. Scared of slipping on something also.
This is the Loves Truckstop at the top of 58 where I took a coffee break. It was so cold I only stayed for like 5 minutes but the bike had cooled down when I went to go start it up again.
I'm in Bakersfield now going to follow the route john showed me to 101. Weather so much better under 1000feet =) no more of that high altitude desert for me! Hope to make it home tonight.
Thanks for the suggestion to ride 58 back after about two weeks the wildflowers are blooming on the hills was very colorful, the road near McKitrick is awesome too! Will probably just bomb down the 101 I want to sleep in my bed tonight >.<
Cherry trees along the 58 the petals are now falling.
A Golden Field
Hands freezing still at 3kfeet I have to take breaks. Heated grips no workie. Stopped at Jawbone Ranger Station to warm my digits up a bit. I didn't know they had a pet tortoise here named Mr. Bob. I couldn't find him though supposedly he was hibernating. I think they said he's 120 years old.
The worst is when you get to 58 you have to go over the pass after Mojave so cold and snowing at the top. I knew I had to get outta there fast. So after a coffee break I head down and it was so sketchy couldn't see anything face shield fogging. Goggles work but my face gets pelted with snow. Scared of slipping on something also.
This is the Loves Truckstop at the top of 58 where I took a coffee break. It was so cold I only stayed for like 5 minutes but the bike had cooled down when I went to go start it up again.
I'm in Bakersfield now going to follow the route john showed me to 101. Weather so much better under 1000feet =) no more of that high altitude desert for me! Hope to make it home tonight.
Thanks for the suggestion to ride 58 back after about two weeks the wildflowers are blooming on the hills was very colorful, the road near McKitrick is awesome too! Will probably just bomb down the 101 I want to sleep in my bed tonight >.<
Cherry trees along the 58 the petals are now falling.
A Golden Field
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HadesOmega
Well-known member
Braap
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Tom G
"The Deer Hunter"
I think it was a wise decision NOT to take 88. Mike posted a videa of his drive home on the same day.
https://www.southbayriders.com/forums/threads/162304/
https://www.southbayriders.com/forums/threads/162304/
HadesOmega
Well-known member
Oh wow it looked ok at first then it's like avalanche danger after a while. Glad i didn't go that way, wouldn't be able to keep the bike up in that stuff.
HadesOmega
Well-known member
Trying to finish the last day.
It was beautiful riding on 58, it was just green grass and wild flowers everywhere! Never been here before this is right after McKitrick.
The riding was epic on these twisties also. Gets a little cold and rainy at the top but you start going down eventually. Epic view and twisties, fresh smooth asphalt also, help me run down the edges of the tires a bit
It was beautiful riding on 58, it was just green grass and wild flowers everywhere! Never been here before this is right after McKitrick.
The riding was epic on these twisties also. Gets a little cold and rainy at the top but you start going down eventually. Epic view and twisties, fresh smooth asphalt also, help me run down the edges of the tires a bit
HadesOmega
Well-known member
Then as I hit the bottom after the downhill I'm blown away by the green and golden hillsides! They told me at the Carrizo Plains visitor center that people start flocking to the plains when the flowers start blooming looks like I get to see it before everyone else
Farther down the hill
The whole right side of the road full of wildflowers!
We got yellow and now purple!
Familiar? Yep we're back at Carrizo Plains but it wasn't quite this colorful 2 week ago!
Another familiar road Pozo road. This is the really fun challenging dirt road that we took in that takes you to the little town of Pozo. Not going to ride it again though sticking to 58.
Farther down the hill
The whole right side of the road full of wildflowers!
We got yellow and now purple!
Familiar? Yep we're back at Carrizo Plains but it wasn't quite this colorful 2 week ago!
Another familiar road Pozo road. This is the really fun challenging dirt road that we took in that takes you to the little town of Pozo. Not going to ride it again though sticking to 58.
HadesOmega
Well-known member
More wildflowers
Violets
Violets
HadesOmega
Well-known member
Some baby blue ones
Hard to find the baby blue ones though
Hard to find the baby blue ones though
HadesOmega
Well-known member
I saw some sheep sheep along the way and a sheep dog, there are a lot of vineyards near Paso Robles too.
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HadesOmega
Well-known member
Always pass by Mission San Miguel but never stopped by so I did. Camp Roberts is near here and we'd roll by in the HMMWVs.
Sundial it works!
Olive Press
BBQ Area
Long hallways
They got a canon!
The church
Cemetary
Sundial it works!
Olive Press
BBQ Area
Long hallways
They got a canon!
The church
Cemetary