Mojave + Jawbone (photos)

[m0t0_ryder]

So I did end up going to Mojave over Presidents day weekend.
I met up with a fellow road adventure rider and a group of his riding buddies.
He and his friends had been coming to Mojave at least once a year since the early ‘80’s.

We camped in the desert on one of the (many) subdivided dirt and asphalt roads.
I got there late Thursday eve.
Rode a morning and afternoon ride on Friday (with a rain/sleet shower conveniently times between), a nice peak to peak ride around the center of the desert area on Saturday, then a longer (80-90 miler) on Sunday that took us across 395 and over to the “Fremont’s”.
I have never seen the desert so green as you can see in the following pictures.
Simply awesome!
The traction was excellant, except for one of our group who actually got his XR650 stuck in a quicksand bog. Took him an hour to drag it out, as we had gotten separated.

That was my first trip to Mojave but I am looking forward to returning for more!

John

[m0t0_ryder]

We spent some of the first day (Friday) looking for Geo-cache's.
Here we found one...

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1584983-img_2369_small.jpg

[m0t0_ryder]

One of our riders with a cool looking cactus in the foreground.
Don't be fooled by the riders appearance... he is quite fast and capable!

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1584986-img_2373_small.jpg

[m0t0_ryder]

Here we are E.N.E. of the Fremont hills.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1584987-img_2399_small.jpg

[m0t0_ryder]

Looking SW towards the North side of the Fremonts.

[m0t0_ryder]

oops...
Looking SW towards the North side of the Fremonts.
(w/photo)

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1584991-img_2404_small.jpg

[m0t0_ryder]

Up on the ridge of the Fremonts...
(as can be seen from a distance in the previous photo)

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1584994-img_2409_small.jpg

[m0t0_ryder]

A couple more...

This one just south of Fremont Peak.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1586953-img_2391_small.jpg

[m0t0_ryder]

This one just NE of Fremont Peak.
Looking towards the Gravel Hills

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1586958-img_2393_small.jpg

[JoeBar]

Thanks for the pictures John! Jen and I were really close to you last weekend. We stayed in Ridgecrest and rode in Jawbone canyon. We got there Friday night (left San Jose Friday after 4:00 PM) and stayed in a hotel.

When we got up on Saturday, it was all gloomy and rainy. We couldn't see the mountains.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587341-img_0554.jpg

[JoeBar]

We drove to Jawbone Canyon and started looking for our friends. Here we went a little too far and had to turn around. It was slippery and fun to drive...

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587342-img_0557.jpg

[JoeBar]

All the water coming down from the canyons turned the main dirt road into a river! It was wet!!!

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587343-img_0572.jpg

[JoeBar]

We could not find our friends after driving around from parking areas to parking areas. We decided not to ride since the rain would not stop. We then started exploring the area. From the Ghost Town of Randsburg to California City, including Mojave. Once in Mojave we found this KTM store. It was all orange inside and was full of KTM bikes and goodies. I was like a kid in a candy store!

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587344-img_0574.jpg

[JoeBar]

The inside was great!!!

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587346-img_0582.jpg

[JoeBar]

Orange baby!!! :teeth

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587347-img_0593.jpg

[JoeBar]

At the end of the day we drove back to Ridgecrest and found a French Restaurant. The owner, Herve, grew up in the same town where I went to the university. Weird, no? The food was very good by the way...

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587350-img_0604.jpg

[JoeBar]

Next morning we get up and decide that if it is still raining we drive East towards Barstow and see if it is dryer over there. We looked outside and the weather was perfect. Big bright sun, no clouds! Let's go riding!!!

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587352-img_0607.jpg

[JoeBar]

We could finally see the mountains and the snow. Awesome view, taking pictures does not make it justice... but you get the idea.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587354-img_0608.jpg

[JoeBar]

We looked for our friends again. Still couldn't find them so we parked and unloaded.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587357-img_0615.jpg

[JoeBar]

We didn't know the area but it looked really good. We headed for this canyon. We expected the conditions to be wet and sloppy. Not at all, even after three days of rain, a few hours of sun and it is all perfect conditions.

As long as we road at the bottom of the canyon, it was deep sand and big whoops. We got plenty of time to practice both and god pretty good at it. Just keep it wide open. Only problem is to slow down...

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587361-img_0627.jpg

[JoeBar]

As we started to go up, the view was incredible. We found a lot of fun little single track trails going up on the crests of the ridges. IT was the first time we saw Joshuatrees too.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587363-img_0630.jpg

[JoeBar]

We found these mailboxes in the middle of nowhere. That was weird!

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587366-img_0637.jpg

[JoeBar]

We rode back to the truck and had a quick snack. We then went off to another canyon. We started going up and up and up following the crests until we were at the top. We could not see or recognize anything and had no idea what direction to go back. We rode many fun little trails up and down for a while. Finally we found a small area with a few trailers parked. We asked for directions and started heading down. Everywhere we looked the view was awesome!

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587371-img_0639.jpg

[JoeBar]

Once at lower altitude we found creek beds with lots of deep sand. That was fun, it was like riding the Dakar. Then we found thoses whoop-dee-doo's again. Miles of them. I was having fun riding them as fast as I could to stay on top of the bumps. Weight way back, throttle pined open in 4th, that was a great feeling! Once I lost the rythm and bounced with my feet way in the air. I was going pretty fast and saw the big crash of the day coming... Somehow I saved it, don't ask me how...

We found the parking area just when drops started falling. Rain was coming back. We loaded up and left. That was a great day of riding. We will go back and explore more very soon!!!

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/109/040/1587380-img_0643.jpg

[fryboy]

Thanks for posting the pics you guys!!! That place looks so awesome. I want to ride it!!! How long did it take you to get there?


Fryboy

[JoeBar]

Originally posted by fryboy
Thanks for posting the pics you guys!!! That place looks so awesome. I want to ride it!!! How long did it take you to get there? About 6 hours from San Jose. We'll let you know when we go back.

[fryboy]

Originally posted by JoeBar
About 6 hours from San Jose. We'll let you know when we go back.


:cool Thanks !!