05_16_08 Cycling Los Angeles to Las Vegas 370 miles

My World Cycling Trip Has Finally Resumed

U.S. Itinerary (subject to change without notice)

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Date: 05-30-08
Location: Las Vegas, NV

Seen Cirque de Soleil Zumanity, and Ka, as well as a Rat Pack tribute. Stayed about a week.

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Date: 05-21-08
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Baker, CA - Las Vegas, NV (rode approx. 40 miles)

Rode from Baker, CA to Primm, NV, or tried to. Before the mountain pass, the winds slowed me down to a crawl, but died down as I went up the mountain, so I rode faster up the mtn. than before it. The mtn. pass was easy going up, but the bad road and heavy wind on the other side made for very focused riding. Within 10 miles of Primm, the winds were so bad, trucks would disappear into a cloud of dust. I had to wear a 3M breathing mask, and ride at an angle. Everytime a truck passed, they blocked the wind, which caused my angled riding to veer me 5 feet to the left. Eventually, I couldn't even stand with my bike. To add to the mayhem, my rear tire went flat. Fortunately, a couple of golfers in a truck passed by and asked if I needed a lift. They were headed to Vegas, so the rest of my day was easy. On the way into Vegas, we saw three large dusst devils spin into one massive dust devil.

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Date: 05-20-08
Location: Baker, CA
Barstow, CA - Baker, CA (50 miles)

I rode from Barstow to Baker. It was the easiest ride of the trip. Despite a few hills and a flat tire, I managed 20-25 mph most of the way.

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Date: 05-18-08
Location: Barstow, CA
Victorville, CA - Barstow, CA (60 miles)

I left Victorville towards Lucerne Valley, and rode up hwy. 247. 10 miles out of Barstow, I rested on a shaded bench at a closed bar along the side of the road. Within a few minutes, a couple of Japanese dirt bike riders came by, lost for 3 hours, low on fuel and in need of water, I gave them my last 3 litres of water. One biker siphoned his girlfriend's tank and tried to ride back to camp. In 100+ temperature, I tried to convince him to ride 10 into Barstow, but he said his bike wasn't street legal. I couldn't convince him that the California Highway Patrol is understanding about risking your life vs. getting a ticket. I hope he made it back to his camp. Stayed an extra day to rest my butt.

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Date: 05-17-08
Location: Victorville, CA
Palmdale, CA - Victorville, CA (140 miles)

I took a shortcut from Palmdale to Barstow, which I got from Google Maps. Unfortunately, the road turned into an unpaved highway. This shortcut, turned into 140 mile day. My butt is still sore from that day. I ended up in Victorville just before dark.

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Date: 05-16-08
Location: Palmdale, CA

Thousand Oaks, CA - Palmdale, CA (Approx. 80 miles)
I left Thousand Oaks (near Los Angeles), and headed for Las Vegas. Riding through Fillmore, Castaic, and Palmdale on the first day, I made good time over small hills, through winding canyons, and green valleys.

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