I rolled into the Pilot in Barstow at 7:47 AM on the 23rd on my way to meet up with everyone at the Cima Shell. I arrived at the Shell about 10 minutes late because I forgot that southern California goes to Vegas on holiday weekends. We had our introductions and waited a few more minutes for one more and then headed for the dirt. The first day was spent exploring some dirt roads and their offshoots and then later several old mining claims.
 |
| Standing at Riley's Camp looking out towards another claim. |
 |
| Shot from a mine north of Riley's as the sun was setting |
The area we were in was beautiful. A mix of Juniper and Joshua Trees with large rocks breaking up the landscape and the mile high elevation made for nice temperatures. Day one consisted of ~30 miles all on the dirt.
 |
| The Joshua trees made for some neat photos as the sun set |
 |
| Luna poses for a photo with the truck |
The next morning was exploration of a few more mine sites on the way out to Cima, we also took a look around an old mining site just to the south of Cima.
 |
| Evening Star |
I had decided before the trip that I should only do one night of camping. Now I think I should have just gone for the second night as well. I said my goodbyes at Cima and split from the group heading for the second half of the Mojave Rd at Nathan's suggestion.
I turned onto the Road and proceeded to get rained on for about 10 minutes, luckily it was enough that my dry rotted wipers worked. It was quite, umm...uneven all the way to the mailbox as the road is running perpendicular to an alluvial fan. Neither Luna or the truck approved of this and I am pretty sure I used 150% of my suspension travel (this would happen again later).
 |
| Mojave Rd Mailbox |
I stopped at the mailbox for a while and read through some of the log book - it had been busy the day before. I also dug through the curiosities that travelers had left in the box. Then I happened to glance up and see something I had forgotten was there, the Frog Shrine - and it was well populated.
 |
| Frog Shrine |
I also saw a group of bobble heads and garden gnomes in the vicinity (see Slideshow link).
I moved on from the mailbox and the road seemed to smooth out some and I was able to make better time. Nathan had told me that I would drop into a wash near the Lava flows where I could really up the speed and boy was I looking forward to it. I passed a Dakota headed the other direction just before entering the wash and then proceeded to quickly overtake a Tundra once entering low orbit. I blew past what I assumed was the turn for the lava tubes (I had decided that I was going to be short on time) and was to Kelbaker Rd before I knew it. I sat there for about 10 minutes - pavement or dirt??? DIRT! I crossed the road and continued to flatten what I could with speed - this resulted in a few "Ford Raptor commercial" type moments, I am pretty sure I need new shocks. I kept on my way exploring a short offshoot or two, then I got to Soda Lake south of Zzyzx.
I made my way across pretty fast (note to self, not Bonneville, may not be flat) to the Traveler's Monument (listed in Google as the "Rock Pile" restaurant - don't come for the food) where I saw the third vehicle I had seen, a Wrangler headed in the opposite direction.
I headed off the lake and on down to Razor Rd, I went up this a bit to see where it went; when I saw 15 I turned back. Shortly after this it appears, in Google Earth, that I took a wrong turn that put me straight into the sand dunes. This was another area that was really hard on the suspension and the sand was very soft, I would guess I used more gas here then most of the rest of the trip. I just kind of followed tracks and a group of trophy trucks and pre-runners that had passed me just a bit before. It seemed like forever but slowly the dune sand became a wash (much less risk of getting stuck). Soon I saw a mine off to my right with roads going all over so I took a bit of time to go drive around it. I then made a stop for a photo under the railroad bridge.
Soon after I was able to find the slot canyon that Nathan had told me about, I wanted to go into it, but it was getting later in the day then I wanted; plus I was still freshly freaked out by part of a movie I had watched with my wife recently so I passed for another time - not to mention I heard a train coming.
I was able to get on the road along the track and follow right next to the train, a passenger could have reached out and touched it - Luna did not approve of this. I made my way on down along the tracks to the first water crossing (phew, I was going the right way). Then on to the second and past the campground and out to the 15 where I re-inflated my tires and headed for home.
I rolled into the Pilot in Barstow after logging 268 miles at 6pm on the 24th to fill up on my way back home, I still had my 10 spare gallons in the bed. My tracking app tells me about half of that was on dirt. It was a great trip.
