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Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2010, Mojave National Preserve / Day 1: Baker, California to Kelso Peak area, Mojave National Preserve /

10 miles up Kelbaker Road out of Baker, I stop for a break at "the big curve," where the road turns almost 90 degrees

3271-kelbaker-road-curve.jpg A few miles further up Kelbaker Road is the "watch for tortoises" sign; I still haven't seen one yetThumbnailsA while after my break at Kelbaker Road's 10-mile curve, I pause as I pass the dirt road that leads down to 17-Mile PointA few miles further up Kelbaker Road is the "watch for tortoises" sign; I still haven't seen one yetThumbnailsA while after my break at Kelbaker Road's 10-mile curve, I pause as I pass the dirt road that leads down to 17-Mile PointA few miles further up Kelbaker Road is the "watch for tortoises" sign; I still haven't seen one yetThumbnailsA while after my break at Kelbaker Road's 10-mile curve, I pause as I pass the dirt road that leads down to 17-Mile PointA few miles further up Kelbaker Road is the "watch for tortoises" sign; I still haven't seen one yetThumbnailsA while after my break at Kelbaker Road's 10-mile curve, I pause as I pass the dirt road that leads down to 17-Mile PointA few miles further up Kelbaker Road is the "watch for tortoises" sign; I still haven't seen one yetThumbnailsA while after my break at Kelbaker Road's 10-mile curve, I pause as I pass the dirt road that leads down to 17-Mile Point

I'm already hot and sweaty, after only 10 miles in the sun. It's getting hotter. At 1000 feet above Baker, a slight breeze blows now, not enough yet to cool me, but it's almost refreshing. My sweatband falls off my handlebars, which I'll realize later.