Originally Posted by
gauvins
(Very) good and important point.
1. I certainly do not have the reputation of being risk averse. Quite the opposite. This thread being a case in point where I am warned that the SC is very difficult and unlikely to be suitable for kids. I am used to this. It is too early to tell, but I have the strong feeling that we'll do it (Northbound, probably starting at Lake Isabella, but it really depends, because the Western section of the Mohave is appealing as well. We are used to being outdoors under blazing sun in temperatures above 35 celsius. This desert does not feel threatening to me, but may not be the best way to start a trip if there's a heat wave. I will add that crossing LA by bike sounds great to me, too. We've walked across the City of Toulouse (population 1M+) with two donkeys in tow
etc. etc.)
2. I am quite well travelled and used to "winging it". I am used to leaving home for several weeks, packing time zero-to-the-airport being counted in minutes. Yet I hate wasting time searching for accommodations so yes I tend to know what the options are and am often booked ahead. Always with the understanding that a booking is not binding (well, you may have to pay for a roof that you will not see, so what, as long as it is not frivolous).
3. OTOH, (a) I learned to prep for the worst in the context of sailing; (b) our bunch has young kids that adapt well to many/most situations, but I have responsibilities towards them. We've never bought packaged tours. I derive pleasure in planning.
4. Over preparing... maybe there is a risk. But let me suggest the following analogy -- if you go the a museum of modern art, without having any artistic culture, I would venture to say that you will not appreciate it that much. Learning before going to the MOMA isn't detrimental. Unless you purchase the catalog ahead of time, check the items you wish to see in sequence, go on a rainy Sunday afternoon and then make a fuss because it is packed with visitors... (I remember reading somewhere that one should read tourist brochures prior to leaving, in order to know where
not to go
5. There will be a time, I hope, when we (my wife and I) will be able to leave from the front door, without any plan. Serendipity. Yep
I'm pretty sure I understand where you're coming from. I tend to agree that there needs to be some degree of improvisation in order to have a proper adventure, so to speak. A rough plan with room for unexpected adventures is perfect.
The somewhat overly dramatic warning in my original response to your query was because I know from experience many people come unprepared to the Mojave. If you don't respect it, the desert will bite you. I've seen people suffer heat stroke or worse just from an easy 2 mile hike. If you understand and prepare, you should be fine, if a little uncomfortable at first. I suggest you carry more water with you than you think you need, as well as a good electrolyte powder. 35 celsius would be a cool day, 45 celsius is more typical in summer. The Mojave is very beautiful though. I go there all the time.
I haven't read the ACA guides or maps, but I was born and raised in California, and have cycled, backpacked and camped pretty much all over the state. I know it well. The roads here don't tend to have extreme gradients, though of course there are exceptions. I'd worry more about traffic, shoulders, water and heat stroke than the actual difficulty of the climbs.
If you envision riding across Los Angeles as fun, I suggest you plan your adventure to start on a weekend morning, when the traffic isn't so bad. I'd have to think about it, but one reasonable route would be to go north to Venice, admire the cliched california beach, and then take Venice Boulevard across to downtown LA - it has a bike lane, and then follow the river north.