What? No mention of how your pal crapped out at the last minute and left you to ride that by your lonesome? I expected at least a good natured jab.

Welcome to riding in the desert ... particularly Death Valley.

Dry: You can become dehydrated just sitting there, breathing.

Alluvial fans: Fun, huh? You're pedaling hard, thinking ... WTF ... why is this so hard? Then you look at your inclinometer and note that it's a 5% grade.

Distances: Best not to look at distant objects. I don't think you've done the southern route, but it's more of the same. Long vistas, and for all the world, it looks like your pedaling on a conveyor belt, going no where.

At least the winds were calm.

Nice pix.