nygirl777

sorry Tiff and Caligurl........its their fault the thread got hijacked.

Tiffanie

No problem here Asia. I'm all over the Sea Otter weekend.

magicant

I understand a bunch of you have done this before, but how about posting some details for those of us who haven't? I'm a bit lost with all the discussion in this thread -- camping? What kind of facilities are nearby? What kind of ride is it? I'm trying to read between the lines, but some clarification would be immensely helpful. The graphs on motionbased don't really tell the story.

caligurl

camping: rustic.... outhouse style potties.... fire pits... no water! depending on the campground you may or may not have phone service (plan on not!)

the route.... if we do the same route as last time to key's view: approx 25 miles up.... then 25 miles down! there are alternatives if the group wants (i.e. loop instead of out and back... but everyone decided on out and back last time.... double loop for a century.... add on a side trip to cholla gardens (or further to cottonwood).... i'll do what everyone else wants to do cuz i can ride any altermatives whenever since i live here! it's a ride for you's all to come and have fun and ride in the Park!!!!!

it's more a social, camping, margarita ride...

post ride: margaritas and mexican food.... rowdy time!

how's that?

pics

magicant

Great, thanks Cali!

herbm

There a some motels in 29palms if you dont want to camp...I will be in one of them!

We meet at a park and ride up into the park....its a long 3 mile or so climb into the park itself, then some more climbing...some downhills, then the long climb to the point....
coming back is great...long sweeping downhills with pretty wide turns..smooth roads..some people got up to 50+ last time....
there are some great pix in the thread orm last year to give you an idea of the terrain...

caligurl

that's fine! this is more to gauge interest anyways.... so talk away!!!!! if you's all wanted to come out here.... i planned to make an "official" thread anyways!!!!!

Tiffanie

More pics!!!

jschen

To be fair, we hit 50+ only because we had such a strong tailwind during the return. It definitely was fun, though.

Oh, and the turnaround point is a great place to take a nap.

magicant

Some awesome pics -looks like a great time...

Okay, I'm in -- even if it does mean another weekend out of town...

Indolent58

I am interested, assuming the rest of my family is up for some desert camping. What are the likely temps that time of year?

caligurl

april is usually gorgeous weather here!!!!

here's the average temp chart from the JTNP website.... it shows low 80's as the average!

Indolent58

Thanks!

So if it's gorgeous weather, why start a 50 mile ride at 7AM? I thought you were trying to beat the heat. Is this just the "tyranny of the morning people" again?

herbm

7am does seem a bit early....

caligurl

i find this amusing.... cuz i wanted to start later the last time we did it cuz it was freakin' cold.... BRRRRRRRRRR but all of you wanted to start early! now i'm trying to make it earlier so you don't melt (i've already read the threads where this year there have been complaints of how hot it is cuz it's been near the 80's!!!!!! I don't think 80 is hot... but a lot you you apparently do! AND there is about a 10 degree difference from the park to 29 palms..... cuz the park is higher...)

we'll track the weather as it gets closer and can start later..... i was just assuming after what you all wanted last time.... that you would want to start early..... (and if we say 7..... you know we won't get started at 7.... at least last time we didn't!)

but anyways..... that was just a suggested time..... it's up for discussion as we see what the weather will be....

plus.... we haven't determined if we are adding on the side trip to cholla gardens or if others want to do additional riding......

caligurl

just as a reminder.... as this time it's not veterans day.... so you will have to pay: (i'll puyt this all in the official thread once it's made, too!)

• 7-Day Vehicle Permit: $15
Admits the passengers of a single, non-commercial vehicle. Valid for the day of purchase and the next six days.

• 7-Day Single Entry Permit: $5
Admits one person, 16 years of age or older, when entering on foot, bicycle, motorcycle, or horse. Also the per person entrance fee for individuals traveling together in a vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group. Valid for the day of purchase and the next six days.


if you drive in (to camp or visit the campsite) remember to bring your vehicle pass so that you don't have to pay $5 again to get back in on the bike.....

if 2 or more of you drive in.... one person gets to use the vehicle pass... the others will have to buy a single-entry pass....

herbm

thats true...lets play it by ear...but I wouldnt want to start any later than 7:30

caligurl

then we need to say 7! lol!

herbm

yeah...your probably right!

jschen

80's isn't too bad mid-summer. In fact, low 80's is pretty gorgeous weather. But right now, being more cold acclimated than heat acclimated, 80's can be pretty darn hot since it can sometimes represent 40 degrees higher than earlier in the day.

caligurl

i'm with the 80's being gorgeous notion..... i even like 90's!!!!! 70's is cool to me! 60's is DARNED cold! BRRRRRRRRRRRRR (and april isn't mid-summer.... but yes.... our april temps are usually what the rest of the country thinks of a nice summer weather.... even though it's still only early spring!)

jschen

caligurl and I agree on weather? What's the world coming to? I'd better work extra hard on trying to justify that Saturday off.

herbm

I agree also....
Glad you are going to try to make it jason....

jschen

I would love to be there. It's just a matter of not being so swamped with work that being there would mean giving up Breathless Agony or having my professor and my coworker out to kill me.

efficiency

This sounds interesting. I like camping, Joshua Tree, and cycling. Put me on the "interested" list.