The weather is just about perfect this time of year ... so I had to make the Mojave Trail run. This time we started on the east side in Nevada and worked our way back.
The Nevada - California border was well marked, very fancy. The security here was very tight!
Mojave Road Mar 2010
The first stop was Fort Piute. Built in 1867 it was the second stop from the Colorado River. Mail and supplies were brought up to Fort Mojave and then overland to Piute. Military escorts were established to protect the mail riders and the settlers traveling to California following a native Indian attack that killed two settlers. Fort Piute was the first of several outposts built by the US Army. Their thought was hold the water and you'd hold the desert. The mail route was eventually routed further south and the fort was abandoned. The fort remained nearly intact into the 1930s.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
The fort was built with a bake house and kitchen on one end, a coral in the middle, and a bunk house with fireplace on the other. The tops of the walls were made of wood.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
We saw lots of wildlife: chipmunks, red tail hawks, quail (LOTS!), rabbits, and heard coyotes both nights.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
We came upon the scene of a tragic auto accident which apparently happened only moments before we arrived. The authorities were looking for a heavy set middle aged bus driver named John, we was described as as needing a shave.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
Not much blooming going on, darn little in fact! The desert was pretty green and there was lots of new growth, just a bit early for the blooms. This yucca was just in beautiful color.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
The wheeling was pretty easy, I was in 2WD except for two or three spots where I went to 4WD for the "just in case" factor of being out in the middle of no where alone. A couple of steep hills and lots and lots of whoop-te-doos.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
We didn't hit the Nevada end of the trail until 1:00 PM so by the time I was looking for the Mid-Hills campground the sun was 30 minutes off the horizon and right in my eyes. We had to run by a nearly empty Running Springs and darken Government Holes as it was getting late.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
Mojave Road Mar 2010
Nine hours of driving with 60 miles off road I was tired and hungry and my darn GPS let me down - the "road" that was clearly marked on the map was a wash. We went back and forth looking for the "road" but it simply wasn't there or had been closed off by the park service. We ended up camping in an old camp site above Cedar Canyon worried that the winds would nail us all night long. About ten minutes after parking the wind stopped completely and never returned (good karma!). That night the coyotes were howling up a storm, our camp site was about 100 feet above the canyon and come morning we had a million dollar view 270 degrees around us. All night we had thought there were other campers within a couple hundred yards of us as we saw their lights moving around in their camp site ... no, those were two different roads about 20 miles away! Come morning the quail were in good voice.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
The next morning was the whoop-te-dos and some really deserted desert so I let Noon behind the wheel. Within in a mile she had hit two trees, one on each side of the truck ... she needs more practice.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
The Camp Marl spring was very full and the water was plentiful. The ruins haven't changed much. Camp Marl Springs was occupied from 1867 to 1868 to guard the spring there.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
Next stop was the Mail Box, someone had left the book outside so it was a bit wet. We signed in and left a note about Trixie's passing. So often while reading through these books we have seen tributes to someone's pet. Trixie made the trip three times with us and it was hard with out her this time.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
We visited the frog garden and found that our three turtles were missing ... so we added three new ones back!
Mojave Road Mar 2010
The lava tubes were next. The park service has put in a nice new ladder but blocked off the parking right near the top where you use to be able to get in four or five trucks.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
Inside the tube the third sky light has caved in so there's just the big one and the second one. The cave floor was rather damp so the dust didn't fly. It was hot enough outside to run the AC but very cool in the tube. Noon came down there as she didn't have to dog sit.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
The road ended for us at the eastern edge of Soda Lake. The road further on was closed as the lake has lots of standing water. We managed another 50 miles on day two and quickly set up camp.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
The campground was nearly full but we found an empty spot. There wasn't another soul on that side of the lake.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
I found a nice place to pose the truck. with Soda Lake behind.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
We watched the sunset and enjoyed some adult beverages.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
That second night was as nice as the first with no wind and at this lower elevation it was a bunch warmer.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
The clouds rolled in and gave us just about ten rain drops.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
Day three was short as we just skirted the eastern edge of Soda Lake and hit Baker. All told about 114 miles off road.
Mojave Road Mar 2010
Mojave Road Mar 2010
