The Mobius Trip

or photograph them, anyway...



this was easy riding, especially at a relaxed pace.



The dust wasn't bad, the hills were more rolling and less steep... it always seems that the terrain at the beginning of each day is much more agreeable than at the end. Or maybe it's just us.



We caught a view of some high-elevation mountains, totally crusted with snow... I was pretty sure we weren't headed that way.



Not on Mobius 3, anyway.

or Bears. I don't have my reading glasses on.

have we been in the desert that long? Are we seeing things?



GPS says "Catnip Reservoir"... what dya know? Must be getting close to the other side of this Great Basin thing, if we're starting to see water, eh?

a liason! Wide, graded gravel,



and we notice a subtle difference in the landscape... dark black cliffs, almost volcanic. Hmmmm.



We've been in the Sheldon Antelope Refuge for awhile, but now the place is crawling with them like vermin.



As we pass Swan Lake Reservoir (dry), a big herd picks up and starts running... it was all I could do to keep up and try to get a good shot...



(I didn't), and when they cut up in front or us.... I still didn't!







Oh well... it was fun trying.

breaktime, but we weren't seeing much in the way of shade, or shelter from the wind. We came up on this stone memorial, and parked.

for just one more chance, 'cause up around the next bend was the:

... I started to figure out that they were the Warner range, way over in CA, about 40 miles as the crow flies, and we WERE heading for them.

(Scott) had taken and recommended the side-trip up to the summit here,



It would have added about 6 miles. We discussed it for about 1 second. Fuel was the articulated reason, but I think we were just tired, and the end was in sight. For the record, Scott had skipped the summit after Paradise Valley, where we had photographed the panorama, and I had seen his photos from Bald Summit, so I kinda knew it was more of the same.

we saw what was to be the last big valley of the Great Basin. California was getting close! Fanning out below us was the northern end of a vast valley / dry lake bed system. Before us was Calcutta Lake:



and to the South, were Cow lake, and beyond that, Middle lake:

about the road... it was recently (this decade) graded, and as it descended, we were nearly brought to tears to note the presence of ACTUAL SWITCHBACKS!!!

I just remembered this, I am sure you and Francine can appreciate it. When my nephew was about seven or so we took him camping and he was freakishly scared that beavers might attack us. Then we went to a museum somewhere in Canada (forgot where) and they had a reproduction of a giant beaver. They were could reach 8 feet in length and almost 500 pounds.
Maybe that is what Francine saw:huh
Seriously I hope you guys get out and do one of the dualsport weekends. Maybe Thrill and Chill again.
Francine, not sure if you want to, but if you do not want to ride your BMW I'd gladly lend you my XT225 to get dirty with. I love your little additions to David's drivel

I didn't know such a beast existed up until now . Ohhhh.... Mobius IV may have just gotten a little bit more expensive

Exactly.....I thought this beast was a bear cub. It looked just like that. At least 200 pounds, at least

kick in the teeth:



Down on the valley floor. We started making our way across. Started pretty enough.



We passed through "The Old Fox" ranch...



Why is it called "The Old Fox" ranch?



Oh, I dunno...

Anyway, the road out of there was BRUTAL!



I know, it doesn't look so bad in this photo... Imagine, a dirt road, wet. A herd of cows. Probably thousands. They trudge up the road, sinking maybe 6-8" in with each step. They create the most rutted, cratered, surface, completely without pattern. No tracks, no grooves, no regularity at all. Days pass, the mud dries. It's like concrete.

The right tool for the job would be a 125cc 2-stroke with 20" of travel, and helium balloons attached to the front and rear fenders to assist in just skipping over this stuff. Unfortunately, with our DRZ's we can't get out of first gear without bottoming out suspension, and nearly launching over the bars. Paddle-footing doesn't work, 'cause randomly (and frequently) you go to put a foot down, only to discover a 14" gap between your foot and the earth.

It was maybe 3 miles... but it was exhausting, demoralizing, and so unpleasant I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. :huh

trail that looked like this:



we stopped and mixed up some JBWeld to glue our fillings back in.

We were grateful for the above quality of road... so flat... so smooth.



and just ahead... nirvana. A graded gravel run which would take us to the border.

the road turned red



this was Barrel Springs Road. Part of the National Scenic Byways system.

It crosses Mosquito Lake... where the 'skeeters are as big as cattle:





and then climbs switchbacks (ah, switchbacks!) up to the plateau on the other side:



The riding was so easy I wanted to sing.

tall green things were sticking out of the earth...



They looked vaguely familiar.

Power Lines!!! We're back on the grid!

Oh, yeah. And antelope.

We'd made it to California. Imagine that... California, baby.

... here we come!