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RobATK94

5/5-5/6 Temecula to Ridgecrest in the dirt....mostly

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556baller and I have been wanting to ride together for a long time.  He moved, Ive been between plated bikes, I had family stuff come up, etc, etc.  Took a few years, but the planets aligned, I had a long weekend, and a plan to ride from my house to his in the as much dirt as possible.  75% of this route was unknown condition, terrain, and difficulty.  Figured this is part of the adventure.  Plot the route and adjust accordingly.  We broke it into 2 legs.  Temecula to barstow day 1, Barstow to Ridgecrest day 2.  Sustain a fun pace and just check out whatever it is we may come across.  Not breaking any speed records.  Had some bypasses built in, depending on time.  

Ended up being a blast!!!  Saw everything from the hills and mountains in Anza, Hemet, Idlywild, to desert floor and insane sand washes in Pioneertown, Lucerne, and Spangler.  225 miles on the first day, another 100 on the second.  Small sections of road had to be taken, but we limited those to roughly 50-60 miles.  Saw the most challenging sand wash I have ever experienced in a canyon south of Lucerne Valley.  It was a tight canyon, lots of boulder and large rocks, and all twist and turns.  It took me out a few times.  Im a decent rider, but this was sand unlike anything i have ridden in before.  Best way to describe it is bottomless kitty liter or very small pea gravel.  As I slowed to a stop I could watch the front wheel just sink in.  By the time I stopped the sand covered the bottom of the wheel up to the spoke nipples.  With no straight sections we had a hard time trying to get speed to get up on it. 

Lucky for me Baller's girlfriend met us in Barstow with my gear, so we only had to carry minimal gear.  Also met us for lunch in Randsburg with a fuel can.  I was going on a new to me XR650R.  Racked up 150 miles before this trip, so I didnt have a solid idea on fuel consumption for different terrain.  Stopped at every gas station we came across.

Day 1 was just over 11 hours to accomplish 225 miles.

Day 2 was just under 6 hours to accomplish 103 miles.

Random pics for you guys.

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Route

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Leaving Temecula.

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EXCELLENT!??

I've been wondering how much water there was going up to Idyllwild, not to bad. 

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Very cool ride, it was one of those rides where your laughing all the time. I live for those moments, with friends. In hindsight, the most dangerous part was staying the night in Barstow...

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