dirt dame 561 Posted January 9, 2012 I woke up yesterday morning with no plan other than to go for a ride. I thought about all the usual places, but was bored. I couldn't think of anything new, so I simply loaded the annoyingly mundane Bailey the KLX onto the back of the Jeep and headed out. I decided whether I would ride north or south of my place when I reached the freeway. North it was....onward to Anza. Once I arrived there, I thought about a place that I hadn't been to for over 20 years. Back in the day, I used to ride my KDX200 (the world famous Bentley The KDX) down from Anza through to Borrego Springs for lunch and then back. It was a sad day when they closed the through route several years back, but I wanted to see Bailey's cabin again even if it was a shortened ride. In 1991 the road down the mountain was a perilous jagged rock garden (does anybody else remember that?), so I was a little hesitant about that part. Imagine my surprise and relief to find that it was a very civilized stretch when I reached that point yesterday. This very stretch of road was tricky to stay moving forward or even upright on a motorcycle twenty one years ago. On this particular day however, it was comparatively a freeway. On the way down to the desert floor. The weather at Anza was quite cold with gusty winds, but by the time I had descended to the desert floor, there was no wind and the temps were quite balmy. I poked around on a side road or two on my way into Anza Borrego park. The trail in the valley was quite nice. Not too worn, and as near as I could tell nobody else was down there on a beautiful Sunday. It was like having my own private desert park for the day. I rode into Fig Tree Valley, at least that's what the sign said....although I didn't see any evidence of fig trees anywhere. Then I came to a fork in the trail. The left fork had a sign on it that indicated Bailey's cabin was out that way. I thought that it was only fitting that Bailey the KLX should go visit his cabin. My, how the cabin had changed since my last visit. The windows were boarded over, doors were installed, picnic tables and an outhouse had been added. Everything was in good order. There was no trash around and even the outhouse was in good shape and stocked with TP. Recent visitors had left behind their festive Christmas decorations, but the cabin was otherwise clean and in good order. There was a horse corral....sort of primitive. So what wasn't, out there? After getting a thorough looksee around Bailey's cabin, I took a loop trail back to the north end of the valley. Just before the climb back out, there was a trail that led north and east by a wash. I decided to explore that option a bit. Was very nice out that way and hardly used. It would be really fun to take that route after a good spring rain. Eventually the canyon walls closed in and the trail got increasingly rocky. I was pretty sure that the trail would soon become impassable at the rate things were going, so I turned around before I had actually reached that point. Once I had climbed back up to Anza, I took Bailey road and other dirt roads back to the staging area. It was a pretty neat day. A DQ stop before heading home of course. To cap the day off, later that evening I had a night cap of Bailey's Irish Cream. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simicrintz 177 Posted January 9, 2012 Looks like a great ride! I've been struggling with the LED turn signal change out on my bike (need to call Baja Designs later). Put new tires on a week ago and am itching to ride, but can't until I get the turn signal issue resolved!!! Posts like this just make it worse! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bagstr 288 Posted January 9, 2012 DD, Hey, Thanks for the report. Bushwacker and I were just 3 miles below you Friday. Nice to see the road at the top. B Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirt dame 561 Posted January 9, 2012 DD, Hey, Thanks for the report. Bushwacker and I were just 3 miles below you Friday. Nice to see the road at the top. B At least my spot had a bathroom of sorts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael15 1 Posted January 9, 2012 Great report! Looked like a beautiful day! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paulmbowers 236 Posted January 9, 2012 At least my spot had a bathroom of sorts. As did theirs- but with more room and a fresh breeze. Oh, and a view. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirt dame 561 Posted January 9, 2012 At least my spot had a bathroom of sorts. As did theirs- but with more room and a fresh breeze. Oh, and a view. I love a view from the bathroom....just not of me! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danrider 5 Posted January 10, 2012 I have only met you once, but I always read your posts. I like the fact the you are always doing it, and not afraid to go solo. Get some sister. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Riggerdan 147 Posted January 10, 2012 Great pictures....thanks for sharing the adventure - never been up there but sure looks pretty cool Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyro 1 Posted January 13, 2012 Great one DD! Thanks. I got inspired when I saw your cabin photo on facebook. Too bad I didn't read your write-up here first, or I would have already known that the route I was planning did not go through. But then again, If I knew that ahead of time I may not have ever gone down there to see it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
