Anza Borrego & Breadshaw Trail - December 27-30, 2012

[rider914]

Ersin, thanks a bunch for posting this report. Great job

Sorry I haven't added anything yet
A short ride that turned into a longer one yesterday, house guests today, and the weekend is almost gone

Promise I will add some thoughts and pictures after dinner

-M

[rider914]

A few (more) pics from Day 1.

Rally point at Valle Vista. Ersin's bike looks ready for some corner carving ...


... So we railed up Bautista Canyon


Ers and Rich in tow.


Eventually onto some damp and tacky dirt.

(Which I find surprisingly difficult ... Kept running wide on exits because cannot drift the corners and steer with the rear.)

Made a quick stop in Anza for fuel, then around the Rez to Terwilliger.


Heading south on Cooper Cienega TT.


3-fer-1 shot just before Chihuahua Valley.


Rich and Ersin were hustlin' down Puerta La Cruz, so I put the camera away to keep up.


Single lane blacktop after Indian Flats CG ...


... heading down towards Warner Springs.


A few fast miles on San Felipe...


... then a cold run over Montezuma and down to much warmer Borrego Springs for lunch.


Fueled and fed, time to head back up Montezuma


Turned off on Culp Valley a bit before the top.


Sorry to see the area suffered a recent burn.


A couple of washed out sections on Jasper Trail kept things interesting.


Bottom of Jasper, turning left down Grapevine Canyon.


Ersin lookin' smooth.


Chasing the boys down to Hwy78.


Shadows were geting long so we decided to skip Rodriguez and Oriflamme ...


... but still had time to hit Blair Valley on the way to camp.


Or so we thought

Ersin suffered a front pinch flat just before getting back on S2. The office/store at Butterfield (where we were aiming) generally closes at 5pm and it was now quarter 'til. I confirmed that the guys were prepped to fix the flat, then zipped down to camp to secure tent space and supplies. Fortunately, the merchant was staying open late as they were expecting some large groups for the weekend.

More later...

-M

[kkug]

Matt I like the looks of your new camping set up. I might just have to copy that also.

[RedRockRider]

Enjoying the pics in here!

[rider914]

Originally Posted by kkug

Matt I like the looks of your new camping set up. I might just have to copy that also.

I was surprised at how well they worked and how much they can carry. Lots of flexibility.

Not a fan of the pannier-racks and soft-bag aesthetics, but can't fault the function.

-M

[rider914]

A few pics from Day 2.

Rise and shine at Butterfield after a beautiful night. No wind and not near as cold as expected.


Finally packed up and hitting the road (way later than planned due to Shorai shenanigans).


Rolling south on S2.


Regrouping in Vallecito Wash, near intersection of Hollywood and Vine


Starting to get interesting as we head up Tapiado.


Perhaps a Dakar Rally stage will pass thru here


Following in formation.


Ooopsie!


Crossing over from Diablo to Fish Creek.


Top o the dropoff... looking a little rough


Ersin followed me round the sandy side...


... while Rich and Diego chose the main line.


One down


No turning back now.


Uh oh


Pals


All down hill from here.


Dropping into the rocky slot canyon on the way to Fish Creek.


Rich prepares to navigate a narrow boulder-filled step.


Ersin's turn.


Everyone thru safely an waiting for me.


Fish Creek at last. Should be easy going from here on.


Entering Split Mountain.


Ooooo.... Aaaaah....


We hustled out to Ocotillo Wells, ~2 hours late, in search of The Kug

More later...

-M

[NSFW]

very nice pics there everyone.

matt, glad to see you took the kids out to play. they were getting restless for not able to ride to baja and the smartphones are not good enough.

i love to join you PPs next time.

[rider914]

Nope, didn't forget about this report
Just a super busy week at work, then fighting with technology on the weekend
...finally gonna try to wrap this up

A few more pics from Day 2.

After a little more drama at Ocotillo Wells, we managed to link up with Ken (kkug) at Blu In.
Running a bit late, so we only stopped for a snack break before pushing on to Salton City.

Making our way thru the OHV playground.


Cough! Cough! Hack... Cough!


The gas station at SC was a zoo (New Years weekend), but fuel was surprisingly cheap so we all filled up.
Chatted with another groups of ADVers on wee-bikes before continuing on up Hwy86 to Mecca.

Early dinner and gathered supplies, then raced south along the canal as the sun was setting.


Reflections were much cooler than my camera could capture.


With Ken leading ('cause he knew the way), a rare opportunity for me to ride sweep.


A Ha! We must be on the right track.


Wherever you go, there you are...


... but we're not there yet, so light 'em up and move 'em out.


Just be sure to stay on the road


Stopping briefly to recover a wayward beverage Sadly, it was a lost cause


Letting the dust clear.


Finally made camp a couple miles beyond the RR trestle near a protective rock outcropping.


Plenty of deadfall around, so we built a ring and started warming campfire.


Full moon came up around 10pm, allowing for some digi-cam experimenting.





More later...

-M

[NSFW]

brung it matt.

oh yeah, nice to be sitting on a stool next to the campfire.

[rider914]

Thanks Joel

Been distracted by your Baja report. Good Stuff

I'm aiming to get down there in march

Wrappin' it up...

A few pics from Day 3.

Morning at Camp Bradshaw


Rolling out... trail guide Ken with the boys in tow.


Bluffs at the entrance to Red Canyon.





Turning off of Summit Rd to follow Bradshaw...


... and crossing the old Eagle Mtn RR.


Military midden.


I chased Ken for a bit...


... while Ersin chased me.


Rich and Diego peeled off at Niland Rd. Time for them to head home


Ken, Ersin, and I hustled on towards the border (CA/AZ).


It was smooth sailing for a long while.


Then, just shy of Wiley Well, I get that funny feeling. Yep, flat rear tire

Luckily, there was campground nearby to provide a nice place to wrench.

Wouldn't be a '914 ride without a flat tire


We pushed on to the east, skirting farmlands on our way into Palo Verde.


Lunch stop at the only place in town.


Time for Ken to hit the pavement and head for home. See ya next time buddy


We had about 2 hrs 'til sunset... maybe time enough to run Bradshaw back to Mecca before finding a place to camp?

Lets go!


As it turned out, I think we could've made it if the weather hadn't turned sour. Started getting sprinkled on about halfway back, and looked like we were heading straight into a major downpour so I put the camera away (no more ride pics). Didn't care to be cold and sopping wet way out in the boonies, so we turned north at a gas line road and bailed out to I10. I was still thinking to camp out another night, but Ersin's 3rd 'incident' * convinced me it was time to head home.

* I slowed down for some potential cross traffic, heard a noise behind me, and saw the bottom of Ersin's skid plate in my mirror as he cartwheeled to a stop next to me

I'm gonna finish with this one 'cuz I like it




-M

[kkug]

I had a long breezy slog back to Escondido. Stopped to layer up at the Glamis Sand Dunes. Looked like a Supercross Race at the" Mall " all types of simi,s and big tents. Got sprinkled on threw O Wells and had snow sleet across Rancheta. Lucky the road was not icy yet when I went across. I did not take any pictures of the snow cover because I thought if I would stop the road would freeze in the few minutes it took me.

So it was good weekend and fun to go camping again with the boys.

Thanks Matt .

[mundobravo]

thanks for posting this ride up ! I dug it !

[whipit1k]

Very cool. The more ride reports I read, the more I am reminded that living on the east coast is a little like being in jail. No adventures, no open tracts of land, no off road travel. I am fascinated by the idea of traveling off road more than a few hundred yards in any given direction before coming to a fence, a posted sign or a paved road. sadly,that would be foreign to me

[FYYFF]

Originally Posted by whipit1k

Very cool. The more ride reports I read, the more I am reminded that living on the east coast is a little like being in jail. No adventures, no open tracts of land, no off road travel. I am fascinated by the idea of traveling off road more than a few hundred yards in any given direction before coming to a fence, a posted sign or a paved road. sadly,that would be foreign to me

I cant agree more. I never ridden in east coast but I cant imagine any place can be better than right here, Southern California. Draw a 1,000 mile radius and you can ride millions of miles in that circle, all dirt. California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah... Make sure to check out Death Valley Noob's Rally thread. One of the best places to ride in the States.
We are so lucky. Knock on wood. And you are always welcome to visit.

[isaac004]

Originally Posted by FYYFF

I cant agree more. I never ridden in east coast but I cant imagine any place can be better than right here, Southern California. Draw a 1,000 mile radius and you can ride millions of miles in that circle, all dirt. California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah... Make sure to check out Death Valley Noob's Rally thread. One of the best places to ride in the States.
We are so lucky. Knock on wood. And you are always welcome to visit.

I agree, having lived in the midwest and east coast. The east coast does have nice paved twisties and good forest roads in Appalachia, but the west coast wins all for year round riding and vast tracts of open land.