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Saturday, January 6, 2001. All is well with the world, for I am in the
California desert with my scooter. Not only that, the temperature is cool,
crisp, and clear. Patman jumps on his bike early and tears around on his
bike like a would-be junkie who has just discovered crack.
We suit up and set out for a ride. Everything comes rushing back. A long high-speed valley, drop into a wide sandwash, then across another valley headed for a tight wash that leads to some hills. When I crest the hill, I wait for Patman. He doesn't seem too convinced at this point, but I chalk that up to the inevitable adjustment period. We cover many more miles and a wide variety of terrain before I stop again, way out in the middle of a large valley miles from camp. This time Patman has gotten it; he seems to really be having a good time now. I think I can now breathe easy, I was hoping I wouldn't drag him halfway across the country for riding he'd only mildly enjoy. Now I don't see how anyone who rides a dirt bike can't be completely thrilled by riding in the California desert, but you never know. After all, lots of people actually enjoy motocross.
It soon becomes apparent to me that perhaps I've looped out a little too far from camp for Patman's first ride. We're way out behind Galway Dry Lake now, having camped just off Camp Rock Rd.
We reach Galway Dry Lake and Patman proceeds to wow me with the brute power of the mighty YZ 426 as he powers from one end of the dry lake to the other, lofting 60-mph wheelies as he yelps with joy. Back toward Bessemer Mine Road we ride, across a very long high-speed valley that leads to the Bessemer camping area. I think this is my favorite spot in the Lucerne Valley riding area; miles of winding high-speed choppy terrain. Get the bike in the upper gears and go fast. Not easy, not flat, but very fast.
Then we find some nasty mountainous terrain that separates Bessemer from Camp Rock Road. Up and down hills we go, along ridges and across nasty off-camber goat trails. Eventually we wind our way back to Johnson Valley and camp. Patman seems to be enjoying himself but appears a little beat. Truth be told, so am I. We probably just took a trail ride of at least 35 miles or so.
More riding ensued Saturday, then we settled in for the evening. It would turn out to be the most relaxing night of the entire trip. No, it would turn out to be the only relaxing night of the entire trip.
We had a half-day of riding lined up for Sunday, before we went into town Sunday evening. I decided Sunday's ride would take us over to the Cougar Buttes area of Lucerne Valley. We rode over there, I got off my bike and parked it, and was nearly knocked over when Patman pitched a tent. You could say he was....uh...a little taken by the beauty of this area as he paced and gazed about in wonder. He was now definitely having a good time, and I was most relieved by that development.
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