Day 10: Emigrant Campground to Furnace Creek Campground, 31 bicycle miles in 100-degree temperatures
I ride from Emigrant Campground to Furnace Creek Campground so that I will be at the start of tomorrow's climb out of Death Valley National Park over the Funeral Mountains.
It's already hot up here at Emigrant Campground this morning, and it turns out to be over 100 degrees F on the valley floor.
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Date: April 27, 2007, 10h15
Size: 13 items
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One last view of the vacant Emigrant Campground on this hot, sunny morning before packing up
Only three camp sites are occupied right now, and we're all leaving this morning.
Date: April 27, 2007, 10h15
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Ready to leave Emigrant Campground, the contents of my camp site are packed on the 10-ton bike again
I say my goodbyes and thanks to Phil and Renée and begin the glorious ten-mile downhill from 2000 feet to just below sea level at Stovepipe Wells.
Date: April 27, 2007, 11h00
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After 10 fun, hot downhill miles to the Stovepipe Wells store for cold drinks, who pulls up but Phil and Renée!
We chat and get someone to take a group photo of us together, which we didn't do yesterday.
Date: April 27, 2007, 11h30
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Gasp, it is hot here
The thermometer has already reached 102 degrees F at Stovepipe Wells in the shade, and it's not even noon yet.
Date: April 27, 2007, 12h00
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Beyond Stovepipe Wells, I cross Death Valley on Highway 190 and stop to look at the Death Valley Dunes
I wonder what it would be like to go for a short walk out there in this heat.
Date: April 27, 2007, 12h30
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The 10-ton bike takes another brief break at the Devil's Corn Field
The 10-ton bike needs many breaks in this kind of heat, and a significant amount of water needs to be consumed during each break in order to remain operational.
Date: April 27, 2007, 12h45
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Another view of the Devil's Corn Field area along Highway 190
In my view of the mountains ahead, I try to locate Monarch Canyon, where I camped a few days ago for two nights.
Date: April 27, 2007, 12h45
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About nine miles further on Highway 190, while riding south down the other side of Death Valley, I pass the Beatty Cutoff
I'm back in familiar territory again; I rode up Beatty Cutoff a few days ago on the way to Monarch Canyon.
Date: April 27, 2007, 14h30
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I suck back lots of now-hot water from my Camelbak on this hot ride down Highway 190
My water is hot and unappealing by now, but it's still important to drink a lot of it to stay hydrated.
Date: April 27, 2007, 14h30
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I slowly approach Furnace Creek Campground, that green patch in the centre of the photo
Now that I'm almost there, I decide that riding 25 miles in 100+ degrees F isn't quite as insane as I thought it might be.
Date: April 27, 2007, 15h00
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I'm lucky enough to get one of the Furnace Creek camp sites in the athel trees
The thermometer at the campground entrance showed 105 degrees F, so shade is a valuable commodity here today.
Date: April 27, 2007, 17h30
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A view of the athels and their shade from my tent
These are nice trees, even though they're non-native and somewhat invasive.
Date: April 27, 2007, 17h30
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Me, hot but content, sitting in the shade of the athel trees
I have laundry to do this evening at the Furnace Creek laundromat; cold beer from the general store will help the cool-down process later at the camp site.
Date: April 27, 2007, 18h30
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