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I pack my Furnace Creek camp site into the saddlebags of the 10-ton bike
I started the warm morning a little while ago with a ride over to the general store and café to eat breakfast and buy a few supplies.
Date: April 22, 2007, 11h00
Views: 95
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The 10-ton bike is ready to leave Furnace Creek
I've filled my extra two-gallon water bag just in case the spring up in Monarch Canyon turns out to be dry.
Date: April 22, 2007, 11h30
Views: 85
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Leaving Furnace Creek campground and heading north on Highway 190
I'll start my climb out of Death Valley about 10 miles up the highway, on the Beatty Cutoff.
Date: April 22, 2007, 12h00
Views: 59
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I'm here at the beginning of the Beatty Cutoff
It's a beautiful day, probably in the high 80s.
Date: April 22, 2007, 12h45
Views: 60
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A couple of motorcycles speed by
... on Highway 190 near the Beatty Cutoff.
Date: April 22, 2007, 12h45
Views: 45
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Starting up the Beatty Cutoff, the gradual slope of the road makes it look flat
But my pedalling legs are quite aware that I'm going uphill now.
Date: April 22, 2007, 13h00
Views: 61
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A few dips in the road create very brief downhills on the way up Beatty Cutoff
I take a couple of short breaks because my right knee is giving me a little pain.
Date: April 22, 2007, 13h45
Views: 66
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A sharp turn in the Beatty Cutoff road on the way up
Monarch Canyon, today's destination, is somewhere up in the Funeral Mountains that lie straight ahead, a bit further to the left.
Date: April 22, 2007, 14h30
Views: 46
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Looking back down to Death Valley from around 1000 feet elevation, near Keane Wonder Mine
I've just reassured myself that I am indeed slowly rising out of Death Valley.
Date: April 22, 2007, 14h45
Views: 81
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I'm getting a few raindrops from the clouds passing over the mountains ahead
A few murky clouds have been moving around the valley all morning.
Date: April 22, 2007, 15h15
Views: 68
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The rain clouds are moving around quickly
The view of the mountains ahead keeps changing as the clouds roll by.
Date: April 22, 2007, 15h15
Views: 58
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I look back down behind me again to Death Valley
The raindrops have ceased!
Date: April 22, 2007, 15h30
Views: 59
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Getting closer to Hell's Gate (where Beatty Cutoff ends at Daylight Pass Road)
From my maps I figure that Hell's Gate is straight ahead in front of those mountains.
Date: April 22, 2007, 15h45
Views: 65
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Hurray, I've made it to Hell's Gate at 2000 ft and look back down into Death Valley
I'm full of joy now that my first big goal of the day has been reached.
Date: April 22, 2007, 16h00
Views: 52
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I walk up Daylight Pass Road a bit to get a view of the Hell's Gate entrance to Death Valley National Park
A left turn on Beatty Cutoff behind the rock heads down into Death Valley on the road I just came up.
Date: April 22, 2007, 16h00
Views: 48
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