Ludlow to Needles

[The Kansan]

Oooo, full moon ride sounds great . . . but I don't think I'll make the full moon. I wouldn't get to Ludlow until 8/22 after riding from Barstow . . . Amtrak is sold out for all dates surrounding that I would need. So, how dark is the desert? Would seem the option is night-ride to DO, hoping that any vehicles, etc. are friendly's, or renting a car in Barstow (I do have a nephew who works for Enterprise that might be able to save me a couple pennies . . . ). Amboy, most likely, wouldn't be open in the middle of the night. What do you all think? Of course, best laid plans . . . (I've done night-riding before. Total agreement on feel, John!)

[John Nettles]

If I "had"  to do the BR66 in August, I would 1) book a fully refundable hotel in Barstow and Amboy (maybe Ludlow) for the projected nights with an OK for early check-in in Amboy; 2) reserve a car one-way from Barstow to Needles or Kingman; 3) a day or two before I arrive in Barstow, look at the weather forecast paying attention to wind direction and temps; 4) decide whether to ride or drive.   

If I decide to ride, I would 1) call the Amboy hotel the afternoon I arrive in Barstow to confirm hotel reservation is still good/cafe will be open; 2) call and cancel my car rental reservation; and 3) ride out of Amboy around 2am or 3am so I can arrive in Needles before Noon.  I would ride NTH to DO then I-40 west to Needles. Being a wimp, I would probably stop in Ludlow too. 

If driving (NOTE:  the drop-off is in Bullhead City, not Needles), I would 1) cancel my Amboy reservation (so as not to give cyclists a bad name) and 2) enjoy my air-conditioned drive to Bullhead City and go out for an ice cream once I arrived. Plus, you could easily pick up the car in Barstow in the afternoon and drive to Bullhead City and turn in the car in the morning or same day depending on when you left Barstow.  The net cost for a car rental would probably be cheaper than riding since you would not need a hotel in either Barstow or Amboy and you could "pocket" 2 days for future rest/mechanical days.

Only downside to driving is that you have to head south so you can get to Oatman and the nice Oatman Highway making for about a 60-mile day into Kingman.

Tailwinds, John

[jamawani]

The trains are not sold out - -
just the bike spots.

[The Kansan]

John - to my knowledge, Amboy still has no hotel availability. They won't even allow camping behind the store anymore, but you "can rent a space behind the church for $25". Trying to get ahold of someone by phone is hit or miss. Only one hotel option in Ludlow (Check in is at the Chevron). Car rental would have to be in Barstow. I'm going to put some things in motion and see what the weather decides. I'm going to check with the Amboy folks (if I could ever get someone) to see when they're projected to be open, knowing that they may not be. And figuring from there...

Jamawani - yep, I checked, but I don't want to be separated from the bike if at all possible.

A conundrum! Bike the desert in the dark - no Amboy stop -  or rent a car? Start at 3 or 4am, hope Amboy is open, then get very warm on the final push to DO? Thoughts? Ideas? Preferences? (And I do realize I put myself in this position. "If you're going to be stupid, you better be tough . . .")

Sure appreciate the insight and experience!

[John Nettles]

I guess it boils (no pun intended) on how strong you are and how well you handle heat.  For me, it is pretty easy decision since I seriously doubt I would be able to ride 92+ miles fully loaded in that kind of heat. If I did attempt it, I would have to leave around 8pm as not only do I plod along about 10-11 miles per hour but also anything above 90* really starts to wear me out quickly. 

I have not researched the Amboy hotel.  Is it sold out or just not open?  Surprised if it is sold out. 

If you decide to do the Ludlow to Needles, I would still probably reserve a car rental in Barstow for the morning you depart Barstow for Ludlow.  That way, if the weather forecast for the next day (Ludlow to Needles) looks bad, you have a back up available. 

What I hate about Amtrak is that there are bikes spots for the exact same train from Los Angles to Kansas City but none from Barstow.  How can a train have space for the entire trip but not part of it?

Tailwinds, John

[The Kansan]

Amtrak does have 2 bike slots from LA, but they are already taken up in Barstow. The openings are only good from LA to Barstow. Amboy Hotel hasn't been open for some time. I'll probably rent a car as a back-up, but looking like an early start (if not a night start) from Ludlow to DO in Fenner . . . !

[John Nettles]

I could not get bike slots from Los Angeles to Barstow (sold out) but could from LA to Kansas City.  Probably due to the type of station that does not load/unload baggage.  Anyway, are you able to camp at DO?  I did not know that.  I don't see a hotel so assume you are camping. 

[The Kansan]

DO will let cyclists camp on the grounds. All the Amtrak bike slots are taken beginning in Barstow - the 2 slots are only good from LA to Barstow (because then they're taken).

[jamawani]

Kansan -

You do know that you can camp anywhere on public BLM land?

https://blm-egis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f0da4c7931440a8a80bfe20eddd7550

You will probably hear trains on the BNSF mainline, but the camping is free.

Check for moonrise times. It's still before the last quarter.
You can nap during the day and eat "breakfast" at 8 p.m.
Moonrise is at 9:18 p.m. - you have the entire night to get to Desert Oasis.

I would suggest night and morning riding all the way to Kingman.
And still, much of the Route 66  route will be quite hot.

Are you locked in?
A modified Western Express route would be 10-20 degrees cooler.

August Avg. Temps:
Needles, CA  HI - 107; LO - 82
Ely, NV         HI -   85; LO - 47

Even
Winslow, AZ  HI - 88; LO - 57 (in early Sept.)

[The Kansan]

Hey Jamawani - yes, I am locked in. Everything is headed to the Santa Monica Pier - bike ships in a week and a half, plus time to get to DC factors in. I'm stuck with it! I was aware of the BLM camping. My 2 biggest concerns are, of course, heat and water. Night-riding is probably a given at this point! No way do I want to ride even late morning, let alone afternoon or early evening. The heat wave in the area, compared with past years, is quite a bit higher, so I'm going to keep an eye on things. It does look like things should ease a bit after Kingman, but you're absolutely right: night-riding, very early mornings or late evening is going to be the way to get through . . . unless I go for a rental from Barstow to Bull City, but I would still need to contend with Oatman/Kingman . . .

[John Nettles]

You do know that you can camp anywhere on public BLM land?

https://blm-egis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f0da4c7931440a8a80bfe20eddd7550

Hey John, while I know you can camp in BLM land, I have not seen this map before.  Thanks!  Are there particular boxes that should / should not be checked on the map to ensure all is well.  For instance, I would guess you are probably not supposed to camp in the "Areas of Critical Environmental Concerns" but unsure if the map already factors that in.

Thanks as always for sharing your great well of knowledge!

[jamawani]

You do realize that a rental is both immoral

   >>> AND <<<

May subject you to severe punishment from the cycling gods.

Just trying to keep you out of trouble.

     J

[The Kansan]

Oooohhhh I know it! I'm walking a fine line between what I would like to do and someone else who is very concerned. (Though my experience has been the biking Gods are much more severe and don't forget . . . ). Dark Sky Sanctuary beckons!

[John Nettles]

Hope you have an enjoyable trip.  Let us know how it went when you get to Kingman.  Over the years, people have asked a similar question about the Southern Tier in August so others might find your info here informative.

Stay hydrated and enjoy! 

Tailwinds, John

[jamawani]

Wishing you a wonderful tour.
My first X-USA was a fall trip.
I think they are the best.

J