Day 7: Jan 3, 2003
Stalton Sea to Vegas (339 miles)



Today I rode from Stalton Sea to Las Vegas. The ride was pretty boring and uneventful except for Joshua Tree National Park. It was beautiful, and probably the best sport-riding of the trip. Good pavement and turns that I can see all the way through. My only concern was that they might scrutinize my pass when I left and compute my average speed - surely above the posted limit!


Joshua Tree N.P. - entering


Joshua Tree N.P. - Fire Danger Extreme Today


Joshua Tree N.P. - funny cacti


Joshua Tree N.P. - mountains



I stayed with a friend in Vegas. This picture truely does say a thousand words. Las Vegas is lush with plants foreign to the desert, kept alive by a civilization with resources to spare. The extravagence is a stark comparison with the ruggendess of the rest of my trip. However, the soft bed and delicious home-made food were certainly welcome :-)


Matt in Vegas



Next: Day 8 Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park

Day 1 San Francisco to Los Padres National Park
Day 2 Los Padres to Lancaster, CA
Day 3 Lancaster to Ensenada, Baja
Day 4 Ensenada to Cataviña
Day 5 Cataviña to Campo Miramar
Day 6 Campo Miramar to Stalton Sea, CA
Day 7 Stalton Sea to Las Vegas, NV
Day 8 Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park
Day 9 Death Valley to Minden, NV
Day 10 Minden to San Francisco