Uphill Into A Headwind
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intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Uphill Into A Headwind
@intoaheadwind.bsky.social
54 followers 1 following 200 posts
No matter which way I go,
Conditions change to make it so;
I’m going uphill or into a headwind.
🚵🏼‍♂️

#BicycleTouring focused account of @bioalex.bsky.social.

#Cycling #Bicycle #BikeSky #BicycleTravel
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intoaheadwind.bsky.social
The setting sun, clouds, and distant haze made for some rather dramatic scenes in the desert where I camped before heading over to Sandy Valley the next day. 5/6
#BicycleTravel #BikeSky
Photograph of distant mountains silhouetted against a cloudy sky backlit by the setting sun. Haze highlights the ridges of the mountains. Photograph of rather dramatic clouds over the evening desert with signs that the sun is going down to the west. Photograph of the shadowed desert plain of creosote bushes, sage brush, and joshua trees stretching towards silhouetted mountains outlined in mist and haze under the backlit clouds of the evening sky. Photograph of joshua trees, creosote bushes, and sage brush in the desert with distant mountains dramatically side-lit casting shadows leftward across the distant valley.
December 1, 2025 at 2:12 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
All the jet contrails pointed towards Las Vegas, but I took a different way. Gotta say, despite how heavily loaded my bicycle is, my Surly Long Haul Trucker never fails to impress me how well it holds up when I have to go on rough unpaved routes. Not comfy, but doable. 4/6
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of Nevada route 160 southeast of Pahrump showing the asphalt road stretching through desert and mountains in the distance. In the clear blue sky, there are several white jet contrail all leading in the same direction towards the distant mountains. Photograph of the Mojave Desert between Pahrump and Sandy Valley showing a plain of creosote bushes and desert sand and rock stretching towards distant mountains under a bright sun and a clear blue sky Photograph of the "cockpit view" from my bicycle looking over the handlebars along a dirt track through the desert towards distant mountains under a blue and white cloudy sky. Photograph of white clouds against a blue sky stretching towards distant mountains over a dirt track through the desert of creosote bushes, sand and rocks.
December 1, 2025 at 2:12 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Guess I passed close enough to Area 51 to run into some Aliens. 👽😁 3/6
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a lime green bicycle helmet, a forest green buff, and a black tanktop encrusted with salt from my sweat in front of some statues of aliens in front of a convenience store that the Lathrop Wells intersection of US 95 and NV 373 in Nevada. Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a lime green bicycle helmet, a forest green buff, and a black tanktop encrusted with salt from my sweat in front of a statue of an alien pointing up to the sky in front of a convenience store that the Lathrop Wells intersection of US 95 and NV 373 in Nevada.
December 1, 2025 at 2:12 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
To get there after returning through Beatty, I still had to pass through the Amargosa Valley, Pahrump, and Sandy Valley. Had a good place to camp in the Amargosa Valley near the Big Dune. 2/6
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Camping
Photograph of the "Big Dune" of Amargosa Valley in Nevada showing a desert plain of creosote bushes leading to a large sand dune in front of distant mountains under a blue sky. Photograph of a grey tent and a bicycle next to some creosote bushes in a small valley of white rocky ground under a blue evening sky. Photograph of portable solar panels leaning against white chalky rock catching the last of the evening sun. Photograph of the sunset in Amargosa Valley Nevada as the orange sun touches the horizon over a desert plain of creosote bushes, sand, and white chalky rock.
December 1, 2025 at 2:12 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
My next main goal was to make it near Las Vegas, though I had no intention of going into the city. Instead, my plan was to follow route that most players take in the game #FalloutNewVegas, starting from Goodsprings, around to Primm, Nipton, & Boulder City. 1/6
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Screenshot from the Mapy navigation app showing my planned route around the Mojave Desert south of Las Vegas, following the real life route that the main character takes in the video game Fallout New Vegas.
December 1, 2025 at 2:12 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Nothing beats a nice wide shoulder. They even did it right with the rumble strip being right on the white line. I've been on several roads (including this same road just north of Beatty) where the rumble strip is running down the middle of the shoulder. Terrible for #cycling. 3/3
#BikeSky #Nevada
Photograph of US Route 95 south of Tonopah Nevada, showing a recently paved asphalt road with a wide shoulder and a rumble strip along the white line stretching into the distance towards desert and mountains under a blue, slightly clouded sky on a bright sunny day. Photograph of the "cockpit view" from my bicycle looking over the handlebars along US95 showing a wide shoulder on the road stretching into the distance between desert hills towards a distant mountain. Photograph of US 95 southbound showing the road descending into a valley between foothills with mountains in the distance under a blue sky with some wispy clouds and a lone white cloud in the upper right. Photograph of US 95 stretching into the desert under a blue sky with some white clouds on the right side. In the far distance there are mountains along the horizon.
December 1, 2025 at 1:27 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
And so I made it to Tonopah, thus completing that line from the Linda Ronstadt song "Willin'". 😁 That was literally my ONLY reason for going there, so I ate lunch and immediately turned around and headed back south the way I came. 2/3
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Nevada
Photograph of a wooden structure on top of a grey rocky hill with desert scrub brush under a clear blue sky. On the structure is a sign that says Tonopah. Photograph of the "cockpit view" from my bicycle of the road leading into Tonopah Nevada with a sign reading "Tonopah ELEV 6030" (which is in feet). All under a clear blue sky. Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a lime green bicycle helmet, clear cycling glasses, a forest green buff, a lime green windbreaker, and a backpack, with one hand holding up the peace sign in front of a sign that says Welcome to Tonopah.
December 1, 2025 at 1:27 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
After Death Valley, I headed east to Beatty #Nevada, there to turn north to make my way towards Tonopah. 1/3
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of Nevada Route 374 curving down into the valley in which the town of Beatty is nestled as a little patch of green in the desert mountains and foothills. Photograph of sunset in the desert with orange clouds against a deep blue sky fading to yellow and orange on the western horizon over a shadowed plain of scrub brush and sand. Photograph of sunset in the desert with salmon colored clouds against a deep blue sky fading to yellow and orange on the western horizon over a shadowed plain of scrub brush and sand.
December 1, 2025 at 1:27 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Lucky for me, especially since I was worried about running out of daylight, another very kind soul offered me a ride when I was about halfway up, so the climb was only half as brutal as I’d feared.🥹 Exiting #DeathValley National Park immediately put me into Nevada. 7/8
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph from about halfway up the eastern side of #Death Valley looking southward showing reddish brown rocky ground giving way to scattered creosote bushes down towards the valley floor in the distance under a clear blue sky Selfie of me wearing a forest green buff and black tank top holding up a hand wearing a fingerless cycling glove showing a peace sign in front of a sign reading Daylight Pass 4317 ft, which is ~1315 meters in metric Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a lime green bicycle helmet, clear cycling glasses, a forest green buff, and black tank top holding up a hand giving the peace sign in front of a Welcome to Nevada sign. Photograph of the nearly full moon rising over reddish brown mountains against a pale blue sky
November 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Making the climb up the other side of #DeathValley was again looking to be brutal. Despite aiming for a lower elevation at the top of Daylight Pass (1315m) than entering the valley at Towne Pass (1511m), I had more gain due to starting lower (-25m vs . ~470m) 😅 6/8
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph from the floor of Death Valley as it showing barren rocky desert stretching towards distant mountains under a clear blue sky Wide Angle Photograph from the floor of Death Valley as it showing barren rocky desert stretching towards distant mountains under a clear blue sky Photograph from part way up the east side of Death Valley looking southward showing scattered creosote bushes down the foothills and distant salt flats and sand dunes on the valley floor under a clear blue sky Zoomed Photograph from part way up the east side of Death Valley looking southward showing scattered creosote bushes down the foothills and distant salt flats and sand dunes on the valley floor under a clear blue sky
November 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
This is the lowest point I’ve ever been, physically 😉, on land, in my entire life (under water, I’ve been down to -30m on my Open Water Advanced checkout dive). Pretty desolate, & even in November pretty hot. 5/8
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #DeathValley #Desert
Photograph of a Garmin Fenix 7 GPS watch on my wrist on the altimeter screen showing my elevation was 25 meters below sea level. Photograph of the lowest point I reached on the floor of Death Valley at an elevation of -25m looking southward showing sand and a lone creosote bush under a glaringly bright sun and clear blue sky Photograph from the lowest elevation I reached in Death Valley at -25m looking northward showing sand, rocks, and scattered creosote bushes under a clear blue sky Selfie of me on my bicycle at the lowest elevation I reached in Death Valley, -25m. I’m wearing a lime green bicycle helmet, clear cycling glasses, a forest green buff, black tank top, and a backpack. The asphalt road across the valley stretches into the distance to start climbing up the other side.
November 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
The road, CA190, continued across the valley floor of #DeathValley past the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. 4/8
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Desert
Photograph of rocky ground and scattered creosote bushes giving way to sand dunes in front of distant mountains under a clear blue sky Photograph of scattered creosote bushes giving way to sand dunes in front of distant mountains under a clear blue sky Photograph of rocky ground and scattered creosote bushes giving way to sand dunes in front of distant mountains under a clear blue sky Photograph from the floor of Death Valley looking north with an asphalt road crossing the foreground with sand and creosote bushes beyond and the mountains of both sides of the valley in the distance under a clear blue sky
November 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
The floor of #DeathValley became more and more visible as I descended, losing all that elevation I’d gained and then some. 3/8
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Desert #Mountains
Monochrome photograph of an asphalt road descending between the foothills to the floor of Death Valley with the mountains on the opposite side visible under a clear sky photograph of an asphalt road descending to the floor of Death Valley with a salt flat or sand dunes in the distance and the mountains on the opposite side visible under a clear blue sky Photograph from near the floor of Death Valley looking northward showing the valley floor stretching to a distant salt flat or sand dunes between mountains on either side under a clear blue sky Photograph of an asphalt road running into the distance across the floor of Death Valley running towards distant sand dunes and mountains under a clear blue sky
November 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
She dropped me off at the pass so I could ride down into #DeathValley under the power of gravity. After some weaving among the mountain tops, I finally got my first glimpses of the valley itself. 2/8
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Desert #Mountains
Photograph of an asphalt road descending between mountains to the still hidden Death Valley, with the mountains on the opposite side visible in the distance under a clear blue sky Photograph of my first glimpse of the floor of Death Valley while descending from Town Pass showing the sandy salty valley floor in the distance between rolling foothills and in front of the mountains on the opposite side of the valley, under a clear blue sky Zoomed Photograph of my first glimpse of the floor of Death Valley while descending from Town Pass showing the sandy salty valley floor in the distance between rolling foothills and in front of the mountains on the opposite side of the valley, under a clear blue sky Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a lime green bicycle helmet, clear cycling glasses, a forest green buff, and a backpack holding up a hand making a peace sign in front of foothills descending into Death Valley under a clear blue sky
November 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
#DeathValley Thread 🧵
Climbing out of Panamint Valley up to Towne Pass was a brutal ~1100m of elevation gain. Or it would have been brutal, but a nice young woman from France saw me pushing my bicycle up the constant 6-7% grade & offered me a ride! 😅🥹 1/8
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Desert
Photograph of the barren desert floor of Panamint Valley looking southward from the north end showing sand & little vegetation stretching to distant mountains under a clear blue sky Monochrome photograph of the valley floor of Panamint Valley looking southward from the north end showing barren sand stretching towards distant mountains under a bright sun and clear sky Photograph looking down towards Panamint Valley part way up the road to Towne Pass leading to Death Valley showing an asphalt road descending between rolling foothills to the sand covered valley floor with mountains in the distance under a clear blue sky Selfie of me wearing a black tank top and a forest green buff holding up a hand wearing a black fingerless cycling glove making a peace sign in front of a sign reading Towne Pass Elev 4956 FT, which is ~1511 meters in metric.
November 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
And once again the clouds put on a bit of a show after the sun set behind the mountains. 6/6
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Mojave #Desert #California
Photograph of salmon colored clouds fading to grey over the desert and mountains in shadow after sunset Photograph of a grey tent and green bicycle in the desert with scattered creosote bushes and mountains in the distance with a yellow sunset sky on the left fading to blue on the right with salmon colored clouds in the middle
November 17, 2025 at 12:15 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Don’t mind me, just experimenting with photographing the rising moon on my iPhone camera. 😅 All of these (& most of my photos in general) were taken with the Obscura app. 5/6
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Mojave #Desert #California
Color photograph of the waxing nearly full moon rising in the center of the frame over reddish brown mountains with a pale blue sky. Monochrome photograph of the waxing nearly full moon rising in the center of the frame over mountains with a pale sky. Monochrome photograph of the waxing nearly full moon rising on the left 1/3 of the frame over mountains with a pale sky. Color photograph of the waxing nearly full moon rising on the left 1/3 of the frame over reddish brown mountains with a pale blue sky.
November 17, 2025 at 12:15 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
I stopped to camp in Panamint Valley a couple of km before the boundary of Death Valley National Park. Death Valley is just across those mountains. Caught the moon rising. 4/6
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Mojave #Desert
Photograph of creosote bushes and sand stretching away to layered mountains separating Panamint Valley from Death Valley under a clear blue sky Photograph of a grey tent and a green bicycle among creosote bushes and sand stretching away to layered mountains separating Panamint Valley from Death Valley under a clear blue sky Photograph of a waxing nearly full moon rising over reddish brown mountains with a clear blue evening sky. The valley floor before the mountains is a black band of shadow in the foreground Photograph of the creosote and sand of the Panamint Valley floor in shadow with distant mountains silhouetted against the late afternoon sun under a clear blue sky
November 17, 2025 at 12:15 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
The Panamint Valley floor was pretty barren, but still pretty. Apparently most of the (non-indigenous) historical action here concerned mining in the mountains, including the ghost town of Baharat near the foot of the mountains. I did not ride the unpaved road to it. 😅 3/6
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of a historical marker in the desert of the Panamint Valley with a plaque reading, “BAHARAT 3 1/2 miles. NOW A GHOST TOWN, BAHARAT SERVED NEARBY MINING CAMPS FROM 1897 TO 1917. THEY PRODUCED NEARIY A MilliON iN GOID. THEJAIL AND A FEW ADOBE RUINS REMAIN. SELDOM SEEN SIM, ITS LAST RESIDENT, WAS BURIED iN BOOTHill IN 1968. IT HAD ASCHOOL BUT NOCHURCH. POST OFFICESPRING1/4Mi SOUTH iS WHERE THE BRIER PARTY JAYHAWKWRS & OTHER 49ERS CAME IN THEIR RSCAPE FROM DEATH VALLEY IN JAN. 1850, ON SUNDAY MORNING 3AM MARCH 22, 1908 A CARIN THE Worlos IONGEST RACE, ATHOMAS FlYER, ARRiVED iN BAllARAT. IT WON THE PNEN YORK To PARiS RACE, COVERiNG 13,341 MILES IN167 DAYS. THE CAR IS NOW INHARRAH'S MUSEUM INRENO. ERECTED 3-92 Y DEATH VALEY ESCAPE TRAIL CONF. TRONA CHAPTER Zoomed photograph looking across the valley floor of Panamint Valley towards the mountains separating it from Death Valley at the base of which is the old mining ghost town of Baharat Photograph of a dirt road stretching across the Panamint Valley floor between creosote bushes towards the distant mountains lining the valley and under a clear blue sky Photograph of creosote bushes, rocks, and sand of the Panamint Valley floor under a bright sun causing a lens flare and a clear blue sky with mountains in the distance
November 17, 2025 at 12:15 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
The ride down from the pass wasn’t the most pleasant, with no shoulder, twisty curves, and tricky winds. But it sure was pretty. 2/6
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Mojave #Desert #California
Photograph of Panamint valley from part way down the road from the Slate Range Crossing showing rocky terrain leading down to the valley floor and distant mountains under a clear blue sky Photograph on the road into Panamint Valley coming down from the Slate Range Crossing showing the red asphalt road to the left curving between rocky outcrops and a guardrail in the middle separating the road and gravel shoulder from a rocky descent into the valley on the left, with mountains in the background under a clear blue sky
November 17, 2025 at 12:15 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Climbing out of Searles Valley up to the Slate Range Crossing gave me a pretty spectacular view of Panamint Valley on the other side. 1/6
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Mojave #Desert #California
Wide angle photograph from the Slate Range Crossing looking down over the whole of Panamint Valley stretching away to the north under a clear blue sky Zoomed photograph looking down into Panamint Valley from the top of the Slate Range Crossing showing the desert scrub of the valley floor stretching away towards distant mountains Zoomed photograph looking down into Panamint Valley from the top of the Slate Range Crossing showing the desert scrub and salt flats of the valley floor stretching away towards distant mountains Black and white wide angle photograph of the whole of Panamint Valley stretching away to the north from the Slate Range crossing
November 17, 2025 at 12:15 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
That evening while the sun set behind the mountains behind me, the clouds above the Slate Range on the eastern side of the Searles Valley were putting on quite a show! 2/2
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Mojave #Desert #California
Photograph of the Slate Range mountains under a band of dramatic orange clouds lit by the setting sun with the small white disc of the rising moon in the upper left corner Wide angle photograph of Searles Valley in the evening showing the desert scrub of the valley floor stretching away towards the Slate Range mountains with a line of pink and red clouds above them fading into a blue evening sky Wide angle photograph of Searles Valley in the evening showing the desert scrub of the valley floor stretching away towards the Slate Range mountains with a line of pink and red clouds above them fading into a blue evening sky Photograph of Searles Valley in the evening showing a grey tent and a green bicycle with green panniers among the desert scrub of the valley floor stretching away towards the Slate Range mountains with a line of pink and red clouds above them fading into a blue evening sky
November 16, 2025 at 11:08 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Passed through Trona (where I stopped for lunch & cold beverage that didn’t cut into my water supply) & made my way north about 2/3 of the way up Searles Valley where I stopped to camp. Some very pretty clouds over the Slate Range. 1/2
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Mojave #California #Desert
Photograph of desert scrub brush and creosote bushes in shadow stretching away towards the Slate Range mountains still lit by the late afternoon sun with a sharp line of clouds above the mountains fading to more wispy clouds and eventually blue sky Wide angle Photograph of desert scrub brush and creosote bushes in shadow stretching away towards the Slate Range mountains still lit by the late afternoon sun with a sharp line of clouds above the mountains fading to more wispy clouds and eventually blue sky Photograph of a grey tent and green bicycle with green panniers among the Mojave desert scrub brush with the Slate Range mountains in the background under yellow and orange clouds lit by the setting sun Photograph of a grey tent and green bicycle with green panniers among the Mojave desert scrub brush with the Slate Range mountains in the background under yellow and orange clouds lit by the setting sun
November 16, 2025 at 11:08 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Continuing through the #Mojave towards Ridgecrest, #California, where I needed to really stock up at the last good grocery store for most of what I’d need to get to Death Valley. After that, I’d take CA178 over into Searles Valley.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of California Route 14 north towards Inyokern and Ridgecrest, showing an asphalt road rolling over hills through the desert towards distant mountains under a blue sky with a band of clouds running above the mountains
November 16, 2025 at 10:50 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
I know I still have some catching up to do, including Searles Valley, Panamint Valley, Death Valley, & the ride to & from Tonopah, but I am rather excited that my #Fallout #NewVegas tour will start tomorrow with a route looking something like this.☢️🚵🏼‍♂️💪🏼
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #FONV
Screenshot from Mapy showing my bicycle route plan in the Mojave Desert around Las Vegas routing through most of the main places set in the game Fallout New Vegas
November 11, 2025 at 4:35 PM