Uphill Into A Headwind
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intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Uphill Into A Headwind
@intoaheadwind.bsky.social
53 followers 1 following 180 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
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
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
I was so happy to be back in the #desert that I took an extra unnecessary rest day camped out on this bit of BLM land just enjoying the quiet isolation.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Mojave
Photograph of a waxing half moon rising over a mountain in the clear blue sky of late afternoon in the Mojave Desert Photograph of a desert plain covered in broomsage and creosote stretching towards distant mountains under a clear blue sky Photograph of a grey tent next to a green bicycle with green panniers among the creosote and broomsage of the Mojave Desert lit by a golden hour sun under a clear blue sky
November 9, 2025 at 11:47 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Continuing north on CA14 brought me through Red Rock Canyon State Park and its beautiful layered red rock cliffs.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California #Mojave #Desert
Zoomed photograph looking across brush covered desert leading to a layered cliff of red and white rocks next to a reddish brown hill, all under a clear blue sky “Cockpit view” photograph from my bicycle looking across a bridge in the desert with a sign on the right guardrail saying “Red Rock Canyon”. The road leads to red rock cliffs under a clear blue sky Photograph of the desert floor of Red Rock Canyon leading to a red rock cliff under a deep blue sky Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a lime green bicycle helmet, a forest green buff, a black tank top, and a blue backpack in front of a red and white layered cliff of Red Rock Canyon.
November 9, 2025 at 11:47 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
My first time in the #Mojave was around Joshua Tree and crossing the #desert to Arizona, & that was rather different: rockier & with less vegetation. This part is much more about wide valleys full of brush and occasional salt flats or sand dunes (or both, as Death Valley will show)
#BikeSky
Photograph looking across a wide valley in the Mojave Desert with brush covered plains leading to a white salt flat in the distance under a distant mountain, all under a clear blue sky Zoomed Photograph looking across a wide valley in the Mojave Desert with brush covered plains leading to a white salt flat in the distance under a distant mountain, all under a clear blue sky
November 9, 2025 at 11:47 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Back in the #MojaveDesert at last! I really love #cycling through the #desert, camping just about anywhere on the plentiful BLM land. Sure, I need to pay closer attention to my water consumption & supply, but there is surprising comfort among the rocks, sand, creosote, & sage
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of the Mojave Desert from California 58 coming down from Tehachapi showing a plain of sand, sage, and creosote bushes stretching to hazy mountains in the distance under a blue sky with distant clouds Wide angle Photograph of the Mojave Desert from California 58 coming down from Tehachapi showing a plain of sand, sage, and creosote bushes stretching to hazy mountains in the distance under a blue sky and a bright sun with distant clouds Photograph of plains and hills of the Mojave Desert with sand, rocks, creosote, and sage under a clear blue sky Photograph of California Route 14 stretching through the Mojave Desert towards hills leading to Red Rock Canyon under a clear blue sky with a cliff of layered red rock off to the left
November 9, 2025 at 11:47 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Tehachapi is in a high desert bowl at the top of the southern end of the Sierra Nevada. There are wind farms, railroads, and scrub vegetation. Down the west side goes back to San Joaquin Valley. Down the east side leads to the Mojave Desert.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph of the landscape just east of Tehachapi looking back towards the town in the distance. There is a railroad cutting across the foreground with windmills and mountains in the distance on the left, all under a clear blue sky
November 9, 2025 at 6:32 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
So, my next main destination after Tehachapi was pretty clear. I am incapable of passing through Tehachapi without making my way to Tonopah (& you better believe I’ll be doing Tucson to Tucumcari!). Especially since Death Valley is on the way. Desert, here I come!
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
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, in front of a sign for Tehachapi Depot with the old train depot building behind it Photograph of the main road in Tehachapi lined with trees, flagpoles, and a water tower with Historic Downtown Tehachapi painted on it, under a clear blue sky Photograph of a sign reading Historic Downtown Tehachapi with an arrow pointing towards town 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 in front of a sign for Historic Downtown Tehachapi
November 9, 2025 at 6:32 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Not many pics from the grueling climb up CA58 to Tehachapi, because I was too busy pushing my bike up ~1100m of elevation gain that turned out to be over 1500m total ascent. It was a long day, but I made it to a wonderful #Warmshowers host. 1/2
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph of boulders among dried grasses on rolling mountain foothills under a bright sun and clear blue sky Photograph of boulders among dry grass on mountain foothills with a mountain rising out of the haze in the distance Photograph of the lights of Tehachapi under mountains silhouetted against the orange glow of the early morning sky
November 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
I skirted around Bakersfield to the north making my way towards Kern River Campground in Lake Ming County Park. The area wasn’t really desert; just dry from lack of rain and it being autumn and all.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph looking west from Bakersfield on the Kern River Parkway bicycle path showing the bike path between dry grass fields stretching towards mountains in the distance under a clear blue sky
November 9, 2025 at 5:51 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
And it’s time for yet another rant about #Mapy #bicycle routing, this time courtesy of CA65. Bicycles are allowed on CA65. In the area of the oil fields near Bakersfield, all of the side roads are private oil company property dirt roads with No Trespassing signs. And yet… 1/
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Screenshot from the Mapy.com app in navigation mode showing it trying to route my bicycle off the busy main road where bicycles are allowed onto unpaved private side roads, presumably to avoid high speed traffic Photograph of California Route 65 showing a broad shoulder stretching into the distance between desert oil fields under a clear blue sky
November 9, 2025 at 5:43 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Continuing down the San Joaquin Valley towards Bakersfield #California, the farmland and orchards gave way to desert and oil fields. Not the most pleasant scenery to ride through, but at least the road had a nice shoulder.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of oil derricks and power lines silhouetted against a blue sky and bright sun in the California desert near Bakersfield Photograph of a beige oil derrick on a rocky sage covered hill under a clear blue sky Photograph from the “cockpit view” from my bicycle looking down a wide shoulder of a black asphalt road between desert oil fields
November 9, 2025 at 4:55 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
At this point I was getting tired of spending most of my days walking up mountains & riding down rough dangerous narrow backroads on the other side. So I decided to skip Sequoia National Park & head down the San Joaquin Valley to cross the Sierra Nevada at Tehachapi. 3/3
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of a field of yellow grasses and distant silhouetted trees while the morning sun hides behind low clouds Photograph of a field of yellow grasses with trees silhouetted against distant fog obscuring mountains in the background
November 9, 2025 at 1:49 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
From Oakhust I spent most of the rest of the way walking my #bicycle up the mountain to Teaford Saddle, where again I camped in Sierra National Forest. The view from where I camped was pretty nice. I could just make out Yosemite in the distance, & also look down on Oakhurst.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Zoomed Photograph looking northward from Teaford Saddle in which you can somewhat make out Yosemite National Park in the distance. Zoomed photograph from Teaford Saddle looking down into the valley in which the town of Oakhurst is visible. Wide angle photograph from Teaford Saddle showing pine forests and distant mountains under sprawling clouds stretching into the blue sky Wide angle photograph from Teaford Saddle showing pine forests and distant mountains under sprawling clouds stretching into the blue sky
November 9, 2025 at 12:13 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Then with new brakes all ready to go, I continued on through the mountains towards Oakhurst. Some nice views, but a lot of climbing. Going was quite slow.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph of forest covered mountains under a clear blue sky near Mariposa, California Photograph of forest covered mountains under a clear blue sky near Mariposa, California
November 9, 2025 at 12:02 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
After Yosemite, I passed a pleasant night at a #Warmshowers in Mariposa. The next day was rainy & nasty & my brakes weren’t stopping me very well. I camped in some National Forest land, & spent the following day there resting, drying out, & replacing my brake pads. Finally. After 4674km. 😅🚵🏼‍♂️
#BikeSky
Photograph of very worn bicycle V-brake pads from my rear brakes resting in my hand showing the wear of 4674 kilometers of hard travel. Photograph of very worn bicycle V-brake pads from my front brakes resting in my hand showing the wear of 4674 kilometers of hard travel.
November 8, 2025 at 11:56 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Had a nice long downhill along the Merced River on my way out of #Yosemite, and there were some stunningly huge boulders along the way.

And that’s Yosemite, or as much as I saw of it. It was AMAZING, & pictures don’t do it justice. 16/16
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph of the bright sun shining down over mountains along the Merced River with a huge boulder in the foreground Photograph of huge boulders along El Portal Road on the way out of Yosemite National Park, under a deep blue sky Photograph of huge boulders along El Portal Road on the way out of Yosemite National Park, under a deep blue sky Photograph of the Merced River flowing out of Yosemite National Park.
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
I really liked this view looking up river into #Yosemite Valley on the Merced River. The water here was calm enough for a nice reflection. 15/16
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph of the Merced River in Yosemite Valley from near water level showing the forest on the far side, the mountains on either side, and the clear blue sky reflected in the water Wide angle Photograph of the Merced River in Yosemite Valley from near water level showing the forest on the far side, the mountains on either side, and the clear blue sky reflected in the water
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Sometimes you just gotta take an “I was here” selfie. Here’s El Capitan, and I was here. 😁 14/16
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph looking up the towering cliffs of El Capitan from the Yosemite Valley floor under a deep blue sky Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a lime green helmet, clear cycling glasses, a forest green buff, a black tank top, and my backpack in front of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Seeing waterfalls pouring over these towering cliffs in #Yosemite Valley never failed to blow my mind. So amazing to see water pouring down from such heights! 13/16
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph of cliffs towering above a forest. A waterfall is visible pouring over the cliff towards the right. All under a clear blue sky Photograph of cliffs towering above a forest. A waterfall is visible pouring over the cliff towards the right. All under a clear blue sky Photograph of a meadow lined with trees leading to cliffs towering above a forest. A waterfall is visible pouring over the cliff towards the right. All under a clear blue sky Photograph of a waterfall pouring over a very high cliff above Yosemite Valley
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Some more beautiful views of #Yosemite Valley from Northside Drive as I prepared to leave to park. 12/16
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph of the Merced River in Yosemite Valley from the bike path bridge near the hiker biker camp with evergreen trees along its banks, the valley walls rising above in the background, all under a clear blue sky Photograph of meadow leading to forest leading to cliffs of Yosemite Valley under a clear blue sky Photograph of a paved bike path on the left of a meadow with a backlog forest and cliffs under a clear blue sky
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Had a slow start to the morning as it was only ~5°C when I woke up. As things warmed up and I got moving this raven wanted to join me for breakfast. I KNOW feeding wildlife is bad, but who can resist a #corvid? So it got a small handful of raisins. 😅 11/16
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Yosemite
Photograph of a raven sitting atop a brown bear box cawing. The still photo doesn’t show it well, but you could see puffs of its breath in the cold morning air with each caw Photograph of a raven perched on the corner of a wooden picnic table in front of a brown bear box at a campsite Close up portrait of a raven in profile with its head slightly tilted Portrait of a raven in profile
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Finally made it to the hiker/biker Backpackers Camp at North Pines campground. It was nice, but they only allow a 1 night stay, otherwise I would have stayed a 2nd night so I could spend a day hiking. 😢 Another example of a national park not being #bicycle friendly. 10/16
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of my campsite at the Backpackers Camp in Yosemite valley showing my bicycle leaning against a picnic table with my tent beyond that all under ponderosa pine trees with a sunlit cliff in the background Photograph of my campsite at the Backpackers Camp in Yosemite Valley showing my grey tent on the right and a picnic table with my backpack on the left, my bicycle leaning against the far end of the picnic table. Beyond my tent is a small building with vault toilets. All of this is under ponderosa pine trees with a sunlit cliff in the background
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
And still further up the #Yosemite valley, slowly but surely making my way to the hiker/biker camp at North Pines campground. Not getting any less beautiful. 😍 9/16
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph of Half Dome from the Yosemite Valley floor looking along a paved bike path paralleling Southside Drive Photograph of the “cockpit view” from my bicycle looking towards Half Dome from the Yosemite Valley floor along a paved bike path paralleling Southside Drive Wide angle photograph showing a paved bike path and road on the right and meadow on the left backstopped by the granite mountains lining Yosemite Valley with Half Dome on the right in the distance
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Still beautiful proceeding further up #Yosemite Valley. 8/16
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph of a bike path lined with trees and meadow leading to a bridge along the bottom of Yosemite Valley Photograph of a meadow leading to evergreen forest under the cliff walls of the north side of Yosemite Valley, over which a waterfall pours. Zoomed Photograph of a meadow leading to evergreen forest under the cliff walls of the north side of Yosemite Valley, over which a waterfall pours. Photograph of the forests of the Yosemite Valley floor under the mountains lining the valley under a clear blue sky
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Finally reached #Yosemite Valley and it was BEAUTIFUL! 😍 7/16
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph of Yosemite Valley from Southside Drive showing cliffs and mountains on either side above the trees and road on the valley floor. Photograph of Yosemite Valley from Southside Drive showing cliffs above the trees and road, with several parked cars, on the valley floor. Photograph from Yosemite Valley floor looking between tree branches towards a cliff face with a waterfall pouring over the valley rim high above Zoomed photograph looking between tree branches at a waterfall pouring over to top of a cliff face of Yosemite Valley
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM