Amboy Ride

Amboy, California is a favored desert ride destination for my riding group, in addition to hundreds of others. For me, there's a certain nostalgia, since I frequently rode and drove the roads through it, including the stretch of Historic Route 66 between Amboy and Essex near I-40, in the 70s and 80s in order to visit relatives living near Bullhead City, Arizona.

Spending as little time on a freeway as possible, we typically get off I-10 at Route 64 and ride through the growing desert towns of Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. In Yucca Valley, Hutchin's Route 62 Diner serves up hearty traditional diner fare. In Joshua Tree, the Joshua Tree Saloon offers a fine amber bock on tap, and burgers and dogs from an outside barbeque.

After gassing up in Twentynine Palms, a left turn onto the Utah Trail takes us over the hill toward the Marine base. At the bottom of the hill, a right turn puts our tires on Amboy Road.

Amboy road runs nearly straight east, but with the rolling topography of the valley floor and the sometimes iffy state of repair of the asphalt, it is not a high-speed road. But even at 60mph, there is always something to look at. The area is surprisingly populated, and there is light local traffic.

Not far past the Fire Station, the road turns left in a long banked curve, and rises up over the Sheephole Pass, through (you guessed it) the Sheephole Mountains. The curves through the pass are deceptive in places, including decreasing radius turns and dips. On the north side of the pass, the road runs down a long grade toward Bristol Dry Lake, and the town of Amboy can be made out in the far distance.

Due to the heat, Amboy is not a good summer ride destination. Even in the winter, the shade of the gas station canopy provides a welcome break from the sun. Gasoline and drinks are available at the gas station. Since Albert Okura bought the town in 2005 for a purported $450,000, restoration efforts have been steady and are ongoing.

For more information on Amboy, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amboy, California

Riding down the long grade from the Sheephole Mountains in the south toward bristol Dry Lake and Amboy.

In 2009 this long stretch of the road is smooth, but ten to twelve year spans between resurfacing are not unheard of.

A distant view of Amboy Crater from the edge of the road at Bristol Dry Lake.

A black lava flow on the north side of the crater.

A view to the east toward the town from the parking area near the crater.

A long view of Roy's from the east.

A closer view of Roy's. Again, from the east.

A riding group from Los Angeles pulls into the parking lot for a break.

Roy's is in the process of restoring the original diner. Given the speedy rate of restoration of the gas station, I have little doubt it will be in business before 2010. I'll take a cheeseburger and Coke, please.

Looking south toward the Sheephole Mountains and the road home from Bristol Dry Lake.