Just to clarify, my last blog post about the Black Rock Rendezvous was labeled Rides with Friends #2, but it was the first of this year’s series. The Perseids Meteor Shower Campout was Rides with Friends #2. I am probably the most confused by this matter, ha!

August 9-11, 2024 I first rode into the Perseids Campout in August of 2021 – before Rides with Friends was an active program at Friends of Black Rock High Rock. Rides with Friends Beta was October 2020, High Rock Canyon, then the first open event was October 2021, Hot Springs Loop, and since then, as they say, the rest is history. Bouncing around the timeline, late September 2020 was the Ride Your Park trip, where I talked myself into hosting regular (monthly mostly) trips to torture my friends. Why all the nostalgia? I am preparing a talk on bikepacking fostering stewardship for organizations like Friends of Black Rock High Rock that I will deliver at Burning Man in just a few weeks. What a journey it has been!

Back to Perseids 2021, I biked in in the evening under stormy, smoky skies. Why ride in 6.5 miles? Is it even worth it? Why not just drive in and car camp? Well, I’m the bike guy and I am always up for a bike ride. I hate getting playa dust on my vehicle but it looks great on my bicycle. And it is a good conversation starter, “Are you sleeping in a tent?”

“Yes, it is right here on my handlebar.” Along with everything else I need is right here on my bike.

Since then it has been a Rides with Friends event. Typically short on riding, but the event is a campout, so long on shooting stars and dark skies. But wait, there’s more. For some it is a pre-Burning Man Party, the calm before the storm (dust storm). It has been paella-on-the-playa. It is a member/volunteer appreciation party. It is our executive director’s, Stacy Wittek’s, birthday-week! Consistent with Friends programing there is always a celebratory component, an educational component, and a conservation component. So many things!

This year I offered riding in, 6.5 miles, from 12 Mile playa access to Meteor Camp at 5 pm on Friday and again 10 am on Saturday. I rode in solo Friday evening. That was fine, I encouraged people to come out any way they could. Meghan Q drove out Friday with her son Atlas. Meghan was on the Rides with Friends trip to the hot springs and micro-playas and the trip with Wildwood Open Lands Foundation to the Lava Beds. Meghan and Atlas brought bikes and shared food and drink. Always appreciated!

Friday night was quiet. About a third of the participants came out for an early set up. I was wondering how the heat and wildfire smoke was affecting peoples decisions to come out. There was a low level haze, a combination of smoke and dust, but overhead the skies were blue. Daytime temperatures were in the upper 90’s and there was wind blowing out of the south, southwest. I am not making a strong case for adventure touring in north west Nevada in August. But maybe the pictures will tell another story. I originally promoted this trip to other bikepackers as a low risk way to test their summer desert skills. “How to carry a swamp cooler on your bike.”

From sunset to late bedtime for me the desert put on a show. Atlas, 5 ½ years old, broke out his glow stick stash and gave us an animated show. The Milky Way was visible from horizon to horizon. The meteor shower was more than what I would see on an average night, but definitely not the exceptional “100 meteors an hour.” We did go on a scorpion hunt, and saw a few. And the temperatures were so comfortable with the occasional gust of a warm breeze.

Pre-dawn is an anxious time. Watching the sky change color, watching the sun rise and being surprised by how quickly it rises above the horizon. And then realizing, here comes the heat. At first the air temperature is pleasant. Then the sun rises to a point where the solar radiation is just beating down on you. You better have your sun protection plan. For me it is long sleeves and pants, sunscreen, a straw hat, sunglasses and plenty of hydration. For most of the day my plan was to hang out under a shade structure.

I went for a little ride at first along the shoreline to the north. I came across a well used campsite tucked in the dunes. I have a plan to ride the shoreline perimeter of the playa, cut short by the Black Rock Desert Wilderness and cronicly wet areas around Gerlach. I was wondering how many areas of impact I would encounter. I would expect the first miles around each playa access point, and a few other sites of points of interest to be impacted. I crossed a road, a well used two track, that led me to a few Russian Olive trees. I am pretty sure I have been through here in scouting for the route used during Black Rock Rendezvous or at least very close. On the map the area is labeled flowing wells. There is grass for grazing a few unhappy cows.

Once back at camp I had to ride back to 12 Mile playa access to meet anyone wanting to ride into camp. The calm morning suddenly had a stiff wind coming out of the south, a head wind for my ride. It is common to say if you are touring in Nevada you can’t complain about the wind. I guess that goes for weather in general and not just in Nevada. It was windy, hot, and dry. I was amazed that I was dripping sweat by time I made it to 12 Mile.

I was stoked to be meeting Kelly Nicholas and Bret Sarnquest of Carson City. Kelly had been on one of FBRHR’s community rides to the Coyote Spring Dunes, but otherwise it was their first rides and campout on the Black Rock. Most importantly they brought the right attitude to want to see, do, and learn it all. I am already looking forward to our next adventures.

Thanks to Bret for sharing there photos of our ride into camp.

We pedalled back with a tailwind and met Meghan and Atlas just outside of camp. I gave Kelly and Bret the lay of the land for camp, very dispersed dispersed camping. My recommendation was close to the bushes but not too close – the scorpions were there first. And I was off to the shade structure.

Eventually the shade structure area was converted into a kitchen to prepare a dinner Playa Pork Tacos. It was a group effort. Going into dinner Stacey Wittek shared the importance of Friends groups to the stewardship of public lands. As an organization that has been around for 25 years, just how important members, volunteers, and donors are. Stacey reaffirmed her dedication to the organization and expressed her gratitude to all who make the magic possible.

After dinner and sunset we rolled into the main events, Will Roger’s Dangerous Margaritas, Damien Cooper and the Dustperados Band, Nick LePalm’s Night Skies talk, and the Meteor Shower Watch Party. I offered a night ride away from camp at 10 pm. Years past I would get a couple of takers. This year I had group! I was wrangling a bag of drunk kittens! Between the margaritas and Kerry Crawford’s water jug of Lemon Drop cocktails so members of the ride were well lubricated.

I emphasided just how absolutely dark it is on the playa. I would be relying on GPS to get us back to camp. My plan was to ride on the “road” on the play north for about a half hour then regroup, turn off our lights, appreciate the darkness, then head back. The darkness was impressive. The marine metaphors are relevant. The meteor shower wasn’t making a bold appearance. It is hard to live up to the hype.

I was back to my tent befor midnight. I was so glad to have GPS because even once I was within the perimeter of the camp I was so disoriented. I had a sunrise ride planned for the early morning, meeting at 5:30 am. I set my alarm for 4:30, a quick sleep.

I had two takers for the sunrise playa crossing, Kelly and Bret! They had done a midday ride the day before, through Cassidy Mine and looping around on Soldier Meadows Road. They had recovered and were ready! We took off across the playa, appreciating the range of textures of the flat ancient lakebed. We stopped to watch a smoky red-orange sunrise. It is flippant to describe it as other worldly, this is our world, get out and experience it!

How the magic is made: Me taking a picture of Bret (upper) taking the picture (lower).

Our goal was the terminus of the endorheic river, the mighty Quinn. The 110 mile river starts in the Santa Rosa Range near McDermitt on the Nevada-Oregon boarder and the mouth of the river is in the Black Rock Desert, less than three miles south of Black Rock Point. We rode into a dry delta, and at 11 miles from camp, we were running out of time to get back to camp for breakfast and possibly going on the stewardship project.

So we beat feet back to camp without exploring the entire delta. But the area is a wild spectacle. In comparison to the year before, it was much drier. I wasn’t planning on doing the stewardship project. It would be enough to pack up and bike out. All said it was another fantastic Perseids Meteor Shower Campout.

By the numbers: The camp was 6.5 miles north of 12 Mile Playa Access. I made that trip 4 times. Saturday morning I rode 5 miles exploring the flowing wells north of camp. Saturday night I led a 8.6 mile night ride. Sunday morning was our 21.7 mile ride to the Quinn. For the weekend I totaled 61 miles with about 500’ of barely noticeable elevation change. Kelly and Bret were looking for a midday ride so I sent them to Cassidy Mine and loop back to 12 Mile via Soldier Meadows Road for 18 miles. A loop to try next year would be to Cassidy Mine then loop north to Lost Spring and back to camp, for 11 miles.

What I rode, what I carried: I rode my Meriwether long-tailed fat bike. The bike is designed to carry a maximum amount of gear over the widest range of terrain. It was under packed. The summer kit is light, but heavy on water. Because the FBRHR provides community water I brought 3L on the bike. I estimate I consumed 9+L. I slept in my 1P tent, enjoyed my REI Flexlite Air Chair (1 lb, $100). I picked this chair from Backpackinglight.com’s review of ultralight camp chairs. I really appreciate this website’s reviews. I brought my new Six Moons Designs  reflective umbrella but didn’t really put it to use. I still think it is a good idea in the desert. The fat bike tires are nice when the texture of the playa changes. Under 5” of tire the terrain can change from hard pack, to crumbling crust, to soft sand without notice. Average speeds are lower on the fat bike, but you are not cursing soft playa. Slowpacking for the win. I made a couple of mistakes, my light fuel canister was a little too light and I didn’t make sure I had all the matching cables between my back-up battery and devices. Nothing too traumatic. I have replaced my Garmin Edge Touring with a Garmin Edge 540 Solar. While there is a lot to get used to, I was particularly interested in the solar application. I estimate I am getting about 30% extended battery life. For long days on the bike touring I think this is a win. I bought some first aid supplies from My Medic to restock my first aid kit. I do this periodically as items get beat up bouncing around over the miles.

If you missed my newsletter on Substack it is here: Apples on Nevada Backroads. This is my 18th installment on my inspiration for adventure touring.