2. Death Valley and four-wheeling Titus Canyon.
Arriving at Death Valley, our first stop was the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. We'd been here before, back in February 2014. That was one our our first trips out in the new Travel Trailer, a 29' (not so big because National Park Campgrounds often have a 30' limit). It was that trip when we had gone on to Southern California that we realized the big TT was too big. We had been used to the pop-up Truck Camper for 10 years and thought because of retirement, we were supposed to go larger. Big mistake. But you live and learn. Later that Spring we found Lil' Queeny and began the long, loving restoration. So far this trip - HUGE benefits to going smaller. We'll get to all of that as we go.
So we liked the Furnace Creek campground called Sunset, across the road from the fancier place called Furnace Creek campground. Bought two nights at Sunset. Whoops, wrong one. What we REALLY wanted was Texas Springs campground, above Sunset (Sunset being basically just a big parking lot). So went back down to the Visitor Center and paid an additional $2 per night, and got an extra night for a total of three.
We set up the patio mats, chairs and awning, and the Citronella candle cans (doubling as weights to control the awning in a breeze) and enjoyed the warmth - finally!
People from surrounding campsites were enjoying climbing on the surrounding hills.
Since in past we had done the Bad Water Basin, Artists Point Drive, etc, this time we went north. Then went off road at Keane Wonder Mine for three miles. Not bad. She off-roaded pretty good! In the mine parking lot we came across a couple who had built their off-road RV out of an E350 chassis van. Wished I'd got a picture. They had been all over, including the Arctic Ocean IN WINTER! The woman was intrigued by Lil' Queeny, so we showed it to her. Her husband was less interested.
She told us to do Titus Canyon, a 24 mile four wheel drive road near there and said, "sure - you can do it in this". So we did.
It wasn't as easy as one might think, but we got up to Red Pass, then headed down. Oh sure, it was late in the day. It was a bit harrowing, but we were committed. And what's a shake down if you don't shake things down? Yup, looks like I need some better cabinet locks if we're going to go off road. Only the Salsa bottle opened, and we only broke two dishes!
We stopped at the ghost town site to clean up.
Of course, descending from the pass to the regular highway (1000' elevation) was quite a descent.
Took some time too, getting out of there in the dark.
Another night and another morning.
Then climbed out via Panamint and overnighted at the Palmdale, CA Walmart - same place as last time.
