Death Valley Daze part 2
Tuesday morning, nice and brisk. Time for Coffee then hit the road and go exploring but first Ruth noticed that one of the full hookup sites that the Ranger said might come available was unoccupied so we pulled up the stakes and moved over then ran down to the entrance station to pay the upgrade fee and now we had full luxury.
Hey its that Roadrunner Wyle was looking for
on the road again...
First stop, Zabriskie Point. Incredible colors and textures
At the parking lot we ran into a couple from Switzerland touring around in their Bigfoot TC that they store in Las Vegas when back in Europe. Great folks.
Well we wanted to go hiking with vistas so back up the road we went to Dante's View. Turning off the main road there were sings limiting vehicles to 25' and no trailers. They also warned that the last quarter mile featured a 15% grade. The top is steep and has many tight hairpin turns but the F350 diesel breezed on up to the end of the road.
Heading away from all the tourists that hiked down ridge we went up and had the trail to ourselves for a few hours. The views were stunning
Badwater, over 5000' below us
at some point a demon snuck up behind Ruth at Dante's View
From the highs to the lows off to Badwater we go...
the Badwater parking lot can you spot the sea level sign above my rig?
Lowest place in the United States
looking back up at Dante's View
the Salty Dog
With the shortest days of the year twilight comes quickly so we headed up to Artisans Pallet as the moon rose over the mountains
another glorious last light as we pulled back into camp.
I'd like to stay a week or two but I really must be going....
Ah yes too short a stay but my Dad is 93 and I really don't know how many more Christmases I will get to spend with him. We had a day to drive to Los Angeles then spend Dec. 24,25, and 26 with him then drive home on the 27th. Not that we were going to skip sight seeing on the way out...
We would havliked to have gone to Scottys Castle but it was still closed from the flood damage
Approaching Stovepipe wells and the Mesquite Sand Dunes
The grade on 190 dropping into Panamint Valley
that pesky coyote again
Just before we made the turn onto Panamint Valley road, the camper shook and there was a mighty roar as an Air Force jet buzzed us at less than 200 feet and well over 400 miles per hour. Ruth's words were '”deck flight and he used us for target practice” and she would know.
Panamint Valley rd, parts of it had the pavement washed away en route to Trona
The road grader had been through, miles of washboard but the truck just floated through it.
rush hour
I have to say that there is a nasty surprise on the road as you enter Trona, the desert version of frost heaves. I never saw them and was doing 55 when we got launched into the air. It took me 5 launches before I could slow down enough to keep all 4 wheels on the pavement. I pulled over to check the contents of the TC. Everything stayed stowed. That's when I noticed the car pulled in behind us. He leaned out and said holy hell both you and I were airborne on those bumps, how did you keep it together so well. I just smiled.
Trona is a factory town. You would only live there if you worked for the mining company
http://www.svminerals.com/default.aspx
foiled leaving Trona
back into the high desert with high winds and blowing sand
sand storms
hmmm my kind of motel....or not
Finally we reached my Fathers house
He looks good for 93
off to Christmas dinner
Sis and her husband Hugo
Me and Ruth
and on Saturday afternoon we even hit the archery range
Great trip I could have spent at least two weeks exploring Death Valley. It was great spending Christmas with my dad and for once we had a trip with no injuries, mishaps or breakdowns woohoo
I hope you enjoyed tagging along
Hey its that Roadrunner Wyle was looking for
on the road again...
First stop, Zabriskie Point. Incredible colors and textures
At the parking lot we ran into a couple from Switzerland touring around in their Bigfoot TC that they store in Las Vegas when back in Europe. Great folks.
Well we wanted to go hiking with vistas so back up the road we went to Dante's View. Turning off the main road there were sings limiting vehicles to 25' and no trailers. They also warned that the last quarter mile featured a 15% grade. The top is steep and has many tight hairpin turns but the F350 diesel breezed on up to the end of the road.
Heading away from all the tourists that hiked down ridge we went up and had the trail to ourselves for a few hours. The views were stunning
Badwater, over 5000' below us
at some point a demon snuck up behind Ruth at Dante's View
From the highs to the lows off to Badwater we go...
the Badwater parking lot can you spot the sea level sign above my rig?
Lowest place in the United States
looking back up at Dante's View
the Salty Dog
With the shortest days of the year twilight comes quickly so we headed up to Artisans Pallet as the moon rose over the mountains
another glorious last light as we pulled back into camp.
I'd like to stay a week or two but I really must be going....
Ah yes too short a stay but my Dad is 93 and I really don't know how many more Christmases I will get to spend with him. We had a day to drive to Los Angeles then spend Dec. 24,25, and 26 with him then drive home on the 27th. Not that we were going to skip sight seeing on the way out...
We would havliked to have gone to Scottys Castle but it was still closed from the flood damage
Approaching Stovepipe wells and the Mesquite Sand Dunes
The grade on 190 dropping into Panamint Valley
that pesky coyote again
Just before we made the turn onto Panamint Valley road, the camper shook and there was a mighty roar as an Air Force jet buzzed us at less than 200 feet and well over 400 miles per hour. Ruth's words were '”deck flight and he used us for target practice” and she would know.
Panamint Valley rd, parts of it had the pavement washed away en route to Trona
The road grader had been through, miles of washboard but the truck just floated through it.
rush hour
I have to say that there is a nasty surprise on the road as you enter Trona, the desert version of frost heaves. I never saw them and was doing 55 when we got launched into the air. It took me 5 launches before I could slow down enough to keep all 4 wheels on the pavement. I pulled over to check the contents of the TC. Everything stayed stowed. That's when I noticed the car pulled in behind us. He leaned out and said holy hell both you and I were airborne on those bumps, how did you keep it together so well. I just smiled.
Trona is a factory town. You would only live there if you worked for the mining company
http://www.svminerals.com/default.aspx
foiled leaving Trona
back into the high desert with high winds and blowing sand
sand storms
hmmm my kind of motel....or not
Finally we reached my Fathers house
He looks good for 93
off to Christmas dinner
Sis and her husband Hugo
Me and Ruth
and on Saturday afternoon we even hit the archery range
Great trip I could have spent at least two weeks exploring Death Valley. It was great spending Christmas with my dad and for once we had a trip with no injuries, mishaps or breakdowns woohoo
I hope you enjoyed tagging along
