Day 55, Wednesday, 02/20/08

We went to bed Sunday night thinking we were heading for Fresno in the morning. Checking the weather report Monday morning we saw a weather warning out for the Fresno area indicating rain and snow coming that way. Talking to others lead us to believe we are about two months early to really enjoy the National Parks in the Fresno area. So we switched plans and headed to Death Valley NP taking the motor home down and around to come in from Death Valley Junction which is much more RV friendly.

Sorry Dan that we missed you. We tried. Maybe after DV.

Drove 325 miles Monday down and around Death Valley’s southern extreme to enter via the motor home friendly route. It really was a non-event. The direct route from Lone Pine into DV was going to be hard on Blueboy, but about 200 miles shorter. Well, we are here and no burnt brakes so I figure I’m money ahead despite an additional $125.00 in gas.

We hoped the day after the four day holiday weekend would grant us easy access to the best sites to camp. Wrong! Death Valley is full even after a holiday. On the way in we saw what seemed like thousands of RV’s coming back out of the National Park and the Off Road Recreational Vehicle Ares of Federal Land Use Locations. Interstate 15 heading West was bumper to bumper for miles and miles. Thankfully we were heading East! Almost every RV was a 5^th wheel toy-hauler, a class A pulling a toy-trailer, or motor home of any sort pulling a jeep. These Californian’s know how to go to the desert to play!

We are in Furnace Creek, but not at the best campground. It’s good, but no shade, no fire ring, and no picnic table. Actually it’s on what used to be the airport. It’s just a flat parking lot. But we like it. Not crowded, great views, and close to everything. We don’t need the hook-ups at this time so no problem, but in the hotter months it would be a big plus, if not a necessity to have the A/C available. We have a water source and a dump station, and electricity from the “on board” generator 7am – 9pm. But no cell service and internet only up at the Visitors Center.

Tomorrow we explore!

Tuesday,

It was a cool 38 this morning, not what one would expect from Death Valley. But then, Death Valley is nothing like anything most people expect anyway. We certainly have a respect for the area after just a few days here.

Just the other day we were at the base of the highest point in the lower 48 – Mt. Whitney @ 14, 450 ft. – and here we are camping at 196 feet below sea level tonight. Wow! The lowest point in North America is at Badwater @ 282 feet below sea level which we will drive to tomorrow.

It almost never rains here, just 1.8 inches per year, but the forecast is for a good possibility of rain the rest of the week. Maybe even a thunderstorm! It would be a rare opportunity to be here if and when that happens. Blue skies sure make for better picture taking, but a downpour here in the desert with the chance for a flash flood has our juices flowing. But the park is so big that it could rain and flood in one part and we would not even know it.

We did a lot of sightseeing today including a 2 mile canyon hike. Left the dogs for 3 & ½ hours, came back for lunch, then left for another 3 & ½ hours. While Ellen prepared another fabulous dinner I attended a Ranger program on the big floods of 2004 here at the Park.

No cell service and no internet so if anyone has tried to contact us we just are “out of touch”. I’m going to take the computer to the Visitor Center Tomorrow where I can get online and post the last few days events and pictures if the connection is “high-speed”, but if not I’ll have a lot for you soon.

We like it here and will probable spend 5 days or more. So it may be somewhere around Las Vegas or Laughlin this weekend before we get back to “civilization”. However, civilization begins to seem more and more like the desert than it does life with all the amenities. There is so much to see and do out here, with “here” meaning this great and wonderful USA that it sure seems a shame that we had to wait most of our lives to see and experience it. What a life changing trip(s). I think we all should travel before settling into careers so we really know what we want to do when we grow up. I think I would be a geologist. But too late now! So many people get stuck in jobs right after education and never get to seriously see the world until they retire. I think it’s all backwards!

Anyway, enough of my rattling on! We really enjoy the travels and wish all our family and friends could be here too. Wouldn’t that be a party!

Wednesday,

It was 55 this morning, but cloudy and rain was in the air. We drove around for about another 3 1/2 hours and did get to Badwater, the lowest place in the US. Before we got back it was raining. We are in the hottest, driest, sunniest place in North America, and it's cloudy, raining, and cool. Go Figure!!

I obviously found a wi-fi hot spot to update the blog but it's too cold sitting outside here at the Visitors Center to upload the many pictures we have to share with you.

I'll come back tomorrow dressed a little warmer. It looks like we won't see sun around here until Sunday or Monday. We will be here tonight (Wednesday) and Thursday for sure, before heading out for maybe Lake Havasu.