5/17/23
Yesterday before heading out to Tehachapi, Paul checked all the fluids in the RV, car and generator in preparation for the heat of Death Valley NP. Both vehicles were gassed up and ready to roll. So far we have avoided paying more than $4.79 for gas, which was in Tucson. We even found $3.99 in California Central Valley.
Travel tip: if you haven’t found the GasBuddy app, check it out. Free app that shows you gas stations, prices and directions. It’s particularly helpful when you are approaching a state line. Gas up on the cheaper side of the border!
We woke up on the ranch today watching the horses prance around the field. We packed up and headed to Death Valley. The drive was filled with mountains, brown and gorgeous. We both have gained a greater appreciation of the desert… it looks so barren but on closer inspection, it is so beautiful. The drive, however lonely driving separately is, is a big part of the experience. Snow capped mountains cascading down to salt flat that changes to a lake, then desert. It’s amazing all of that can be in one picture!
We chugged along and came to Panamint Springs overlook. WOW!
A gazillion grasshoppers all of the sudden flying about, crashing on the windshield, birds everywhere trying to feast on them then around the corner this view!
We didn’t know it but there is a switchback mountain road we have to traverse downward to get to our resting place, Panamint Springs. Paul is a champion motor home driver. He took his time and made it down unscathed! We found our campground and pulled in with this view!
There happened to be a restaurant/grill across the street so burgers it is for dinner. Early to bed for tomorrow is going to be a hot day in the valley and we will see what we can see.
Thursday 5/18
Well, they don’t call it Death Valley for nothing…107 ish ( the thermometer on the sunny side of the rv registered 123 before we got outside)! Three water bottles and 2 extra gallons of electrolyte water should do it! With Harley in tow, we set out on the days journey… starting with a 9 mile uphill and 15 mile downhill over the mountain!
Warning posted: “turn OFF your a/c for the next 20 miles to avoid overheating “. What about the people inside that ate overheating?!? Actually it wasn’t too bad with the windows down for a bit, a little smidge cooler in the hills. At the top of the mountain the elevation was 4956 feet. We certainly tested the new transmission!
Mesquite sand dunes was first on the list. Sand dunes in the middle of the desert. I love the designs the wind makes as it wafts over the sands.
Badwater Basin is next at MINUS 282 feet below sea level, the lowest place in North America.
Artist drive took us through the hills and around the narrow bends were colorful rocks which was called the Artists Palette.
Zabriski Point brought another spectacular view of the golden colored hills.
What we realized was “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. If you let yourself get passed the heat and seemingly barren land, you will see beauty.
This ends our 17 days in California! From windy Joshua Tree to the Pacific Ocean to Sequoias, Kings Canyon, Yosemite and Death Valley. Off to the Grand Canyon….
Sounds like you need to get some walkie talkies so you can talk to each other in the road!!
We thought about that!