Road Trip Day Fifteen
Into Death Valley today. We climbed the road from Armagosa to cross the Owlshead Mountains before starting our descent to the valley floor a few thousand feet below. There was a fair fair bit of traffic on the road in and out including a biker gang and and several lone cyclists. Now, it is not the hottest time of the year and the Valley is not the cauldron it can be but this environment did not really inspire me for a bike ride.
We stopped for a look over the badlands at Zabriskie Point before continuing down and through Furnace Creek. The temperature was hot but bearable even without AC. The average March temp is 28 degrees Celsius but in July the average is 47 and the record 57!! We could not have come here in a rental RV at that time of year and I am happy to say I would not have been bothered by that restriction. It really is not a place to take lightly.
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| Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California |
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| Back up to Sea Level. Death Valley, California |
We crossed the main desert floor, dropping below sea level as we did so and carried on through Stovepipe Wells before climbing the 5000 feet pass over the Panamint Mountains to leave the valley. There are signs warning to turn off AC before starting this ascent but the 6.2 litre petrol engine in the Ford F350 didn't even break a sweat - even with the AC running! Spectacular view back into the valley.
We passed through Lone Pine which nestles in the shadow of snow capped Mount Whitney - the highest point in the US contiguous states, Death Valley being the lowest. And all just 85 miles apart. I called Yosemite Park to explain we were not going to make the first night of our four night booking but expected to arrive the next day. The driving pressure off, we travelled north along the 395 and stopped 50 miles or so later when we spied a sign for Keogh RV park with hot springs and a swimming pool.
A lovely afternoon messing in the open air pool and spring before a relaxing evening back in the RV. Only 150 miles tomorrow to get to Yosemite and then time to forget the driving for a few days and enjoy some wonderful scenery.
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| Look at me Dad! |
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| Keogh Pool and Hot Spring |
the pool looks could after all that hot sand....shame you did not make the 4 nighter.
ReplyDeleteDid you mean: "the pool looks good after all that hot sand..." by any chance? Yes it was lovely.
ReplyDeleteGlad the weather in Bolton is making up for you not coming with us!