We were up at 6am today, had a quick breakfast, got ready, packed the cooler box and headed off to Death Valley.
We drove through a little town called Beatty to fill up with petrol and took a few pictures of the Soughdough Saloon. This saloon is where some scenes from the movie “The Island” were shot as well as in the surrounding area.
In total it was about a 90 minute drive and boy was this a sight to see!! On entering the Nature Reserve the temperature was 66 degrees F (about 25 degrees C) and when we reached the bottom of the Valley it was 96 degrees F (about 35 degrees C). It was also rather windy. This area is the home of the famous Joshua Tree and a Desert Five Spot, which I managed to capture.
We drove through to “Stovepipe Wells Village” where I had a photo taken with the local Sheriff. He was most obliging and enjoyed posing!
We went to Furnace Creek Ranch for lunch. Doug had a southern fried steak, Sue had meatloaf, Dereck had a burger and I had liver and onions – very delicious!
Then we headed off to “Devil’s Golf Course”. Only a picture can describe this place ….
Then we went to the “Badwater Basin” which is the lowest elevation in the US. It is 282 feet (82m) below sea level. This was quite spectacular and when we walked out on the white strip (you see in the photo), it was quite an incredible feeling, being so small in such a vast amount of open space. At this point the average summer temperature is 47 deg C. Fortunately we came on a cool day with the temp being only 35 deg C.
The last place we visited was Zabriskie Point and was so windy, we were battling to stand still. Again this was so awesome to see these outcrops, the colours and how huge they were.
We left there at about 4pm, stopped off at a small town called Pahrump to have refreshments and got back to our hotel at about 6pm. Sat around with drinks chatting and listening to music on our iPods, and of course mine was getting ripped off – ha ha, although both Dereck and Doug were singing to a couple of them!!!!!
Death Valley travelers signing off ….
3 comments:
More wonderful photographs, brings back a lot of memories, Death Valley was a place I thought would be a bit of a waste of time (all that way with little to see) but its a place on my list to return to, it was eerie! and so very different for your days 5 and 6.
Jose
Death Valley is an amazing place ... which looks like one can hear one's own breathing in this vastness. Stunning pics. Hugs from Desire
Hi. Just been catching up with your awesome travels. The photos can only lead to some spectacular scrapping layouts when you return. America's certainly a land of opportunity for travellers - variety in absolutely every aspect of life. Enjoy. Luv Linda M
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