A lie in at last! I woke at around 5:30am and dozed until 6am. Not bad for me, that!
Very quietly, I tidied the room, packed up the camera/tech rucksack, had a shower and packed my bag. Washed out all the bidons, and the large “souvenir Mirage” drink cups, packed the (not-so) coolbag and hauled all of the above to the car.
With a fair bit of trepidation, I pressed the tailgate button, wondering if anything would happen. Thankfully, the tailgate lifted, and I threw all the bags in.
A quick check that the car started (it did), and a 5 minutes rev of the engine without the aircon, lights, or “entertainment system”, before locking up and heading back to the room.
Jane was up, and delighted that the dodgy GPS meant that without leaving her pit, her Pokemon avatar had walked about half a mile. Not sure what that means, but she was happy, so that’s fine by me.
Now the grotty bit, the long walk through the casino, lobby, walkway, lift and car park, to ditch the remaining bags in the car, before checking out of the hotel, and checking in to Denny’s for one last time (I hope – I’m a tad “Dennied Out”).
After another monster breakfast, that included about 2 litres of Diet Coke, as well as poached eggs on muffins with hash browns, we got back to the car to start our next adventure.
It’s roughly a 3-hour drive from the Mirage to what is now known as the “Oasis at Furnace Creek”, which will be the last time I refer to it as that. It will always be Furnace Creek Ranch to us, it’s name when Jane and I were last there. Which is coincidentally the last time I razor-shaved my bonce (head).
Having set up the sat nav to route us th Furnace Creek via the Extra-Terrestrial Highway, we remembered we needed “supplies” (sweets, crisps, cordial, and water), so I plumbed in the Walmart Super Centre and we set off.
Grabbing fuel on the way ($3.12/US Gal), expecting extortionate rates at Death Valley, we got to the Supermarket in good time. So much so, we were all taken in by the clearance “bargains”, walking out with a “Dri-Fit” lightweight T-shirt ($3) for me & two pairs of cotton shorts for Jane (2x $2). My Dad would be proud! He liked a deal, did Cliff.
Another 20minutes further on, I got spooked by the road we were on. Just didn’t seem right.
Bugger! The satnav has dropped the Extra Testicle Highway for the supermarket. I pulled over to replan.
Unfortunately, the geology ‘round here means that basically between here and the Pacific Coast, the plates got squished up into North/South mountain ranges. Going east-west in a car, well basically you can’t. To go via The Alien Cafe (in Paul, the movie) would be an additional 400 miles/5h driving. No thanks. We carried on, although I was fuming with myself!
We got to the Park and turned South to go to Dante’s View, at over 5,400ft up. At the top, you get (yet more panoramic) views of the whole length of Death Valley, with the Panamint Range of Mountains, in the background. It was a balmy 34°C.
Strange to think that just over half an hour away we’ll be down there, and over 5,500ft lower, and therefore below sea level.
After a nice little hike to an overlook, we got back in the car and headed to Zabriskie Point, a huge Borax field, very yellow in colour, but more pressing, a more than balmy 48°C!
You breathe in and it burns your throat. My sunglasses frames were too hot to touch. As was my camera, and GoPro.
Charlie had stayed in the car (still tired, still teenage!), and we know dogs die in hot cars. No one ever mentions pubescent kids. I presume therefore, they don’t?
Well for once, responsibility kicked in and I followed Janes advice and headed back to the car. And Charlie.
He wasn’t a husk, so we set off the 8 minute drive to our accommodation for the next two nights.
It’s undergoing a big refurb and remodel at the moment, so much so, we couldn’t recognise where we stayed last time, albeit 18 years ago.
Checked in, upper floor room, with nice balcony (which is too hot to sit out on). Filled the ice bucket. And went for tea at the cafe.
Even the few hundred yard walk was almost too much to bear, it’s so hot. Good fun all the same, though.
Nachos with chicken and beef all ‘round, with a pint of West Coast IPA for me, quickly followed by a pint of Ballast Point Sculpin. Both nice, although the West Coast seemed pretty feisty!
Back to the room. Jane did some “dobying” and I went out and took some photos of sunset over the Panamint, from our doorstep Golf Course.
And now to bed! Aiming for another sunrise tomorrow (5:54am), so would need to be set up by 4:30am latest. Also aiming for a Milky Way photo tomorrow night, after sunset, so a long day, with lots of driving in the Park.
Hence calling it a night!
Catch you tomorrow!
Cheers!