Changes in Altitude 6/27/2009 Part I

For weeks we had been telling our children we were going to California. It didn't mean much outside of automotive prison to them. Well, on this day they finally set foot on Cali. soil.









We left McWilliams Campground fairly early hoping to make Death Valley before the heat set in. Over the past few days we had made 4 or 5 runs down our mountain but this would be our last trip down our from our alpine home, and I wanted to capture the decent from from pine forest to scrubby pine to Joshua Tree desert... on pixels. We passed a biker grinding his way up the way we had come, and well...he still has my respect.






We hit the hi-way and headed toward Death Valley. Needing fuel we planned a stop at the next town fearing California fuel prices. As it turned out that town was Mercury and it consisted of two gas stations and one military base. At least, we decided it was most likely a military base. Inside the station we bought some bottled water for inside the van. We had a few gallon jugs stored in nooks throughout the camper, but I felt it was best to keep them for ready for any dicey situations that may come up while in Death Valley. The clerk immediately pegged me as a North Carolinian; he instantly set off my gaydar. :) Apparently he had grown up in Albamarle NC, a town I often drove through on my way to Chapel Hill during college. It was nice to see someone from home.




It was getting close to noon when we stopped at rest area at the intersection of 95 and 373. Some unlucky folks thought the intersection a good location for jiffy type stores. I don't know where they went wrong in their thinking, but the decay spoke for the reality. One building was boarded and the the other was starving.




Filled with PB&J we headed into Death Valley by way of 373. Sixteen miles later we entered California. Cali. itself was never our goal, but it had somehow grown into one. The ingrained "Cali or Bust!" history? Was it all the "We're going to California." explaining to the kids? Whatever. We crossed the California state line!




Into Death valley.

Our first stop after entering the park was a potty break at a pit toilet. Pit toilets don't work well in the heat. Yuk. Our next stop was at a view point over looking the valley. The park had closed off what had been a nice drive up to the viewing area and turned it into an extremely generous foot path. Ian volunteered to go with me while the others remained behind in the A/C. We trudged up the hill together in the heat. I don't know what he expected to find up there but he didn't find it. Once there he came to a stop and suddenly donned his unwound toy soldier look. He does that when he doesn't get what he wants. His head drops and his shoulders go slack. Disappointment. It was a perversely wonderful experience for me. He soon perked up and I got a few more pics of him with the valley in the distance followed by some of him walking back to the van. An excellent moment.




It was hot enough after entering the valley that turning off the van would likely mean a permanently hot van for the day. The A/C would simply never be able to catch up again. It was that hot. And it only got hotter at Badwater. Although there are lower points in the valley they require a walk and the family wasn't up to a hike. Badwater is conveniently and more importantly safely located just off the road. No thirsty walks.





We all walked down to the lake bed leaving the running van behind. There was a breeze consistently blowing off the dry lake bed. Ever feel the whosh of warmth from a quickly opened oven? That was the unending breeze blowing off the lake! I like experiencing the unexperienced but my family was calling it for what it was. Uncomfortable. I would have enjoyed swimming in the heat a little longer, but the family was scattering. I might have to entitle the photo of them in front of the dry lake "the scattering" as I couldn't squeeze off the shot quickly enough. They were chasing visions of A/C. So yep, that was our six minutes of Badwater.

The gas tank was getting a little light (not a good thing) so after a stop at the visitors center we made our way to Stovepipe Wells. Even at 118 degrees it was noticeably cooler at Stovepipe Wells than at Badwater. Heck, it was almost comfy at Stovepipe Wells. Gas, food, water and camping were all there. We fueled up and began the climb out of the nearly 120 degree Death Valley with the trailer in tow....






out