Death Valley and Joshua Tree: ROAD TRIP 2017
In March 2017, l
decided it was time to revisit Joshua Tree (hadn’t been there for a few
decades) and to finally see Death Valley.
My friend Kathryn Newberg shared the driving and the fun!
Our first stop was in Riverside, CA. We stayed at the beautiful Mission Inn in
Riverside CA! Not bad for a first night on the road.
Joshua Tree
National Park, a mere two hours from Los Angeles, is known as a rock climbers
paradise. All kinds of unusual formations to climb, hike, or just look at. This
one resembles a skull, and is located right at the side of a park road.
There is also plenty
of other flora to enjoy in Joshua Tree. At the south entrance to the park (Cottonwood) there
are carpets of wildflower blooms in late Spring.
Nearing Death
Valley National Park, the amazing rock formations began. I am awed by this Park
and so glad I am here now while it's chilly ... 95F or thereabouts. So glad my
old Audi can take the heat.
DEATH VALLEY
history: borax mining is one of few enterprises that succeeded for a time. The
term "20 mule team" originated here; that was how borax was
transported to train depots.
On our way to
the lowest point in North America: Badwater. Almost 300 feet below sea level. (you can see this on my Audi dashboard as we were getting close. At this time of year, the
dried briny basin of white salts extends for miles. Almost time for a
sundowner!
Are you drinking
enough liquids? This chart provides an easy way to tell, courtesy of the Death
Valley national park bathrooms.
A delightful stop in Death Valley National Park – – the Ubehebe Crater. Formed 2000 years ago by an explosion of superheated underground steam, it is 1/2 mile across and 500 feet deep. First view from my camera and the other from Park info.
Our National
Parks do a very good job of signposting and otherwise informing visitors. One
example: Ashford Mills:
Here’s that
sundowner! Sitting on the tailgate with
a cold beer in hand. Ahhhh….!
The Furnace
Creek Inn in Death Valley is a real oasis, and the location is impossible to
beat! We drove past the Inn at first
because we thought it was a mirage rising above Death Valley.
View from
portico accessible from side door of our room
No photoshop
needed - a quiet place to sit and contemplate, on the hotel grounds. Burbling
water, bird calls, insects skimming the pond. Perfect.
sunset as seen from dining room.....
Kathryn and I enjoyed a fantastic meal in the dining
room here and some great conversation and fun/drinks with 5 men in kilts who
happened to be there. Thank you Kathryn Newberg for being your usual charming self and thanks also to
Johanan Wolfson for sending the great photo of his group (below)
ONE OF THE BEST
THINGS ABOUT ROAD TRIPS ... is visiting friends. IN LAS VEGAS: Audrey Hill and
her granddaughter helped me select my mother-of-the-groom dress (Audrey is wife
of my '76 HBS classmate Don Hill). Fran Turner and her neighbor Leslie and I
saw KA, a Cirque du Soleil production on the Las Vegas Strip. Lovely Sunday
lunch with Erin Giles (formerly Erin Christensen when she worked at Keck & Co) and her five
children.
I-5
... last leg of ROAD TRIP
from San Francisco to Riverside to Joshua Tree to Death Valley to Las Vegas,
and home. 2000 miles. It is good to be reminded just how incredible California
is as a beautiful and diverse state, both in terms of scenery and people.
