Death Valley

Death Valley is really awesome. It's the lowest, driest and hottest place in North America. Pretty cool that Mt Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, is only 80 miles away. Sure it's crazy hot, but if you know that going in, you can appreciate the weirdness ad beauty of it all.

Heat sometimes makes my camera a little woozy.

Aww...it's bad water

The temp was actually 110 until they got close to the sign and cooled it off. The hottest we recorded later in the day was 115.

What I don't have a picture of is us (mainly Jim) helping some people in a rented sports car. They were trying to make a u-turn and got the front of the car stuck in soft sand of the shoulder. As we passed, we saw a van had stopped to help too. Then a truck joined us soon after. We used our jack, leveling blocks, tow rope, shovels, and popsicles, and the pickup driver's vehicle to pull it out. All in all, a good day for humanity! The kids got a giant muffin from the stuck guys. Also diversity! Our crew included Americans, men, women, kids, possible Australian or British accents and possible Indian or Pakistani accents.

Don't ask Laura to take pics for you while you're driving unless you are ok with toes in the shot. I'm ok with it.

We wondered if this guys is an ultra marathoner or something. He took some pictures with a group of tourists, so maybe somebody famous?

Lots of different colors in the landscape.

It's very pretty.

We walked up to this lookout point.

Death Valley is so weird, and beautiful, and I hope to go back sometime in the winter.

One thing after another!

So much catching up to do, but not tonight. Been lots of places since the last post, but no blogging for different reasons. Bad internet, too tired, have too much fun, trying to make the RV drain work...

Anyway, here's a couple pics from Death Valley till I get my act together. No promises though-we're on the push home and will be driving long days. 

 

Today, we drove from Yanks to Lone Pine, a cute little town in a valley amongst the Sierra Mountains. This park was very full of weekenders there for the holiday (July 4). We had a beautiful, but barky dog nextdoor named Orien. The kids tried out the pool, but...

Came racing right back saying it was ice cold and full of small children and angry moms. Since we haven't had to share the pool with anyone, this was a surprise. Also since we were back to the heat of 100+, it was surprising they found the pool cold. Anyway, we stayed to ourselves and kept the cooties at bay.

There were some fun things at the park, including a tortoise area

And a horseshoe saguaro! When we lived in San Diego, our college friend Ryan's parents lived in Apple Valley outside LA. They cared for us so nicely and always invited us for holidays if we couldn't get back to our own parents'. They too had a horseshoe saguaro, which was always a great topic of interest and hilarity. So fun to see another one!

We saw bats catching bugs

And Mt Whitney, the highest elevation is the US, was just nextdoor.

Michelle, my photography gifted great friend, fixed me up with Photoshop. Thank you a bunch!

Our stationary day turned out lovely. It looked like desert, buy was deceivingly near the coast and only in the 80s with a good wind. The pool was rather chilly in the evenings, but lovely mid-day. We all went swimming together and the 3 of them messed up their toes pretty badly, but didn't realize it till we got back. So the pool time was fun, but lots of Band-Aids and limping since. 

The freckles are darkening

Delivery!

Brooding

Ok the flip side

We must be getting towards the end the trip. We all keep saying things like "I'll be glad to have ___ again" or "I won't miss ___".

One popular thought for me is that "I will be glad to have counter space and a sink at the same time again."

A mixed up day

Lots of unknowns today, lots of figuring out stuff, lots of different places. 

We spent a long morning at the RV park, which is unusual for us. Check out was 12 and we just made it. Jim had at least 3 work calls: 6am, 7am and 9am. The kids went to the beach, Jim and I worked on a plan for the next few days, especially July 4. We actually have a place to stay thru July 4! That's 4 nights in a row! A new record for us.

Adam's hair is long long long! If anyone knows Photoshop, I'd love to have this pic with the rock edited out so I can see his profile.

We drove around the Monterey peninsula to see how the fancy pants people go to the beach. They pay for parking, that's the biggest difference.

We also tried to swim (instead of just wade) one last time at a state beach on the end of the peninsula. It was ridiculously windy and cold, so we lasted about 5 minutes. We're pretty tough, but this just wasn't fun. So we headed inland.

To another National Park: Pinnacles

We just did a short hike to a bat cave that was closed, but we really enjoyed the hike, even the kids!

And the drive there was an adventure. It's a one lane road for a lot of the way, which is interesting when you're in an RV and meet someone coming the other way. 

Now we're settled in at Yanks RV resort (heheh) and will be staying for 2 days we needed to sit still for a bit.

Down the coast #4

Tunnels are so cool! And scary when you're in an above-average vehicle. Will you fit? Let's find out...hold you're breath... duck! Phew! We made it! (jk, we know how tall we are)

The Golden Gate bridge!

Tunnel!

The beach was a bit of a hike from this night's stay in Marina, CA. But the kids made it work. Wonder what they're talking about?

Down the coast #3

The next night, we stayed at an eerily quiet marina in Ft Bragg, CA with a lot of boats and RVs, but absolutely no noise or movement. It was peaceful and beautiful, but a little creepy.

my poor contact solution bottle. All this up and down in elevation is really messing with it's emotions.

There was a big ship being built or repaired near the marina

Tide pools!

And sea glass!

How do kids squat like this?