Sept 20 San Simeon – Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley
We were up and away by just after 7 AM as we are trying to make up
time for the day we lost with the mixed up plane times. Headed to Pasa Robles
thinking it would be a small town but in big – even had an air port. We then
headed on and off roads as we wound our way towards the Panoramic Drive through
Death Valley. Around Pasa Robles is a huge wine growing area. As we headed
towards Bakersfield, we passed though a huge valley where we saw hundreds of
acres of pistachio and almond trees. Apparently everything grows well in this
valley. Interspersed with the fruit trees was a huge bank of oil wells. On one
or two of the hills were banks of wind turbines.
Found the Mojave Desert to be really pretty in a stark kind of way.
Huge mts in the distance that were blue, while the ones close to us were
striated in bands of colour. Hardly any foliage on the ground. Saw a few
deserted homes. Even found Ballarat – (named from the Australian Gold Fields)
but abandoned in early 1900’s.
As we headed up the pass into death valley, we were very aware of
the climb. Sign warned us to switch off air conditioning as the engine might
boil. Passed one car that had stopped because it was boiling. The road
virtually hugged the cliff and we climbed a 1000m and then another 1000m until
we were at 6000m. The road descended then into Death Valley. When we got out of
the car, the hot air just hit you!! It was 106 F or 41C.
Staying the night at Stovepipe in Death Valley and we got the last
room. We must have travelled nearly 400 miles today.
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