23 October 2011 ZION N/PARK TO DEATH VALLEY N/PARK Sunday

"It's where we go, and what we do when we get there, that tells us who we are."
Joyce Carol Oates

An early departure from Watchman Campground and an epic journey through 4 States in 5 hours - Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California.

Our lunch stop was a real classy joint at Amargosa Valley, complete with Cherry Patch Brothel and Truckies Shower.  Al was keen for a stopover : )

Needless to say, lunch was over quickly and shortly thereafter we arrived at the not-so-welcome-sight of Death Valley National Park and Furnace Creek Campground.  A stop at Zabriskie viewpoint confirmed our worst fears - miles and miles of nothing overlooking Badwater - the lowest point in North America.  Having passed the Nevada (Nuclear) Test Site on the way here, this did not bode well for us.

Undaunted, we set out on foot, once we were settled, to see what we could find, in blazing heat I might add.  To our immense pleasure (and relief) we stumbled upon Furnace Creek Golf Course, right on our doorstep through the bushes and then an avenue of tall date palm trees, -214" below sealevel!  The lowest golf course in the world.  Naturally we had a drink there, and on the recommendation from the barlady (who self-admittedly no longer lives in reality), headed out to the Corkscrew Saloon, 1/2 mile across "town".  Just to make sure of our directions we stopped at the only (and exorbitant) gas station, where we were greeted by a serious urban legend type with "can I help you folks", buckteeth and all!  Presently we found the General Store, bought some jerky and ambled in to the Saloon.  Real simple folk here too with hats on and beards long, complete with juke box playing.  Here, Al tried the local Badwater Ale and I, a Coyote Cooler (Bacardi and Malibu rum).  We merrily wandered our way back to Furnace creek, surrounded by such areas as Devil's Hole, Coffin Peak, Funeral Peak and Deadman Pass.....are you getting the picture?  It's desolate.

In the evening we decided to frequent the 49ner Cafe for dinner which was pleasant, but on our return to our campsite we took a wrong turn in the pitch dark with only the stars and my reading light for guidance.   I was sure I heard coyote growling nearby and bravely fought them off from behind Al as he courageously braced himself, armed with the reading light.

We got home in one piece but were awoken in the night to definate coyote howling! Mmmm.....

The first photo shows the lowest point of -282" below sealevel at Badwater - just shimmering over the mountain.  The third photo is a view of the Furnace Creek Campsite and the last one is the obligatory sunset shot at Furnace Creek.