That truly was my dilemma this morning. I had no idea. I actually had great concerns about Death Valley and had first refused to go thru it. Gary convinced me it was safe and would save the long drive around it. We didn’t get out till 9 AM and one lady commented to Taryn that she was surprised that we hadn’t left already. That made me nervous.
As we drove I read from our Death Valley guide so we were familiar with its history and what we would see. This was all very interesting. We learned there are 1,042 plant species, 51 native mammals, 346 types of birds, 36 classifications of reptiles, 6 types of fish, and five species of amphibians that can survive in this extreme climate. Gary provided an experiment on air pressure as we watched an empty water bottle collapse as we drove below sea level.
As we drove I read from our Death Valley guide so we were familiar with its history and what we would see. This was all very interesting. We learned there are 1,042 plant species, 51 native mammals, 346 types of birds, 36 classifications of reptiles, 6 types of fish, and five species of amphibians that can survive in this extreme climate. Gary provided an experiment on air pressure as we watched an empty water bottle collapse as we drove below sea level.
Our route took us right thru the center of the valley on Hwy.190. We stopped at Stovepipe Wells which once had a recorded temp of 134 degrees. Yikes! It was only 102 today…at 10:30 AM! We did a bit of exploring at the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. The sand was too hot to touch but we did enjoy the experience and got to watch a small lizard dig out his front door. We wandered around the remains of Harmony Borax Works, a mining operation that dates 120 years…remember the famed 20-mule team detergent?
The Death Valley museum was very interesting and gave us a chance to see what we didn’t have time to drive to. Furnace Creek Ranch had some fun shops and some welcome ice cream for us. There is also a resort tucked here that is pretty amazing.
After we left Death Valley Gary and Taryn relayed a true story they read in the visitor center about a father and his three children who nearly lost their lives in Death Valley…last year!
The Valley behind us, Nevada before us - our fourth state in six days. In Pahrump we shopped for supplies before we settle in Las Vegas. Our route took us into the southern part of Vegas which just happened to be where our rv resort was located. It is very nice, just out of the city yet connected by a shuttle, family friendly and no casino. We were so thankful.
No comments:
Post a Comment