Sunday, April 11th, we drove into town where there a Quilt show was in progress, what else?
We stopped for a good lunch.
On the way back to the resort we stopped at Smith’s market. Next door a carnival was in progress. The flags flying are not part of the carnival but displayed by Pahrump businesses.
The next day there were rain showers in the area but they missed the resort.
Tuesday, April 6th took us south of Furnace Creek to our first stop, the Natural Bridge Canyon. The bridge is about a mile up the canyon. Blake and Stacey check the info kiosk which has a map so we don’t get lost. Behind the kiosk you can see a carpet of yellow flowers. We were fortunate to see the flowers in bloom because they only bloom in a year the valley receives enough rain. Sometimes going ten years or more without blooming.
Blake and Stacey at the mouth of the canyon.
Nearing the bridge.
Finally we arrive. The walk is only slightly uphill but the floor of the canyon is loose debris so its like walking in the sand at the beach. You don’t notice it as much walking to the bridge. When you start back and have already discovered the secrets of the canyon that's when it really gets tiring.
A polished groove carved into the side of the canyon.
Walking back out of the canyon.
Next stop was was 282 ft below sea level, Badwater, the lowest spot in North America. Mount Whitney, the highest point in the US, is only 76 miles to the west. Blake and Stacey walked out to the salt flats in the distance. I didn’t want Debbie to be alone so I waited with her for the kid to return.
Next was Devil’s Golf Course. “Immense area of rock salt eroded by wind and rain into jagged spires. So incredibly serrated that “only the devil could play golf on such rough links.” The unpaved road starts on Badwater Road and is often closed after rain.”
Monday, April 5th was the trip to Scotty’s Castle. We arrived in time to wait for the 11AM tour. We also signed up for a new tour: the “Underground Tour”. This is a tour of the basement and the mechanical accruements.
This is a picture of the clock tower on the equipment room and the unfinished pool. The green grass is growing on the bottom of the pool which was the victim of the depression. Blake and Stacey are standing on a bridge which crosses over the center of the pool. A circular driveway led to a parking area and guest would have crossed over the pool to the front door.
Looking back at Scotty’s Castle from the base of the clock tower .
The front room looking down from the balcony, toward the front door. The room has a large fireplace on one end as well as a waterfall on the other side to cool and add humidity during the summer.
The house was heated by this hot water heater.
We luck out again and score a picnic table for lunch.
Mean while back in the valley we visit Furnace Creek Ranch. We visited the gift shop and checked out the Steak House and Cafeteria.
We also visited the outdoor museum which has a lot of equipment used in the area.
Look out from Furnace Creek at the wonderful colors.
On the way home we drove through 20 Mule Team Drive.
Sunday, April 4th, we got an early start and headed over to Death Valley. Stacey has wanted to see DV and dragged Blake down with her. Blake has already been dragged to DV several times by his dad. I planned three full days which will allow us to see most of the major sites.
First stop, Dante’s View which overlooks Badwater below. Cold and windy up here today.
Next, Zabriskie Point.
The Zabriskie Point parking lot is down below. Stacey and blake are walking down.
Down to Furnace Creek we traded our Jeep Cherokee for a model more suitable to the back roads.
We stopped at Artist Pallet and hiked up to the colors.
Debbie was still recuperating from the hike up to Zabriskie Point so she met some new friends on the bench. Our new jeep is in the center.
Up in the color area.
You can see Blake walking back.
Back at Furnace Creek Visitor Center we were lucky to nab one of only two picnic tables for lunch. Debbie did a great job of planning and preparing the lunch. Actually all of the meals!
Next stop was to the ghost town of Royolite. Several structures are still partially standing. Here is a somewhat restored mercantile and the bottle house.
Now we’re going through Titus Canyon. Starting on the east side of the Valley we enter from the Armargosa Desert. Into the back end of the canyon and follow it down and out into the valley. Here we are crossing the desert.
Out of the desert we stopped before entering the canyon.
Next day two.
Friday, April 2nd Blake and Stacey arrived at Las Vegas’ McCarran airport around 10pm and Debbie and I drove over from Pahrump to pick them up. We arrived ahead of them and after a terrifying approach, ours not theirs, we were able to park close by and wait for them inside.
We drove over to Karie’s house in Henderson for a short visit. Her significant other, Keith, was called out to a friend’s emergency so we missed meeting him but will catch up tomorrow. Karie has done a beautiful job decorating her house, it’s gorgeous. We had a nice time catching up.
Saturday, April 3rd we showed Blake and Stacey the sites of Pahrump. We drove by Sheri’s Ranch and the Chicken Ranch. We also went by our land and stopped at Terribles Lakeside Casino & RV Park where we had lunch. Terribles is our other favorite RV park here in Pahrump.
In the afternoon we headed over to Las Vegas and the MGM Grand to see their lions. After a couple more casino stops we checked out the “Pawn Stars” shop. None of the “stars” were there and it was like a tourist attraction walking through the shop with all the other people.
Around 7pm we headed over to Karie’s for dinner. We met Keith and we all went out to a local steak house for dinner. Although I told the waiter to give me the bill Keith intercepted it and I couldn’t talk him out of it. Thank Keith we enjoyed the evening and the meal.
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