DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK-CA; Pt. #1~'History Lessons'

April 3rd: When we pulled out of Joshua Tree RV Park this morning, there wasn't a cloud in the sky … and the sunshine was very warm: that snow in the distance looked very good to me.

Holland planned on driving the Apple Valley Route; Bear Mountains in the background - 

Joshua Tree RV Park; #6225 Sunburst St, Joshua Tree, CA

Under the bright (and welcome) sunshine, we had both worked up a sweat pulling stakes; and getting Independence 'road ready' - we hadn't done anything particularly strenuous … it was just that hot ;-)

A friendly reminder as we head into the great blue yonder ;-)

We had come into the RV Park through the Twentynine Palms route - but would be leaving Joshua Tree via the Yucca Valley-CA route. Holland had probably been through this route when he was a child; but it was basically a new route as an adult.

This is a new experience for me, all the way around ;-)

Heading towards Death Valley-CA

Death Valley-CA from Joshua Tree RV Park-CA; 4 hr. 28 min (268.1 mi) via CA-247 N and CA-127 N)

Which brought to mind that there are people out there that have no idea what RVing entails: it's more than buying a truck and a camper. Couples that RV (weekend warriors; or full-timer's like us), need to work together as a Team - fancy clothing won't do at all to help with the sewer hoses … or the water hoses that will occasionally be dragged through muddy patches. Makeup and oriental length fingernails will not do either, when you are going to be lending a hand in outside chores (and this will happen, at some point).

I like to dress fancy, with makeup and nail polish, too (and Holland likes to see me dolled up ;-)); but these things aren't indulged in until we set down someplace long enough to allow for adequate time to hang dry my fancy tops, water to waste for fancy hairdo's and makeup wash-off (can't do this boondocking, when water is a precious commodity = water is saved for flushing & showering, which are real necessities), and when my nails have time to grow out again (nail polish looks better on nails that haven't been broken off to the quick).

These female indulgences are a rarity when full-time RVing: no matter what size RV you have.

Thankfully, my new husband understands; and I'm tomboy enough to ride the {roughing it} days, out.

So, if you're a guy, or a gal who likes to dress snazzy; hoteling your way across the States may be a better option ;-)

RVing isn't a 'girly-girl' activity ;-)

Springtime blossoms along the highway …

Mining going on, here … there are many mines in Landers-CA.

Active Mines~2024 in Landers-CA: 

(https://www.activeatom.com/location-mining-mojave-desert.php)

This is a BIG stripping-mining operation.

Landers-CA: 

(https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/landers)

Backtracking & making new memories …

Temperature this morning.

Alien Jerky sign, passing through Barstow-CA

On the way to Baker-CA, where I'm planning on chewing some Alien Jerky ;-)

The first stop along our route, was in Baker-CA.

Holland's mother, stepfather, and half-siblings lived in Baker for a while; but like me … this is his first trip here.

Baker-CA, on the horizon …

Location of Baker-CA

Pulled into  Chevron Station to fuel up; and half of the property was an EV charging pad.

I like seeing the American Flag.

We pulled over in a vacant parking lot, for a sandwich; I texted Sara and sent her this pic, to let her know we are on the road - and doing fine.

Downtown Baker - this was on Holland's Bucket List; we are liking the warmth ;-)

World's Tallest Thermometer:

 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Tallest_Thermometer)

This place was on my Bucket List; the overhanging power lines were too low to get Independence safely under, so I walked across the street.

Alien Fresh Jerky in Baker, CA: 

(#72302 Baker Blvd, Baker, CA)

I did go inside the Spacecraft Store to buy the Alien Jerky … and I trolled around outside; but I did not see the food kiosk, or the motel featured in this YouTube video.

The Spaceships On Interstate 15: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oqCnWytgPY)

I did see, however, that a huge spaceship was being built on site ;-)

The imagination it took to design & build this place is cool.

There were LOTS of jerky choices with interesting flavors & Names, but I chose this one: I'm a cowboy lover, and I like a good sci-fi flick ;-)

Standing in line with jerky in hand, I saw this Space Cowboy plushie, and laughed out loud when Steve Miller's song immediately popped into my head.

Steve Miller - 'Space Cowboy' song/w lyrics: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aao0b0Pg5P8)

That was a fun few minutes :-)

This thing is huge; and it's cool, too.

Aliens vs.. Aliens …

Then we were off and pointing Betsy's nose towards tonight's goals.

Goals to reach by this evening.

At our age, the internet is an important link to our whereabouts.

A snow-capped mountain - in the Death Valley Wilderness!

The stories of hellishly hot Death Valley History is a part of my childhood.

Death Valley Days S5E15 Lady Engineer: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGfvGwE9Igg)

My Grandpa Brockway; around 1963 - he was in his 80's, and dying, that is why my father moved us to Minnesota from Pennsylvania.

Death Valley Wilderness is named that, for specific reasons.

Death Valley '49ers: 

(https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/historyculture/the-lost-49ers.htm

 & 

1963 TV DEATH VALLEY DAYS~THE HASTINGS CUTTOFF, The Donner Reed Party: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHE3LNeVpm4)

We were both surprised to see snowy mountain peaks.

There is free RV parking outside the National Park - but we passed on that option, because Holland had plans for us to park inside Death Valley National Park, and exit the Park on the opposite end.

Free RV parking on BLM land is allowed - outside of the National Park.

Death Valley is a desert valley in Eastern California, in the northern Mojave Desert, bordering the Great Basin Desert.

It is thought to be the hottest place on Earth during summer.

Mojave Desert:  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojave_Desert)

The landscape of the Death Valley Wilderness is varied: red pumice hills buried under sand, and revealing itself as the sand is whisked away on brisk winds; black lava fields; wind-blown and piled high sand dunes; a lake, deeper into the Park area; and snow-capped mountains … it's really an interesting place to be, and we learned more traveling through it than we were ever told in school - or in movie series, for that matter.

Also, Death Valley is not flat land; there is a lot of elevation changes along the route we traveled today - the highest being 1,585  in elevation; and the lowest being 282 ft. below Sea Level.

We were hauling Independence, so we stayed on-road the entire wilderness adventure.

Red pumice rock showing ...

Ubehebe Craters-CA:

 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubehebe_Craters#:~:text=Tourists%20have%20been%20visiting%20the,have%20been%20described%20as%20picturesque.)

Black lava fields.

Wind-blown sand dunes.

This looks like a lava tube vent.

Crusty salt litters the Death Valley Wilderness; the white substance visible in this part of the valley is sodium chloride, or table salt.

The drive was enjoyable, the scenery was varied-interesting-and educational; and the weather was pleasant.

It was a warm 80-degrees, and my lungs behaved :-)

Holland says the temperature here will soar to 134-degrees in the Summer months … so, I am glad we are here now: 134-degrees would have both of our lungs seriously struggling to keep us alive :-(

A little over an hour and a half, we came to Shoshone-CA.

This is a living ghost town at a 1,585 ft. elevation, which was a mining town in it's heyday: Shoshone is also owned and run by a local woman, with familial ties to the town's history.

I took a lot of pictures here, in the local museum … but I am only going to post the most interesting ones, due to the length of this particular post.

Distance between Shoshone-CA & Baker-CA

This little house is blooming with color in this living ghost town.

Crowbar Café & Saloon; Old State Hwy 127, Shoshone, CA

Shoshone History in a nutshell … 

Shoshone-CA: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoshone,_California)

Community gathering space.

Mining cart.

Twenty Mule Team: 

(https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/historyculture/twenty-mule-teams.htm#:~:text=For%20many%20people%2C%20nothing%20symbolizes,day%20trip%20across%20primitive%20roads & https://20muleteammuseum.com/history.html)

Mingling of Cowboys & Aliens, again ;-)

Mammoth fossils finds.

Shoshone Museum-CA: (#118 CA-127, Shoshone, CA)

The 'Four Bad Men' of Death Valley.

The 1891 Death Valley Expedition:

 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_Valley_expedition)

Huge chunk of Colemanite; a raw form of borax.

Colemanite: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colemanite)

Barite Usage; dubbed “white gold,” borax is the mineral most synonymous with Death Valley.

Vintage 20 Mule Team BORAX box; I remember T.V. commercials for this product ;-)

20 Mule Team Borax - Death Valley Days Classic TV Commercials:

 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN_V7ynq7dw & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95JpHsKOQY)

Ancient Giant Camels in the Death Valley region-CA.

Ancient Death Valley Wilderness-CA, information.

Amargosa Valley: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amargosa_Valley);

Lake Tecopa: ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tecopa);

Great Basin: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Basin);

Death Valley/Mojave Desert:

 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojave_Desert); and The Basin and Range Province: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basin_and_Range_Province)

Minerals mined in the Death Valley desert.

Pseudomorphs: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudomorph);

Quartz: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz);

Desert Copper~Turquoise:  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turquoise#:~:text=Turquoise%20is%20an%20opaque%2C%20blue,8%C2%B74H%202O.)

Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad:

 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonopah_and_Tidewater_Railroad)

The last Death Valley Prospector; 'Seldom Seem Slim'.

Seldom Seen Slim: 

(https://www.desertusa.com/desert-people/seldom-seen-slim.html)

The best known old-timer Prospector; Death Valley-CA

Frank "Shorty" Harris:

 (https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/historyculture/shortharris.htm)

Mining & Settlement of Shoshone-CA

Miss Louise Graham; Woman Mine Boss.

Miss Louisa Grantham: 

(https://www.nps.gov/people/louise-grantham.htm)

There was no more to the article - darn it; it made an interesting story ;-)

SUSAN SORRELLS~Owner of Shoshone-CA: (https://lasvegasweekly.com/news/2012/jun/21/woman-shoshone/)

When we left Shoshone, the landscape changed dramatically: we were unprepared for what our eyes saw … all the way to the Stovepipe Wells Campground, inside the Death Valley National Park.

Springtime in the desert is beautiful with green grasses; lush, green bushes; acres of bright, colorful blossoms; and a blue sky that seems to have no end in sight.

I tried for miles to get pictures of the clumps of pretty yellow flowers that carpeted the landscape, and that merrily played with the breeze and mimicked the sun's warmth - but there was no place to pull over.

At one point, I asked Holland, "Is there anyone behind us?" And he said, "No; but I'm not going to stop in the middle of the road, on a hill, so you can take a picture." I laughed.

I laughed because he is starting to become a Husband: what I mean by that is … that we've been married long enough now, that he can accurately anticipate how my thoughts play out ;-)

And he did promise to stop whenever he could.

I prayed that the next time I spotted a flash of color, I could capture & share it with yu'all:

I did spot … 

Holland did pull over …

I got the pic's :-)

… and Betsy's had to pull hard to get Independence's wheels out of the soft shoulder surface :-(

Elohim was gracious; Holland didn't say anything - and I learned a quiet lesson from both of them.

Our visit to the Death Valley region has been pleasantly surprising History & Science Lessons ;-)

We were surprised to see a GREEN & THRIVING Death Valley Ecosystem!

Holland never bothered to visit this National Park, because he thought it was desolate.

This part of Death Valley is not taught in classrooms … nor, do vacationer's mention what we are seeing; so, we are {informing} with this Blog post ;-)

AHA! Spotted around the next corner … and Holland pulled over with a loving concern for me to "watch out for rattlesnakes" ;-)

A pretty pink 'Desert Rose'; prickly pear cactus.

Prickly Pear Cactus: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opuntia)

A little yellow Mojave suncup:

 (https://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Onagraceae/Chylismia%20brevipes,%20Yellow%20Cups.html)

I took the rest of the pictures wisely ;-)

Descending from Jubilee Pass's 1,322 ft. elevation; to Death Valley's Badwater Basin at 282 ft. below sea level (the point of lowest elevation in North America), at the road marker #38 … the landscape starts to look a bit desolate as the green scrub brush and bright blossoms give way to sandy hillsides; towering rocky mountains; very little vegetation, that quickly fades to empty acres of nothing but rock litter: it starts looking like one would expect a wickedly hot desert to look.

But it's still beautiful.

I love the desert - in all it's aspects.

The descent towards the Badwater Basin.

Salty Badwater Lake.

Badwater Basin-CA: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badwater_Basin)

Very tall mountains …

Traveling Volcanoes of Death Valley:

 (https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/geology.htm#:~:text=Signs%20of%20recent%20volcanic%20activity,came%20in%20contact%20with%20groundwater.)

A salt crust is spread across the lake's surface …

Badwater Lake … and the Parking Lot was too small for us.

So, we parked where we could; and I jetted a text off to Sara.

When we exited Death Valley National Park, we drove through Furnace Creek, where we had hoped to boondock on a piece of BLM Land there: but the overnight area was full up … and the overflow areas were {Day Use Only}, and also jam-packed.

Furnace Creek-CA was an oasis-like-treat to our eyes after we exited Death Valley National Park; 190 ft. below sea level.

So, we continued forward towards the campground we planned to set-up at, tomorrow.

This venture into Death Valley National Park was another First for us: Holland has been to/lived in towns all around it, but this is his first drive through it. I am glad I finally got here - and that we did it together.

We arrived … and the pay-station-kiosk was being temperamental with everyone.

Stovepipe Wells Campground is 5 feet above sea level, and the evening temperature was warm - I was thanking Elohim that the fickle baby generator wasn't being temperamental ;-)

Comfortably settled in for the night, and giving Betsy & Independence some break time.

Don Williams - 'Lay Down Beside Me' song: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3G9AjRj5Sw)

I'm glad we experienced all the places along the route that Holland wanted to visit: the 'Tallest Thermometer' in Baker; Badwater Basin, Furnace Creek BLM Land, and Stovepipe Wells Campground - all in Death Valley National Park.

I'm glad my UFO funny bone was tickled, passing through Baker; I'm glad I got to experience a real Death Valley road trip in real time; and I'm glad Elohim blessed me with a loving husband who is an agreeable traveling companion.

Both of our Bucket Lists were checked today :-)