Death Valley
We got up at 5:45 in order to get into
Death Valley
early, I've
heard that sunrise is the best time to see it. This is way early
for us. We both slept OK, but not nearly long enough. Because I made
a wrong turn, we had to go at least 10 miles out of our way on the
freeway before I found a place to make an illegal u-turn in the
median. This put us almost half an hour behind schedule.
We entered Death Valley from the south entrance, near Shoshone.
Wish we'd known better. There really is not much to see between
the south entrance and Badwater, which is almost to the middle
of the park.
The weather is cool at the higher elevations, but rises as you
descend into the valley in the main part of the park. We never found
it either cool enough or warm enough to be uncomfortable. The bright
sunlight does tire our eyes, though.
Badwater, 282 feet below sea levelBadwater is 282 feet below sea level. The ground is white and salty.
There is a huge mountain next to it, and you can look up the mountain
to a spot 282 feet up labeled "sea level." There is a boardwalk where
you can walk out a little ways. There actually is a little pool of
water there, the pool named "Badwater" because the water has too many
minerals to be drinkable, although it is not toxic.
There is a gas station, store, lodge, and visitor center in
Furnace Creek.
In the visitor center, we get good advise about what to see
in a short time. We don't really want to be here tomorrow because
we want to go to church, preferably a Calvary Chapel like our church
at home.
Gas is about 3.79 in Death Valley!
We decide to go as far as Stovepipe Wells, but not as far as Scotty's
Castle. Probably the highlight there is the Salt Creek, where you can
see pupfish mating. Pupfish are only about one inch long and they
are very cute. They seem to be playing tag like children. On closer
observation, it becomes apparent the males are chasing the females.
They mate by sidling up next to each other, pausing a moment, and
exchanging eggs or bodily fluids or whatever they do. It's fascinating
to watch.
Our mascot Pahrump goofing around
In the store at Stovepipe Wells, we bought bologna, jerky, ice cream,
and Pahrump. Pahrump is a city in Nevada, but it is also the name we
gave to our trip mascot, a little green and blue stuffed lizard we
bought. He likes riding on the dashboard and soaking up the rays. He's
very easy going and doesn't care much what you do, what you say, or
even what you call him ... Pahrump, Pupfish, "the lizard," "hey you,"
or whatever. He's as low strung as we are high strung. God brought
him into our lives to teach us how to relax and not sweat the small
things.
We got into Las Vegas but we could not find a place to stay. We are
looking for something really cheap, but it's Saturday night and
spring break and everything is full. I got quotes for 149, 129, and
89 before crying. We prayed. Seriously. At one hotel they gave us the
card for a hotline
you can call. The gal on the other end called me "honey" about a
dozen times during the three minutes we talked. She told me the
cheapest hotel in town would be about 189, and even the chains were
all full. She told me to call the 89 dollar motel back and snap it
up. I called back, and the rate had gone down to 74! God does answer
prayer. We had a room at the Klondike Casino.
But the hotel was disgusting.
(The Klondike.)
We waited an hour in line for them to
process about 8 people ahead of us. Everyone around us was gambling,
smoking, or drinking, even doing all three while waiting in line
near us. Then we waited another half an hour for passable but cheap
prime rib. The room was a smoking room but guaranteed aired out every
day. Been there, done that. But the room wasn't bad from the odor
standpoint. Our clothes smelled more from smoke just due to waiting
in line at check-in. But the sink was so rusty that Mary refused to
even brush her teeth. We had to keep reminding ourselves that we had
prayed for a place to stay, and this is what God had provided.
But ... we will be able to go to church tomorrow at our choice of any
of several Calvary Chapels. Which makes it worth it. We pray for the
people at this very dark hotel. I refused to even have a drink with
dinner. I refused to complain about the long wait. I refused to
complain about the smoke. In this very dark place, we need to be the
brightest lights we possibly can.
