Author: searcyf@mac.com

12 Apri 2018

What a special place Apples River House Bed & Breakfast is.  Especially with Rich and Connie.  They make you feel at home.  Rich basically loaded the washer for me yesterday, and Connie dried my clothes and then folded them for me and put them on my bed.

I’m a lull in the guest house this week.  They had a very busy week before I got here and they have another busy week ahead of them, so I’ve had their full attention.  We have a lot in common and we’ve gotten to share stories and laughs.

Tonight they introduced me to a really great liqueur from Spain called “43”.  It is citrus based and has hints of vanilla and butterscotch.  I’ll definitely be looking for it when I get home.

The guest house and Connie and Rich are so nice, I don’t want to leave.  If you are ever in the area, you must stop and stay here.

Today was a mixed bag as for as my trip is concerned.  Connie provided an excellent breakfast and I headed out for the northern part of Lassen Volcanic National Park around 8:30 am.  It takes about an hour to get there.  There was snow all around and a few flurries on the way.  The visitor center was closed and the park road was closed one mile into the park.  About the only thing I saw was the closed visitor center and Manzanita Lake.

Tomorrow, I’ll try for the southern entrance and hope to progress deeper into the park and a chance for an open visitor center.

Rich suggested that I may have little to see at Lassen and said it would be a good trip to do a loop from Lassen to Burney Falls and then Mount Shasta.  I decided to head to Burney Falls and I’m glad I did.

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The falls are in a state park and and they are 129 feet high.  You walk down a beautiful trail to the base of the falls and then you have the option of taking a loop trail of 1.3 miles around the top of the falls and back to the parking lot.  It was a steep but easy trail, paved all the way, with great views of the falls all along the trail.  This is a must stop if you are in the area.

By the time I left Burney Falls, it started snowing pretty good.  Not only that but snow melting off the trees kept falling on the windshield of the jeep with pretty good clunks.

I drove into the town of Mount Shasta.  Unfortunately, Mount Shasta itself was wreathed in clouds and you could not see the top of the peak.  The town is very nice.  I got out and walked around and found a bookstore and made a wildflower book purchase.

I then headed back to Redding and made a stop at a pressure car wash to get the dirt and grim and bugs off the jeep.  The jeep has been too good to me to let it look so disrespectful and I wanted to get the bugs off before the paint started peeling.

I had left over pizza from Maxwell’s for dinner tonight.  Rich and Connie make sure there is plenty of wine available.  We had a great time talking over dinner and the “43”.  What a great couple who really love what they do!

If I can get some hiking in at the south entrance to Lassen tomorrow, well and good, but if not, there is a river trail next to the guest house that I want to walk tomorrow.  It’ll be a busy day.

So far, my left ankle is holding up but I need to invest in Advil stock since I take so much of it!

11 April 2018

Thanks to Michel and John for seeing to my a/c.  It was a bad capacitor and I escaped with a little over $214.  I need to start saving for a new one since this one is 17 years. old.  Michel and John went the extra mile for me and I really appreciate it.

The trip to Redding was uneventful other than making sure I found diesel fuel for the trip.  After the trip to Fresno, I was running a little low.

I packed up in a little over an hour.  The main trouble was a wet ground cloth for the tent (condensation, not rain) and making sure everything still fit in the cargo box and the jeep.

The drive was 5 hours and 28 minutes or so.  No traffic jams.

I’m staying at Apples River House Bed & Breakfast.  It’s really a beautiful house and beautiful bedroom.  I haven’t met the hosts/owners yet (both were working today) but they provided me all the information I needed to get into the house.

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First thing, I had a shower.  Even with the body wipes, I needed one.  Then a shave.  Then the hosts had left me out some wine to decompress.  The place is so nice, I may not want to leave here to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park.

It is scheduled to rain tonight with temperatures in the low 50’s.

 

 

10 April 2018

The first morning I was waked by wild turkeys calling to each other.  This morning I was waked by wild girl scouts calling to each other, followed by the turkeys.  It’s a great way to wake to the morning!

The temperature this morning was 48F. That was warmer than the previous night.  The previous night, I used the 40F sleeping bag and blanket.  A few hours later, I switched to the 20F bag and blanket.  Last night, I started out with the heavier sleeping bag but later came out of it and into the lighter weight bag.  It’s strange how a few degrees in temperature makes a big difference.

I had a Spam sandwich for breakfast with a strong cup of English tea.  Dishwashing was at a minimum and I was packed and ready to try the trail by 8:30 am.  I was torn between the Old Pinnacles Trailhead to Balconies Cave (5.3 miles round trip according to NPS) or the Bear Gulch Trail to Bear Gulch Cave (2.2 miles round trip according to NPS).  I chose the longer hike and I’m very glad I did.  I spent a lot of energy on the first hike even though both hikes are described as moderate.

I was the third car at the parking area for Old Pinnacles Trailhead and set off on the trail around 9 am.  A couple passed me on the trail as I was stopping frequently for wildflower photos.  Otherwise, I didn’t see anyone until I reached the cave. The trail is pretty level until you get to the cave.  

There’s a large metal gate through which you enter the cave.  The caves are sometimes closed to the public depending on conditions.  The park doesn’t give you much information about the cave except to not disturb the bats and to take a flashlight with you and it can be slippery.  

I’m surprised they let the general public enter this cave.  It is hand over hand over huge talus, wet and slippery.  There is an established path if you are lucky enough to see it.  I fell once in the cave and banged up my left shin.  I hit pretty hard so I was lucky there was no real damage.

Once through the cave (it’s a total upward, steep climb hand over hand through the cave in almost total darkness) I looked around for trail signs to indicate the loop outside and around the cave.  None was available, so I decided to make the trip back through the cave.  I fell a second time on my way back in, re-twisting the left ankle again.  

At one point, you were faced with 60% slope which was wet.  That was the only way down with no footholds.  I slid on my butt down that wall and managed to touch bottom without injuring myself.  

Once back through the cave, I retraced my steps to the jeep.  I then headed to Bear Gulch.  I was unsure whether or not to walk the Bear Gulch Cave/Reservoir loop because of my ankle.  Before I left Old Pinnacles parking, I popped two ibuprofen for the ankle and I felt pretty good.  

In for a penny, in for a pound.  The trail to the cave is all uphill.  This cave was a breeze.  There were only a couple of totally dark spots (unlike Balconies Cave which was almost all totally dark) and you could walk upright for most of the way.  They even provided hand rails and steps in several places.

The various sexual problems, which are common among both men and cheapest viagra uk women. With the advent of electronic media, the age has got a lot of new system in related to real life. price for generic viagra about viagra samples The dangerous impacts of this erectile dysfunction or impotency in men. brand levitra 20mg It has been said that if you have taken a heavy meal cheapest cipla tadalafil before administering the medication, it may take longer to work. There were some spectacular views of light coming through the cave from above.  Once through the cave, I followed the fork to the reservoir.  It was even more up a steep path than the cave.  There was, at one point, a very steep set of stairs that led you to the reservoir. 

Pinnacles was named a National Monument by Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 (and National Park in 2013) and I suspect the reservoir was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the depression.  It’s a beautiful reservoir and the home to the endangered red-legged frog.  The park recently re-introduced the frog from surrounding streams back into the reservoir and they have since set up breeding colonies.  It’s tempting to go swimming but they ask you not to in order to protect the habitat of the frogs.  

I had company for lunch.  I suspect previous hikers had shared their lunch and he assumed I was willing to do the same.  

This is prime territory for the rare and endangered California Condor.  I kept a lookout but no joy.  However, the the trip to Bear Gulch was worth it for a view of the Stellar Jay.  I’ve been trying to photograph this bird ever since Michel got to in 2014 when we did the Tauck Desert Southwest tour.  It is a good looking bird.

The trip back down was beautiful but uneventful.  I didn’t fall once on this cave loop.  One thing I saw on the way up the trail was ropes for technical climbing.  On the way back down, there were students rappelling off the cliff face.  

To celebrate the end of the days hiking, I stopped at the park store and had a Häagen Dazs ice cream.  

My overall impressions of Pinnacles National Park is that the eastern entrance seems to serve simply as campground with the visitor center very much like a state park operation.  What makes this a unique park is the trails and the wildlife and wildflowers.  It’s worth a visit, after all.

By the way, those wet wipes for backpackers really work well.  You should see the dirt that comes off those things when I strip down and “shower” with them.  

Tomorrow morning I pack up and head for Redding, California for three nights in a bed and breakfast and day touring Lassen Volcanic National Park.  

9 April 2018

Today marks the 1/4 mark of my trip.  It’s hard to believe I’ve been on the road 21 days.  The count so far: Guadeloupe Mountains NP, Carlsbad Caverns NP, Saguaro NP, Petrified Forest NP, Meteor Crater, Death Valley NP, Channel Islands, and Pinnacles NP.  

Today was a no hike day.  I explored the two roads that lead away from the visitor center and then studied my topographic maps for moderate trails to try tomorrow.  I then headed for Fresno to pick up my boots at REI.

The GPS tried to route me on a 4 plus hour journey.  I took out a road atlas and found shortcuts through the country and the trip ended up taking a little under 3 hours through some magnificent hill country.  

I seem to wax poetic about these green California hills with the oak trees standing sentinel on the hillsides.  It brings back memories of the first time I saw them in 1970.  Our Coast Guard bus (see previous blog) traveled along some similar hills on the way to the shooting range at the fort.  It’s really hard to beat California in the spring.  California poppies with their orange color dotted the landscape and stood out among the green grass on the hillsides.

I found the REI in Fresno and walked to the register and they had my boots right there.  I then made a mistake and decided to walk through the store.  My regular, every day shoes had started to come apart (god, I must do a lot of walking) and I spied a pair of Solomon (same brand as my boots) hiking shoes.  You know what happened next.  

I don’t know where I think this money is coming from.  John Bell has informed me my a/c is not cooling properly so I’m sure I’ll have a big bill for that before too much longer.  I’m just glad he noticed it and he and Michel can look into it for me. 
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I let the GPS direct me back to Pinnacles and sure enough, it routed me a different way but also an even quicker way.  Why it didn’t do that this morning is a mystery.  In any case, it took me around 3 hours to get back.  I put Sirius on 70’s music and rocked back to the park.

I stopped at the town called Tres Piños and bought a can of Spam, bread and mustard.  I saw that in the visitor center/camp store but their prices are outrageous.  The only thing cheap there is the wine.  A bottle of BV Merlot is $10.  

Speaking of wine, I passed thousands of acres of vineyards.  They were all young vines so someone is anticipating a continued growth in the wine industry.  I don’t see how any one company can tend the vines.  I would think that drones would be a great way to overlook the vineyards to look for patches that might be dying out.  It was a sight to see.

Fresno is a busy place.  It has all the superstores and most of the architecture I saw was modern.  Traffic was moderate but in this area, California drivers are pretty aggressive.  I always obey the speed limit because nothing says sucker like a Florida license plate.

Tonight is the second sandwich I purchased at the camp store.  Tomorrow morning, I intend to break out the Spam for breakfast.  It’s sad to say, I still like it from my childhood.  

I’m going to try to send this out tonight with the jeep’s hot spot.  I haven’t had much success with that, but we’ll see. 

8 April 2018

It was a luxurious night at the Hilton Garden Inn in Goleta.  I got a great night of sleep, two showers, and a full belly.  It helps to break the camping up and do a lodge or motel every once in a while.  

I delayed my departure so I could get to the REI store in Santa Barbara.  I needed a new pair of boots, some body wipes for those parks that don’t have showers, and an air pillow.  The one I had bit the dust.  A small thing like a pillow makes a big difference.  

The boots I wanted are Solomon’s.  They have no break in period, are high top and fit me to a T.  I wear a size 10.  When I arrived at REI (I had to drive back south 13 miles to Santa Barbara) I headed straight for the boot department.  They had the newer, improved version for $230 in size 9 1/2 and size 11.  No size 10.  I then asked about other stores along the way.  I was referred to the front cash register where one guy tried to help me but the supervisor said they were too busy and  pretty much indicated I was on my own.  

I called several REI stores (California has 28) and finally found a pair of size 10 and in the color I wanted in Fresno.  It’s 2 1/2 hours out of my way, but I’ll have time tomorrow or the next day to make the side trip.  I needed to purchase them today because I could get a 20% discount.  It was a little struggle to get them to charge my credit card and me pick them up later in the week in Fresno. They thought that strange. With a 20% discount, I got them with $42 off the $230.  I asked about something to help when national parks don’t have showers and the guy couldn’t help me.  He did show me the inflatable pillows and I bought the one he said got positive feedback.  

Later, in looking through the store, I found body wipes that leave no residue nor odor, specifically for places that don’t have showers.  Wouldn’t you know it, Pinnacles National Park is the first national park I’ve found with showers for campers.

The drive was up 101 (Ventura Freeway) and then up CA25 to the park.  California is greener this time than I’ve ever seen it.  All along 101 the hills were all different shades of green. I think the term often used is verdant.   I’m used to the brown, dead grass on the hills on most of my visits.  It’s apparently a very wet spring.  Even Yosemite has portions of the park closed due to flooding and all the reservoirs are now filled.  They are even worried now about whether the dams will hold.  

The first time I saw the hills of California was when I was stationed in Alameda for Coast Guard Boot Camp.  They shipped up to an army base for firearms training and that’s when I saw those wonderful hillsides.  Your imagination can get lost in them.  To brag just a little, I shot expert with the 45 pistol and the M-16 (todays AK-47).  I probably couldn’t see the target today, even with glasses.

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I may not be hiking too much since most of the trails are moderate or strenuous.  However, I have to admit my ankle is much better today.  Perhaps it is because I drove for most of the day and stayed off the foot.  

Pinnacles doesn’t impress at this point.  I got here around 3 pm and set up camp (glamp with the 8 man tent, indoor toilet, cot, table, chair, etc.) and bought one of the sandwiches at the visitor center (and a bottle of wine) for dinner.  I haven’t explored anything but the tent camping area so I have no idea of what lies in store tomorrow. 

What immediately strikes me about the place is it is run more like a state park rather than a national park.

I will start out driving the few roads through the park to see some overlooks.  I’ll cautiously judge whether or not to hike anywhere in the park.

The park is just west of the San Andreas fault and the pinnacles were formed by action along the fault.  I’ve been in one earthquake this trip so I hope to have a quiet 3 nights while camping along the fault.  

Temperatures are in the low to mid 40’s for the next three nights and highs in the high 70’s.  It should be perfect sleeping weather and hiking weather.  

As you might guess, no internet or phone service so you’ll be getting this later. A

6-7 April 2018

First the good news.  My cough and cold are much better.  Now the bad news.  I fell on the trip to Smugglers Cove and sprained my ankle.  More on that later.

The campsite is in a grove of eucalyptus trees that are tremendous in size.  They give off the most wonderful aroma and almost compensate for the two days of no shower or bath I’ve endured.  Strangely, national parks do not provide showers.

Also smelling good are the outdoor toilets.  I’ve never experienced outdoor toilets like these.  They are roomy, warm (probably because they are out of the wind) and they have no odor.  Not only that but they provide air freshener, sanitary napkins for the ladies, and toilet seat covers.  They are well ventilated and it is almost like going to the bathroom at home.

I decided on an early start to Smugglers Cove, a 7 mile round trip described as strenuous.  It was.  Unfortunately, about 3/4 of the way to the top, I fell.  I was standing on relatively level ground when I heard someone yell from another peak and turned to see if I could see who it was.  My left foot slipped out from under me and probably because I was carrying the large backpack, it took me down.  My left foot curled under me and I fell on it.

Stunned, I lay there for a minute or two and then decided to get up.  I put weight on the foot and it felt fine.  Foolishly, I continued the hike and the climb.  Not  only did I finish the climb but I descended the mountain towards Smugglers Cove.  I decided to rest for a moment, eat something, drink some water and then proceed.  As I got up and made my first step on my left foot, I knew I was done.  I was within sight of the cove.  I could see breakers on the beach and boats moored in the cove.  Reluctantly, I turned around and started the uphill climb to the top of the mountain.

Uphill was OK.  I met a couple on their way down to the cove  who asked me whether I was OK and said I think so but I was going slow.  They then pointed to a park ranger approaching from Smugglers Cove in a truck and said they would stop him and ask him to give me a ride.  I actually made it to the top of the mountain – limping all the way.  I hit a straight path and found walking on the level areas and any downhill excruciating.

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The ranger stopped and got out and asked if I was OK and if I wanted a ride.  My pride said no but my foot said yes.  I got in the truck and he drove me down to the bottom of the mountain.  I’m glad I took his offer because I would still be on the mountain tonight, still limping down.

I took an anti-inflammatory when I got to the bottom and then again that night.  I kept my boot on to prevent swelling.  It’s better today but I can tell no more strenuous hikes for me for the next few weeks.  I’ll be doing easy or nothing at all.  The ankle is pretty swollen but tolerable. The more I walk on it the better it is until I stop for a period and then it’s back to square one.

I met many nice people on the island.  Lonnie was the park ranger that picked me up in the truck and we had a great conversation about his background in science – influenced by his high school science teacher – and how that motivated him to join the National Park Service.  He’s been in it for  18 years, 15 of those in the Great Smokey Mountains.  I also met a lot of the hikers and we exchanged information.

It was from them I learned the quake was a 5.3 on the Reichter scale and that we had been on the national news.  My 15 minutes of fame, part of the quake!

I met two volunteers: Linda, a naturalist, and Mike, a handyman.  Both volunteer three days a week at the park.  The park simply couldn’t operate without its volunteers and because of budget cuts, the park service is more than ever dependent on them.

The boat scheduled to take me off at 4 pm ended up with engine trouble and another Island Packers boat replaced it and we were around 4:30 leaving the island.  Island Packers owns the only concession for the island and they do an excellent job.  Everyone was very professional.

I didn’t know what to expect for the Channel Islands.  This is a little bit of heaven.  Most of the rangers have been working on the island for a long period of time and would not trade their position for other parks.  One look at the scenery and you can see why.

I checked into the Hilton Garden Inn in Goleta (suburb of Santa Barbara).  This is probably the nicest Hilton I’ve stayed in.  No more Rodeway Inns for me.  I had two whiskey sours thinking the bourbon and lemon juice would help with the cold.  Not sure about that but I feel less pain.  After two days of freeze dried food, a hamburger and fries hit the spot.

Tomorrow I head for the Pinnacles for 3 nights of glamping – my 8 man tent, cot and air mattress and indoor toilet.  I’m not sure of internet or phone connections so you may not hear from me for the next three days.  After the Pinnacles, I head to Lassen Volcanic National Park and have 3 nights in a bed and breakfast, so I should be back in contact then.

5 April 2018

It’s 2 am and I just finished with the Ventura Police Department.  They knocked on my door at 1:30 am to inform me my bike had been stolen off the back of the jeep.  The motel management saw someone on the video struggling for 10 minutes to get the bike off the carrier and called police.  There’s no word as to why the police didn’t get here in time to catch the thief or why it may have taken management too long to call, but as you can guess, I’m cancelling my reservation here on my return from the Channel Islands and looking for another hotel.

The police stated all the hotels along Thompson (Highway 101 Business, aka Ventura Freeway) are subject to thieves due to the drug problem in the area. The police were very courteous and explained someone was already out looking for the bike, but they were not encouraging.

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I had a bad feeling about the motel and should have turned around but I figured it was for only one night and what harm it could do.  I now know.

The bike was a Fuji Traverse and was around $700 when new (it’s over a year old).  Whoever stole it now has a very nice bike.

4 April 2018

Sorry for the lack of posts but internet service was exceptionally spotty at Panamint Springs Resort.  You sometimes got connections around 3 am.  It’s hard to inform you about no internet without internet.

It was a 4 1/2 hour drive from Panamint Springs Resort to Ventura, Ca.  You started to climb westward out of Panamint Springs and kept climbing with more hairpin turns.  Once at the top, you began to descend into another salt flat and your view west gave you snow covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada range.  

I pulled into Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center around 12:30 pm and checked the weather on Santa Cruz.  It should be in the high 40’s at night and low 70’s during the day.  I have two nights of camping on Santa Cruz.  I decided to pack my heavy sleeping bag rated to 20F just in case.  The ground can get a little cold.

There are eight islands in the chain of islands off Ventura and five are in the national park: Santa Cruz, Anacapa, San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Barbara.  The others not in the park are Santa Catalina, San Clemente, and San Nicholas.
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I then stopped in at Island Packers, the approved NPS boat service to the islands.  I need to be at the dock by 8 am for a 9 am departure.  Everything must be packed in, including water.  You have to also separate your water and fuel supplies from your backpack.  They are carried in separate areas of the boat. 

I made it to the Rodeway Inn on Thompson in Ventura.  It’s a real dump but for $79 a night, I’m not complaining.  The room seems clean and the hotel is quiet so far.  The only iffy thing is when I went to connect my computer via bluetooth to my iPhone, FBI Mobile Surveillance Van #2 and FBI Mobile Surveillance Van #7 appeared as choices for Wifi connections.  I’m not sure how undercover the FBI works or whether they are staking out the Rodeway Inn but you would think they would know their Wifi will show up as connections.  I may be in for a raid tonight.  Strangely, my computer will not connect via bluetooth to my iPhone at all and theIre is usually no trouble.

I’ve washed clothes and am waiting for a dryer.  Someone has been drying ever since I got here and it is still running.  Hopefully, it’ll end soon and I’ll get to dry my clothes for the camping trip tomorrow.

You won’t have any posts for the next two days – I’m on the island of Santa Cruz!

3 April 2018

Help! I’m running out of superlatives.  I had a great day!  I left the motel around 7:45 am and headed straight to Golden Canyon just west of Furnace Creek Visitor Center.  It takes about an hour to make the drive and I was on the trail at 9:06 am.  

Golden Canyon is considered the most popular trail in the park and I can understand why.  It’s called Golden because of the effects of sunrise and sunset on the lightly colored hills forming the canyon.  You can hike the canyon and turn around (2 miles round trip) or continue to either Zabrinski Point (no way I was going to hike up there) or finish with Gower’s Gulch.  The Golden Canyon/Gower’s Gulch loop is 5 miles.  My gps clocked it in as 5.3, but who besides me is counting?

The walk up the canyon is wonderful.  There were patches of shade from the surrounding hills and a wind blowing down the canyon.  Even though the temperature was climbing into the 80’s the hike was perfect.  It’s a steady climb up the canyon and the canyon narrows as you hike upward.

Just before you reach the connection to Gower’s Gulch, the trail takes a sharp upward tract. Up and up and up.  At one point, I thought I was standing on top of the world until I realized I was in the shade of a peak that towered over me.  

The trail could be a little better marked.  As I mentioned in the last post, there were numerous side trails that people had made and unless the park service placed a marker, you were unsure of where the real trail was.  

 

I descended the “top of the world” highpoint and found the connecting trail to Gower’s Gulch.  I’ve always wondered what a gulch looked like.  Now I know.  This gulch is the definitive concept of the word.  

 
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Eventually, the gulch narrows and you have sheer walls on either side of you rising up at least 100 feet.  Always on my mind was flash floods.  Even though it was a beautiful clear day, I always kept an eye out for where I might be able to make a quick climb to high ground.  That’s probably a little paranoid with a beautiful blue sky, but the Boy Scouts always taught me to be prepared.  

Later, you have to descend hand over hand down boulders. After a point the gulch levels out and then loops back to the parking lot.   

The average hiker walks about 2 1/2 miles per hour (according to Backpacker magazine) and it took me a little over 2 hours to do the loop.  For the most part, it was pleasant walking and I highly recommend the hike.  

From there, I had my sights set on Titus Canyon Drive.  It was recommended to me by a couple I met yesterday.  This is a 29 mile (one way for 26 of them) that begins outside the park near Beatty, Nevada.  You turn onto a dirt road.  A sign warns you that (1) have a full tank of gas [I was half full] and (2) carry plenty of water (3) have a full size spare [I don’t] and (4) have a high clearance vehicle. 

It’s a very rough road.  Exactly the type of road for which I bought the jeep.  At first, it was just a rutted road that shook you to pieces.  Then you began to climb ever upward with hairpin curves and nothing to keep you from going over the side.  Eventually you reach the top and begin the same type of descent.  

There were several places where the road had large boulders embedded in the road with a drop off the other side.  The jeep performed like a champion.  It has a 4 wheel feature titled “Rocks” and I used that a couple of times.  It downshifts into 4 wheel and very slowly allowed me to ease over the rocks as it raises the chassis.  Some of the grades were so steep I had to use the “Down Hill” feature of the jeep.  Again, great performance.  Cars that passed me on the road eventually were parked along side the road and I ended up passing all but one – another jeep.  

 

The last 5 miles of one way traffic was through a very deep canyon.  In some places, there was room for the jeep but just barely.  What an experience to drive through a very narrow canyon with walls extending up hundreds of feet. The entire drive was worth it for the last 5 miles.  

I’m a little sad leaving Death Valley.  I didn’t know what to expect but I would like a couple of more days to explore this place.  The only drawback is this is the second largest national park (Denali in Alaska is larger) and you have to drive an hour to get to most sights.  Believe me, it’s worth it.  

Tomorrow I head to Ventura, California and hopefully a chance to wash clothes.  After one night in Ventura, I catch a boat to the Channel Islands for two nights of camping.  I catch the boat back and spend a second night in Ventura and then head for three nights of camping in Pinnacles National Park.