Death Valley Days

 

Day 16: Tusayan AZ to Furnace Creek, CA

410 Miles

Going from the cold to the desert. No need to unpack the heavy down comforter here! It was 30 degrees when we got up in Tusayan, and 90 degrees when we arrived in Death Valley at 5 pm. Decided on the Texas Spring Campground, in the hills above the Visitor Center. 

Got set up, enjoyed the sunset, and cooked up a delicious Green Thai Chicken and Veggie Curry (thanks Trader Joe) while Lloyd caught up with Bill and Celynn back in White Salmon. 

My pinot gris needed ice. The cooler needed ice. One side benefit of the cold nights in Grand Canyon: the 20 lb bag of ice we put in the cooler as we left Texas did not need replenishing until we left for Death Valley.

No electricity, but I had my headlamp. Our lantern mantel broke so it was useless. Nice and dark, the stars were awesome up there, but clouds started coming in...we went to bed and the wind picked up. And up. And up. People went scurrying into their tents and campers. Some left altogether. It was pretty wild. At one point I got up to go to the bathrooms. I could almost hear Auntie Em calling “Dorothy! Dorothy!” Untended campfires were sending sparks flying all through the campground. Crazy! I made it back safely, and fell asleep eventually. It was beautiful the next morning.

subtotal: 4,102 miles