And now for something completely different…

We had decided early in the planning that a ride from LA to Las Vegas was out of the question, but the question remained, how do we get there.  My initial dream was to ride the BoB right into Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and catch the train.  However its terminus in Barstow eliminated that option. 

Bus service was also prohibitive and expensive in addition to the chore of disassembling and packing bikes.  Fittingly the cheapest choice in this car crazy land was a one-way rental.  This would also afford the opportunity to visit Death Valley at a time other than the blazing summer months when temperatures regularly cross North of 120F (50C)

No one likes a car road trip like the two of us and we set off with California Map in hand to find this isolated valley in the east-central part of the state that plummets to -300ft at its lowest point. 

After skillfully negotiating the LA freeway system we headed north through cities you’ve never heard of – Palmdale, Lancaster (pop 150,000).  Bedroom communities dotting the mountainous desert terrain.  California’s road system is amazing as we whizzed down state and municipal roads that our own Trans-Canada Highway couldn’t hold a candle to. 

We drove through Mojave and a huge airport that appeared to double as a used jetliner lot.  At this point Dee remarked that our morning’s drive had been the equivalent of a week’s worth on the bike.  We laughed as we took shot the surroundings from the window @ 70 miles and hour just as we had seen others do during our cycling trip.

Happier times at the Jerky stand

Garth survived a bee attack at the beef jerky stand in the tiny town of Oncola.  Far from a joke, some innocent camera clicking angered the neighboring beehive that sought to launch an attack.  I had hide out in the small, ramshackle store for a few minutes, swatting bees and pulling stingers out to the 90-year-old shop-owner’s amusement.  “You must have sweet blood.” was his only comment as he looked up from his paper.

We entered the Valley with a 6000-foot descent with the temperature raising some 22F to 96F – In November! -.  We walked the vast sand dunes in the Northern end of the valley.  Sand accumulated from erosion on the neighboring mountains is trapped in the valley below forming miles of vast dunes along the roadside. 

We rode the six-mile Artist’s Drive at sunset, stopping often to admire the views and colors as the light and temperatures faded.  As always America’s National Parks are accessible and well kept.

Dee at the Artist's Palette, Death Valley NP

The scorching hot temperature meant we could camp under the stars for the first time on the trip and we treated to a clear, star-lit sky.  The Big Dipper, Orion’s Belt, and Seven Sisters were clearly visible and we wished we had paid more attention in astronomy class.

Sunrise at Furnace Creek, Death Valley NP