Death Valley

Shoshone Inn in Shoshone, California

We took a night here at the Shoshone Inn in Shoshone, California, outside of Death Valley, because lodging in the park was just way too expensive; this won’t be the last time we stay here either.

Crowbar Cafe in Shoshone, California

Breakfast at the Crowbar Cafe because when you are going to Death Valley, what sounds better than eating at the Crowbar?

Caroline Wise, John Wise, and Jutta Engelhardt at Death Valley National Park in California

Entering the park.

Caroline Wise and Jutta Engelhardt at Death Valley National Park in California

It took Caroline and me until this, our fifth visit to Death Valley National Park in California, to make our way up the mountain to Dante’s View. The overlook from Dante’s View peers down 5,000 feet (1.52km) to the valley floor, where a moonscape-like surface has taken over. The salt from an ancient sea on the valley floor takes on different shapes and patterns and, when viewed up close, reveals a variety of crystalline formations such as those found at the Devils Golf Course.

*This claim of being our 5th trip might be wrong as on subsequent reading of this years later, I can only account for three previous visits, which would make this our 4th time at Death Valley.

Death Valley National Park in California

The salt from an ancient sea on the valley floor takes on different shapes and patterns and, when viewed up close, reveals a variety of crystalline formations such as those found at the Devils Golf Course.

Death Valley National Park in California

The terrain here is not a homogenous desert landscape; it seems that everywhere you look, you see something unexpected.

Death Valley National Park in California

Contrast Valley might be another name for this National Park.

Death Valley National Park in California

And though it’s called Death Valley, it’s brimming with life.

Death Valley National Park in California

And suddenly, another day comes to an end.

Nothing Before Hoover Dam

Nothing, Arizona

Because Nothing, Arizona is better than Absolute Nothing.

Hoover Dam in Arizona

This view from the Arizona side of the Hoover Dam might not exist in the future.

Hoover Dam in Arizona

Almost two years ago, I took this exact same photo, except back then, the water level was higher, and if you look into the background of this new shot, you will see the construction work going on for the new bypass bridge. When that bridge is finished, the view from the Arizona side of the dam could disappear. This evening, we are driving to Shoshone, California, for a night of soaking in the natural hot spring the Shoshone Inn has on tap before driving into Death Valley National Park tomorrow morning. No, we did not stop in Las Vegas for a raucous night of gambling; I suppose the only thing we are really interested in with Vegas is a visit to the Liberace Museum.

Nothing New

Huntington Botanical Garden in Los Angeles, California

Today finds me doing a lot of nothing besides sleeping. After the long drive home from Santa Barbara yesterday and facing an almost equally long drive tomorrow as we travel to Death Valley, I took it easy and didn’t take a single photo here in Phoenix. And so it is that I am posting a photo from this past week’s visit to the Huntington Gardens in San Marino, California.

Donut Man

Rainbow Donut from Donut Man in Glendora, California

On the road trip back to Phoenix, Arizona, my mother-in-law and I stopped on old Route 66 in Glendora to try Donut Man’s donuts. I had recently read about Jim Nakano, the owner of the shop and the inventor of the fresh strawberry and fresh peach donuts, and was hoping against the season that just maybe the strawberry donut was in production. Unfortunately, the cold snap delayed the berries, and I’ll have to wait until our next visit to Southern California to try these famous concoctions. Until then, we satisfied our sweet tooths with a mixed assortment, leaving a few for Caroline to sample after we got home.