Advertisement
Published: October 10th 2011
Edit Blog Post
On the road by 8.00am and we head towards Death Valley, it's a long drive to Virginia Creek and I am so not looking forward to this .Not long on the road and one of the towns we want to pass through is blocked off for a town parade and there is another detour after a bad accident on the freeway ahead, our GPS is giving us grief and she keeps telling us to re-route, its hot and I'm feeling anxious. We finally get back on the freeway to drive through Death Valley and we have a long hot drive ahead of us and I'm wondering why was so anxious as the road is well made and it's a smooth ride all the way. The temperature is hot, but not too bad as we stop at some sand dunes and Steve hops out and takes some photos, I stay in car and now it's really hot.
These roads in and around the National Parks have been fantastic and this one is no exception, the scenery starts to change again as we see green ahead and we stop at Lone Pine to have some lunch in the local Park and then
head towards Virginia Creek. As we look up at the mountains we see spots of snow and it's very surreal, we were in the desert two hours ago with the haze and the dusty and now we see snow-capped mountains as if looking at a Postcard, it reminds me of the song Rocky Mountain High song. Ahead in the distance we can see water, it's Mona Lake and what a sight to behold after the desert, the water is clear and beautiful. We drive on further and arrive at Virginia Creek Settlement where we are staying the night, Its just off the main road and the main office is a little country/western cottage, we book in and drive behind to find our room which is incorporated in a dwelling with a long veranda attached with about 8 rooms. As we open the door to the room, we can't help but laugh at the decor, there is a patchwork quilt on the bed with pictures of deer and on the wall is a guitar, saddle and old western photos, a wooden lamp with a dog carved on it graces the bedside table and I look at Steve and he looks at
me and we can't help but have a chuckle. Once we settle in, another couple arrive in the room next to us, Steve tells me as soon as they open the door she starts laughing, they are the lucky winners of the John Wayne room and yes folks you heard it, the John Wayne room and The Duke actually used to stay in the room, the room is full of John Wayne photos on the wall and the bed is about 4ft off the ground! We start chatting to them, a lovely couple from The Netherlands, we head off for dinner at the motel for some real home-style cooking and then back to our room to bed and dream about cowboys & indians!......... Weather, Hot to Cool.
Accommodation: Virginia Creek Settlement
H.R.C 62 box 1050
Bridgeport, California 93517
Thoughts: What can you say about this place,you have to stay here for it's uniqueness and quirky feel, it's close to Bodie Ghost town and Mona Lake.
If your into fishing, the owner at Virginia Creek Settlement is involved in the breeding and release of trout in area, the trout hatchery is on the grounds next to
the motel.
For good photo opportunities at Bodie ,try visiting in the morning or late afternoon to utilize shadows.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.105s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 13; qc: 60; dbt: 0.0488s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb