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We leave Vegas around lunchtime after we both finish some work and pack! The host of the airbnb, Bud, doesn't mind us being there a bit longer as we have vacated the room so he can have it cleaned. So we finish what we need to do and get on the road!
We don't go very far before we spot an In n Out Burger that we have both never done and everyone recommends so we stop and take a breather and get some food & it lives up to expectation's! It's a very simple menu, 4 choices of burger and one fries and a drink, but their Double Double Burger is amazing. I order 2 burgers, 2 fries and a drink to share, but we really only needed 1 fries and as Hugh pointed out, why did I get 2 when we only ever eat 1 between us! Doh! Will I ever learn? Probs not! Haha! The burger fills us both us and so we get back on the road.
It takes us a couple of hours to get to Death Valley and it is amazing. The scenery round you changes minute by minute.
It goes from mountain ranges ravaged by the weather to sand dunes and flat desert. It is amazing to drive through, the landscape changes minute to minute. We stop off at the designated points, which are of historical interest and read up on each part, thoroughly enjoying all the history that comes with it.
We drive passed Furnace Creek Inn, which was a hotel build by stop of at Furnace Creek Ranch which was built by the Pacific Coast Borax Company of
Twenty Mule Team fame as a means to save their newly built Death Valley Railroad. Mines had closed and shipping transportation was no longer needed, but mining tourist pockets seemed a sure way to keep the narrow-gauge line active. The borax company realized travelers by train would need a place to stay and wealthy visitors accustomed to comfort would be attracted to a luxury hotel.
First opened for business in 1927, the Furnace Creek Inn was an immediate success. Unfortunately for the mining company, their railroad closed forever in 1930 when it became apparent tourists preferred the freedom of arriving to Death Valley in their own cars. None the less, the Inn remained popular
and construction continued for the next ten years. it is now a poular tourist destination, but rather expensive and so we drove a bit further to find something a bit cheaper.
Further up we find Furnace Creek Ranch and a little museum dedicated to the desert, We have great fun looking around this place and then we drive a little further to stop of at the visitor centre, but is is closed as it is so late! Whoops! We then stop of at where they mined and harvested the Borax, which is an American product used as a washing powder and learnt all about the 20 mule team Borax, which is a 20 mule long train that dragged the borax over the desert and to the train line, which took 10 days to do!
We were going to drive to Yosemite, but when we stop over to go to the loo and get some supplies, we are told the mountain pass is blocked by snow and we have to drive around. So, a 2 hour drive turns into 6 and we decide to forget Yosemite and drive straight to San Fran instead!!
We
get so far in before we realise that is not going to be possible and decide to stop over at Ridgecrest. We are told it is quite a big town and so we drive on with it getting late and Hugh driving in pitch black through the desert with not much to see!! But we drive in to town and find a motel and get a room.
The room is just what we need, a nice big bed and a TV to fall asleep to. We go next door to the Walgreens and get a bottle of wine and some ice cream for dinner! Sorry Mum! But sometimes that is what you want after long day on the road.
Exhausted, it is not long before we are both fast asleep! Don't know about this driving business! But we have had a fun day exploring and it is nice and warm still.
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