Death Valley, California, USA

This place was much more interesting than I thought it would be.

From Nevada we crossed into California, Death Valley, passed by an abandoned town, Death Valley Junction.

 

Death Valley, Zabriskie Point

The vegetation got sparser as we drove further down into the valley, by the time we hit sea level, all the vegetation had dried up. We stopped to have a look at to Zabriskie Point to look at the beautiful colours of the valley then carried on below sea level where the salt flats are.

 

 

Death Valley, Below sea level.

Death Valley has the lowest point in the Americas at 282 ft (86 m) below sea level. The temperature rose quite rapidly, at this point, but not as high as usually because there was a snow storm happening near Sequoia NP which cooled the valley down a bit.  The walk on the salt flats was still 100F, 38 C.
We left the lowest part of the valley and continued onto our stop for the night, what beautiful colours, really surprising.

 

Free camp, Death Valley, USA

After leaving the bottom of Death Valley we started to make it up the mountains again. there was a place to free camp just outside Panamint Springs. The wind had picked up and it was getting cooler which was nice.

We had no internet so we didn't get the media warning of high winds when we decided to camp on the open plain. Sleeping in the cab over we rocked all night with the wind howling around us, couldn't even open the windows. The next morning I went into check on the kids and found Laura is Mack’s bed (he has the big double bed while Laura has the top bunk). Apparently she was too scared to sleep in her bunk, the van was rocking so much. Not a great nights sleep.

On the road out we saw a ute and caravan tipped upside down, presumably from the wind gusts

 

 

Owens Lake, Death Valley, California, USA

Past what was once Owens Lake.
A century ago, 1913, agents from Los Angeles visited the Owens Valley on a secret mission. They figured out who owned water rights in what was then a lush valley and began quietly purchasing land, posing as ranchers and farmers. Their plan was to divert water via aqueduct from the Owens River to the City of Los Angeles.
By 1926 Owens Lake was dry and became a huge and toxic dust bowl which California has had to spend millions of dollars on to try and somewhat fix the problem. The water is still being diverted to LA.
On to free camp before Bakersfield.
Next stop KOA to visit Sequoia NP.