NOVEMBER 20, 2010

Time has been rapidly slipping by and I can't seem to get to updating the blog. Hopefully something can be accomplished tonight.

We left Calgary Sunday, October 31 and fought wind to Milk River, AB where we spent the night in a truck stop. Monday morning we were at the border at 7:05, left there 7:19. The guard didn't have much time to spend on us. We fought wind all the way, clear roads, cloudy with sunny period skies and temperatures between 50 & 55 degrees F through Montana. Spent the night at the Flying J truck stop in McCammon.

Up Tuesday morning to frost on the windshield. Entered Utah at 8:25 am sunny skies + 36 F and were at Shirley's at 10:10. We went for lunch with them, then around 2:15 we headed west to Wendover, arriving there at 4:50 pm. We watered up, fueled up and parked in the casino truck parking lot surrounded by trucks, and refers (that is refrigerated vans that run all night). Thank goodness I was tired, didn't hear the trucks. The first picture is of one of the trucks parked near us.

Wednesday morning was a leisure one, had free shower in the truckers lounge, breakfast in fifth wheel and pulled out of Wendover, Nevada at 10:00 am, heading south on HWY 93. Climbed all the way - Whitehorse Pass 6025'; McGill 6193'; Ely 6435'. Stopped in Ely for fuel and groceries and ate lunch in rig. Left there at 2:15 pm +66F.

THE SECOND picture is of the arrow straight highway we were travelling. The highway would be arrow straight for as far as you could see, and you could see it climbing towards another pass. Murray Summit 7316'; Then it would be winding as we descended, then a repeat of arrow straight road, climbing . . . Currant Summit 6999' - descent 13 miles of S curves. Blackrock Summit 6257' and we are only 134 km from Ely and it is 4:30 pm +68F. Warm Springs Summitt 6293'; Saulsbury Summit 6522'; McKinley Tank Summit 6391' +75F; Tonapah Summit 6256' +73F. THE THIRD picture is just of some of the landscape as we travelled south.

From Ely to Tonapah is 373.1 km of endless nothing. We kept driving thru little towns, and even though they had an RV park, we didn't feel comfortable stopping. We finally stopped at the Hot Springs just north of Beatty just at dusk. We dry camped as we were not staying longer than overnight. Next morning fueled up in Beatty - at a candy store like no other candy store I'd even seen. Seemed like a mile of counters deep with everything you can imagine. Needless to say, I didn't stay in there long.

After all the ups and downs in the road we finally arrived at Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California -190' Elevation at 12:30 pm it was +84 F.

I now know what heat is like. Two days it was +97.8F. Just too hot to do much. We did have a very enjoyable time at Death Valley. Pulled in between Owen & Lynda and Terry and Kathy. Next to Terry & Kathy was Wayne and Gwen. We had a great time together. The mornings would find Gord and I walking up the highway, beginning at -190' and ending up at sea level. It was nearly a two mile climb, but then it was all down hill going home. We moved the truck twice, once to go to Scotty's Castle and once to go to the Furnace Creek Inn for a tour. Other than that, we walked everywhere.

On Sunday, we took Wayne & Gwen to Scotty's Castle. It was a great tour. If you wish to find out more about this beautiful setting in the desert go to www.desertusa.com/mag99/apr/stories/castle/html

4, 5 & 6 PICTURES are at Scotty's Castle built in the 1920's.

PICTURE 7 is looking down over Furnace Creek Campground

PICTURE 8 is of the Furnace Creek Inn from the highway

PICTURE 9 & 10 20 Mule Team Wagon used to haul Borax from the area.

PICTURE 11-15 is of the Furnace Creek Inn, the grounds & swimming pool.

PICTURE 16 is of the gathering of the wagons at the Furnace Creek Inn parking lot in preparation to entering Furnace Creek, as they re-enact the 20 mule teams which used to haul borax from this area.

Each day at the Visitor's Centre there is presentations. We took in "Wagons, Trains & Automobiles" and a presentation on Ravens. We had a pot luck spagetti supper on Wednesday evening. Music jams every night which Gordon just loved.

Saw a sign which I just loved:

"I CLEAN MY KITCHEN WITH A SWEEPING GLANCE!"

Thursday, November 11 Wayne & Gwen pulled out this morning.

Friday, November 12 Terry & Kathy left. Lynda & Owen invited us for Watermelon in the afternoon which turned into a full halibut supper which was very good.

Saturday, November 13 We left Death Valley and drove to Quartzsite, arriving just at dusk.