February 22-24, 2020 Death Valley, California

The wind came up and blew the tents in the campground around. Tenting in the wind is never fun. Two interesting RV's, one is a flatbed truck with a trailer on top and a Nest. We went to Badwater to welcome the Judy's in from their hike. I walked way out on the salt flat looking for them. The patterns fascinate me. The informational sign says: The vast surreal salt flats of Badwater basin change constantly. Salt crystals expand pushing the crust into rough chaotic forms. Newly formed crystals ooze between mud cracks, stretching strange patterns on the surface of the salt flats. Passing rainstorms wash off windblown dust and generate a fresh layer of blinding white salt. Floods create temporary lakes that dissolve the salt back into solution, starting the process over again.' 

Salt forms forming. The farther out you go from the parking lot, the whiter and more pristine the salt is.

It rained yesterday and some of the water pooled here dissolving the salt. Farther out there is enough water to reflect the surrounding mountains. In the distance you can see two small dots. That is Judy and Judy. 

Reflections of the surrounding mountains on the salt flats.  

The Judy's on the last stretch heading into Badwater.  

Judy's heading into Badwater. Judy and Judy with the Badwater Basin sign. We are at -282 feet below sea level here, the lowest place in all of north and south America. Also the spot where the Amargosa River, which they have been following for the last 170 miles/ 2 weeks, absorbs into the ground and the river ends.  

We took them to Furnace Creek Inn where they will spend the last 2 nights of the trek. A bit different from the rest of Death Valley, it is an oasis. Green grass, palm trees, gardens and fountains.  Sunset at the Inn.

 Their Casita was not ready until 7 pm. The Inn paid for appetizers for our happy hour before dinner. Susan, John, Judy, Judy and Suep.   Dinner in the fancy Inn dining room.  Since their room was not ready Judy and Judy had dinner in their hiking  clothes. Donna, Judy, Susan, John and Judy. Donna and Susan came down to help with the after hike celebration. 

Judy rented a casita at Furnace Creek Inn for the end of the B2B. The 25 casitas are below the Inn in a lovely garden with nice ponds. It has two queen beds and a fold out couch in the living room.It is very lovely. We spent the day at the pool. Judy in our little shady alcove.  

This spring fed pool is one of my favorite places ever. We had happy hour on the patio at the casita. Judy, Donna, John, Susan and Judy.  

You can't park by the casitas, but each one gets a golf cart to drive to and from the parking lot and Inn with. We all 6 piled into the golf cart, it was a bit like how many people can you cram into a Volkswagen. Judy, Donna, Judy, Susan and John. The front of the Inn now has this weird circus tent cover over the unloading area now. We had another lovely dinner in the dining room.

February 21, 2020, Death Valley, California

75 and sunny.

Sand Verbena, yellow evening primroses. Big hairy scorpion.  The book says these are 4 inches long, but I think that is with their tails up over their backs, this one was at least 6 inches long. Cryptantha, portulaca and white flowers. 

Yellow flower, evening primrose. Dirt patterns by the river. Desert star, mohavae, desert chicory, phacelia and yellow flower. Desert golds. 

Pygmy poppies, red branches  and green growing up through seat springs. We hiked up the unnamed canyon on Mormon point on the way back to the campground. Looking back onto the valley floor at the mouth of the canyon. 

Looking back down at the valley from one of the many slot canyons off this canyon. It is unnamed, but John decided to name it Slots of Fun. Cool clouds at the beginning of the canyon. 

Another slot canyon. Me walking up one of the slot canyons.

John walking up a slot canyon. 

Me with this formation I decided to name Satan's Fist, John thought it should be the trochanter because it looks like a bone. The canyon walls had all these wild colorful lines. 

Drippy, holey and painted rocks. John took this of me in front of one of the few smooth canyon walls. 

Two rock mushrooms, These two black ravens were chasing off this white hawk. Double alcove on the canyon wall. Hoo doos and evening primrose.

Slots of Fun. Me at the end of a narrow spot and John at the other end.  

John trying to climb though a big boulder jam at the mouth of one of the slots. John trying to climb up a blocked fall at the end of another slot. We didn't make it through either of them. Curvy canyon walls.

This side canyon did not go any farther than this. Cool lines on the canyon walls.

Me blocked by big rocks. Painted curves and lines. 

John nearing the end of the main canyon. Looking out another side slot canyon. 

Looking into another side slot canyon. John in the main canyon. 

Looking back up from the mouth of the canyon. Furnace Creek Inn near the campground. Judy and Judy will stay there at the end of their hike. We will join them around the pool and for dinners.  

A view of the packed campground from the top of our bus. The Dark Sky festival was going on this new moon weekend at the visitors center. I attended some lectures on astro photography.  Our neighbor in the campground spent some time with me trying to figure out how to shoot star photos with my point and shoot camera. I may have it sort of figured out. Next Dark Sky festival I will attend all the lectures, they were really interesting.