March 30-31, 2024 Shoshone, California

 High of 54 and rainy. 

We had  nice steady rain. We got 0.3 inches. It was enough to flood downtown Shoshone. The clouds were wild when they started to clear. 

 When the clouds cleared there was snow on the Kingston Mountains. Snow on the little piece of the  Nopahs that shows behind the Resting Spring mountains. 

 Sunset on the snow on the Kingston mountains. Sunset to the west. 

The clouds got very dramatic to the south. Whimsical sunset clouds. 

More dramatic clouds. 

This one almost looks like some kind of wicked spirit descending. This cute costa hummingbird sat in this bush long enough for me to go back inside and get my camera, then he posed for me. 

The dark clouds on the horizon blocked most of sunset, but there was a hint. 

March 28-29, 2024 Death Valley, California

 79, sunny and very windy.

I hiked with Judy and Jill up to the old observation gazebo above the Inn. Cool formations on the way up. 

Hiking up. View part way up. 

 Judy and Jill near the top with a view of Furnace Creek Ranch and the valley. The gazebo at the top and a new cell tower next to it. 

 Looking down on Furnace Creek Inn. Colorful rocks on the way down.

 Jill and Judy coming down. The monument is for the local native Americans who worked on the rock work for the Inn with Telescope peak in the background. 

 Cool clouds. Blooming turtle back and a close up of the flowers, hoo doo and a cool looking purplish rock.

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Another happy hour on our casita patio. Sunset from the Inn at dinner. 

Dinner on our last night.  The waiter brought out a birthday cake for Judy!

Over looking Death Valley from Dante's View. You can see Lake Manly in the center. The water is aquamarine when you are next to it, but from above you can see the mud that the last rain storm brought into it. We had dinner of all the left over appetizers from our trip when we got home.

Sunset. 

March 26-27, 2024 Death Valley, California

 79 degrees and sunny.

Driving into Death Valley. there is so much green on everything. Pink and white sand verbenas, broad leaf gilia, booths evening primrose, mix of cryptantha, brown eyed evening primrose, and sand verbena, yellow evening primrose and white primrose.

Huge bushes of sand verbena. Sand verbena and desert gold.

Sand verbena and desert gold.

Ruins of Ashford Mill.  Lake Manley the the reason they banned boating on the lake this year. The foot prints were tearing up the playa. When the lake dries up these foot prints will be here  until the lake returns, which is not very often. 

Lake Manly with reflections of the Panamint Mountains. Water along the road.

Roadside view. Our casita at Furnace Creek Inn. My sister is treating us for our annual family Death Valley trip. They don't let you park your cars down here, so they each casita has a golf cart to ride around the resort in. 

Dinner at the Inn dining room tonight. Nice day at the Inn  pool, which is spring fed and surrounded by palm trees. It was lovely .

Happy hour at our casita. Heading toward the Inn through the garden

The beautiful garden at the Inn. 

We had another sumptuous dinner at the Inn dining room. Walked back to our casita after dinner through the garden.