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.