Off Like a Herd of Turtles

We are off to continue our northern migration.  Had a wonderful visit at Ananda Village with long time friends of all ages and locations during the weekend's festivities.

I was asked, last minute to help out with photography of the main event, the Groundbreaking ceremony.

Veranda of Crystal Hermitage with Palanquin of Swami Kriyananda

For first time in 20+ years, Sraddha just enjoyed the events without having things to do to help out.  We both had many visits with our friends and family.

I even played golf yesterday in the rain. First time for that.  Hadn't played in two years due to shoulder issues and had best round of the day with 3 pars and only one bogey.  Woo Hoo.  Makes me want to do it again. (sucker is born every minute they say).

We got our haircut by our favorite cutters,  we got our teeth cleaned and inspected with good news.  Even made appointment for next May when we return from our USA circumnavigation.

We will head out later this morning east over Yuba Pass on Hwy 49 to the east side of Sierra Mountains then north on 395.  Likely as anything we will camp in Likely.  Heh heh.  Then up into eastern Oregon for memorial Day weekend to see some new acquaintances who are volunteering at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

We expect to land in Ananda Laurelwood the first week of June where we need to register our RV and Jeep, sell the Subaru, and spend some time with our friends there.

Saddle up!

Miscellaneous Death Valley

Rummaging around on my iPhone for a few more pix from Death Valley I found these.  Tho DV is in the rear view mirror this year, we have fond memories and may visit again in February with some photo friends.  Will see.  Again these are iphone pix.  not my good ones which can be found over on my flickr account.

Me at Teakettle Junction, my temporary "office"  on cell phone

We visited a ghost town just east of DV.  not much there but this old Caboose was somewhat preserved.  Think the Black and White perspective makes it look more interesting than the color version.


Some desert rats must be nearby in this photo.  Maybe up in those rocks waiting to ambush poor unsuspecting tourists like us.  Better git to gittin'.

Many years about this area was tumultuous under sea then compressed.  Makes for interesting designs in this canyon.

Ah, the Mesquite Dunes.  Too bad people had to walk along them.  I did.  see my tracks?
So varied and interesting the various geologies.

Driving along the valley floor in the RV.
We camped at Stovepipe Wells where we had an expansive view of the valley and a lot of space around us away from people.  Almost secluded.


- Blessings from the Road

Sand dunes in Death Valley

Still catching up on blog posts from Death Valley.  Where are the google balloons for wifi when you need them?  (answer is "in New Zealand, dummy, the USA would never allow them here").
Near Stovepipe Wells campground where we stayed in NW death Valley lay these enormous Mesquite Flat Dunes.  Turns out Death Valley has 5 different kinds of dunes.  Didn't know there were that many and don't know the differences yet but these dunes were really cool.  We could hike about a half mile out to them from the road so on 3 different mornings we got up early before dawn and hiked out to different locations.  I photographed many shots with big camera and took a few with iphone.    here they are.


- Blessings from the Road

Big camera ready to shoot.

Yes that is me hiking along a ridge.  I took the photo at same time.  pretty cool huh?

Don't we cast a long shadow?

Sunset over Racetrack Playa

As we departed the Racetrack we were witness to one of the most amazing sunsets.

Literally 360 degrees in all directions

We stopped the rental jeep and just oggled in awe as this whole scene evolved and evaporated in front of us

We drove home in the dark.  Just amazing
- Blessings from the Road

The Racetrack

Ever since I recently saw a photo of these rocks racing across a mud lake, I wanted to visit this place.  The road is really, really rough and the park ranger advised us not to drive our jeep with whimpy two ply tires.  I doubt he gets a cut but we ended up renting a full size Jeep Rincon with 10 ply tires. One of the most jolting rides I have ever experienced. An expensive day but unique and worth it. Read to the end for the punch line.

Halfway there at Teakettle Junction.
Actually one of few places you had cell service.
That's me talking to a colleague back at Ananda Village

The Racetrack Playa, or The Racetrack, is a a scenic dry lake  with "sailing stones" that inscribe linear "racetrack" imprints. It is located above the northwestern side of Death Valley.  

approaching the playa

The playa is exceptionally flat and level with the northern end being only 1.5 inches higher than the southern. This occurrence is due to major influx of fine-grained sediment that accumulates at the north end during wet season and then the clay mud dries out and cracks into a mosaic pattern,  easy to walk on when dry.

Sailing Stones

These sailing stones are a geological phenomenon found in the Racetrack. Slabs of dolomite and syenite ranging from a few hundred grams to hundreds of kilograms inscribe visible tracks as they slide across the playa surface, without human or animal intervention. The tracks have been observed and studied since the early 1900s, yet no one has seen the stones in motion.

The sailing stones are most likely moved by strong winter winds, in the upwards of 90 mph, once it has rained enough to fill the playa with just enough water to make the clay slippery.

Another alternate hypothesis builds upon the first. As rain water accumulates, strong winds blow thin sheets of water quickly over the relatively flat surface of the playa. Sheets of ice form on the surface as night temperatures fall below freezing. Wind then drives these floating ice floes, their aggregate inertia and large area providing the necessary force required to move both small and large stones.


Regardless of how, it is pretty amazing to see.

Is this? yes it is Oyster shells from an ancient seabed

That's me all right.  Another long shadow!

Photographing the rocks

And here is the photo

Sunset over Racetrack Playa.  

The drive took almost 3 hours in the rental jeep one way.  In hindsight we could have done it in with Mr. Toad in about 4.5 hours and saved a whole bunch of money.
- Blessings from the Road

Scotty's Castle

Well unfortunately when you click on the photos it takes you to the whole picasa album beginning from the beginning.

At the north end of Death Valley is something you just don't think you would see.  Back in the 1920's a rich Chicago businessman had begun construction on a huge winter home. Construction began on Scotty's Castle in 1922, and cost between $1.5 and $2.5 million. Prospector, performer, and con man Walter Scott also known as “Death Valley Scotty”, convinced Chicago millionaire Albert Johnson to invest in his gold mine in the Death Valley area.

 A unique friendship had formed between this conservative insurance executive and this rogue cowboy and this businessman had become smitten with the west. His wife was from the bay area and when she came to visit this oasis in the desert she told him that, if he wanted her to visit again, he would have to build her a castle.  Literally!  More can be found about Scotty's castle here.

We drove up the north end of the valley and took the tours.  Two tours.  The main tour showed us the story of Scotty and the main building and the underground tour showed us behind the scenes.  Fascinating.

The springs of Grapevine Canyon provided the water supply for the ranch and were used to generate electricity. The springs, located about 300 feet (91 m) higher than the villa, generated enough water flow and pressure to turn a Pelton wheel, which ran the generator that furnished the villa's electricity. The power was regulated and backed up by a large bank of nickel-iron batteries in the house's tunnels.

Batteries used to store electrcity generated by a water turbine using water from spring.
Kept the lights on all day and night.

Each door  and gate had individually black smithed ornaments

The walls were over 2 ft thick in most areas so provided cool summers and warm winters inside


Construction was completed on the main building and served as a wonderful respite for many of the Hollywood set back in the 30's.  

Courtyard inside castle

Construction ceased in the 30's when a full government survey of the park revealed Mr. Johnson's land claim was actually 5 miles to the north.  He spent several years negotiating with Congress to obtain a variance to build and finally gave up and moved to Los Angeles for his health.  The National Park Service took over, and now maintains the place for all to view.  Kind of a desert Hearst Castle but on smaller scale.

Tile from Southern California

wood stove in kitchen.  Love the tile everywhere

The building on the left is the guest house which also houses a huge pipe organ still playing music

Courtyard from above

-Blessings from the Road

Death Valley

We moved on from Lone Pine and the highest point in lower 48 states to the lowest point in Death Valley.  Entering from the west is not recommended for motorhomes.  Why?  People warned us of 2 descents which could burn out brakes.  Hmm...drive around 150 miles or try a 6-7% descent which we have done several times.  The nice thing about our rig is the motor is Ford V10 with "tow-Haul" option so we just put it in tow haul and let the lower gears slow us down.  Since the transmission was made for this, we felt comfortable that we could do it.  The first descent was about 7 miles of mostly 6% grade.  whew.  but it brought us down to Panamint springs where we spent the night and next morning hiked up a really beautiful canyon to Darwin falls where we watched a coot feed in the pool beneath the falls.

Darwin Falls

Water appears several ways in Death Valley.  The obvious way is rainfall collecting in gulleys, washing down to lower places like Bad Water in south end.  Another way is natural springs coming up out of floor like near Furnace creek.  or shallow wells such as Stovepipe Wells. Another way is where the springs come out of the canyon walls like Darwin falls.  In fact the water for Panamint springs resort comes from this source and our hike followed the pipe line all the way up to just below the falls.









Back on the road again the next day we departed Panamint springs campground across a high mountain pass, this time Sraddha drove ahead with the jeep to find us a campsite while I moseyed up over the high mountain pass and descended 14 miles down 6-8 percent grades to sea level at Stovepipe Wells where we stayed for 5 nights.  The campground nothing to look at, mostly like a parking lot but the views were expansive and not many people there. Contrast to Furnace Creek where the campground was full yet quite nice by the visitor center but the other two campgrounds were packed close together with people.  Stovepipe was also near the Mesquite dunes (next post) where we would go out in the early morning hours to watch the sun rise.  We had to drive more but it was worth it to have a quieter evening.

Heading into Stove Pipe Wells

Our campsite at Stovepipe Wells. 

Stove Pipe Wells campground was just like a gravel parking lot.  Dry camping with no hookups but flush toilets nearby and a dump station.  Price was right too at $6 per night.










We drove down south to Devil's Golf Course.  Don't think my freinds would like to tee it up here.  Interesting area where the salt formations would freeze and expand into incredible shapes.

The tips of the formations were like little sharp teeth.  Not a very appealing place to hangout.  I wondered how the mule teams traversed this area back in the old days.

Devil's Golf Course

Sundown



-Blessings from the Road