This morning Herman and Tony joined us as we headed out for a day of “canyon-ing”… After another evening of listening to the entertainment at the band stand (western, gospel, and bluegrass music), we were ready to go exploring. Our destination for the day is 4 wheeling through 27 miles of one way, winding/twisting/ undulating /dirt/gravel, big rocks Talis Canyon. It was recommended by the rangers that we don’t make the drive unless we have a “high clearance, 4 wheel drive vehicle” in better than good condition (does that fit our little Chevy Tracker???). The weather couldn’t have been better (high 80’s to low 90’s) and with very few other cars on the drive. About half way through we pulled off to the side and had our lunch. Imagine how little we felt, the walls of this canyon climbing as high as 300 feet above us, and as close as 10 feet on each side of the car, it was humbling... Overall our drive through the canyon took us about 4 hours so when we got back to our motor homes we were ready for a cool one and a chance to totally relax. Seeing as how Herman and Tony have traveled to Holland many times over the years after they themselves first arrived, we had many tales to exchange. We also had a chance to learn much more about their personal experiences during World War II, again a very sobering experience. I have read many books, letters from the soldiers from all sides of the war, watched newsreels, and visited many war museums while traveling through Europe, and yet to hear their personal stories…let’s not have any more wars, please!!!
7 November ‘06
This morning Herman and Tony joined us as we headed out for a day of “canyon-ing”… After another evening of listening to the entertainment at the band stand (western, gospel, and bluegrass music), we were ready to go exploring. Our destination for the day is 4 wheeling through 27 miles of one way, winding/twisting/ undulating /dirt/gravel, big rocks Talis Canyon. It was recommended by the rangers that we don’t make the drive unless we have a “high clearance, 4 wheel drive vehicle” in better than good condition (does that fit our little Chevy Tracker???). The weather couldn’t have been better (high 80’s to low 90’s) and with very few other cars on the drive. About half way through we pulled off to the side and had our lunch. Imagine how little we felt, the walls of this canyon climbing as high as 300 feet above us, and as close as 10 feet on each side of the car, it was humbling... Overall our drive through the canyon took us about 4 hours so when we got back to our motor homes we were ready for a cool one and a chance to totally relax. Seeing as how Herman and Tony have traveled to Holland many times over the years after they themselves first arrived, we had many tales to exchange. We also had a chance to learn much more about their personal experiences during World War II, again a very sobering experience. I have read many books, letters from the soldiers from all sides of the war, watched newsreels, and visited many war museums while traveling through Europe, and yet to hear their personal stories…let’s not have any more wars, please!!!
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6 November ‘06 After another night of being entertained at the stage and getting an early start, we headed out to see some more of the sights of Death Valley. About 25 miles north of Furnace Creek is the other Visitor Center for Death Valley, Stovepipe Wells. About ½ mile past the complex we turned left onto a dirt road. Just over 2 miles later we arrived at Mosaic Canyon. Mosaic Canyon is a very narrow canyon, were the walls are covered with polished rock, very much like marble of varying colors. The best part of this valley is but ½ mile long and very narrow. So narrow in fact you could touch both sides of the walls at the same time in some areas. We also had to climb over some of the rock barriers in places, but then on the way back out of the canyon, we sat on our butts and slid down the polished rocks to the return path below. Throughout our time here in Death Valley we have met individuals, couples, or families from all over Europe and here at Mosaic Canyon it was no different. This family was from Budapest, Hungary and would travel through some of the national parks over the next 3 weeks. Next it was off to see the “kilns”… My thoughts of Death Valley prior to arriving, would have the Valley running for miles from one mountain range to the other, totally flat, filled with sagebrush, sand, snakes, lizards, and absolutely no water and…HOT. I would have been totally wrong. In driving through Death Valley you are either gaining altitude or losing altitude. We were as high as 5400 feet to as low as 200 feet below sea level. Well back to the Charcoal Kilns…They only date back to 1877 but look like remnants of an ancient civilization. The kilns (10) are about 30 feet high and 30 feet in diameter and shaped like a beehive with a small door at the bottom and a vent at the top. They were built to produce charcoal from the surrounding pinon pine forest for the Modoc Mine smelter 25 miles away. Unfortunately this whole project didn’t last more than a very few years…it turned out to be too expensive. Now they are used as a perfect sounding chamber for those who want to set themselves in the center of one of them and sing with the most beautiful echo chamber you ever heard. 5 November ‘06 Today’s Death Valley Days took us to “The Artist Drive”, Badwater, and Dante’s View. Dante’s View gave us a spectacular view over the valley of the Badwater area and miles of salt flats. Across the valley is the Panamint Mountains that tower above the floor below over 11,000 feet below. Dante’s View altitude is just over 5000 feet and the ride up was beautiful. It was a long gradual rise from the valley until we got to the last mile and then it was straight up with lots of turns and a very narrow paved road. Once there the view below was as advertised…awesome. Then it was back down to were we started, a left turn and out the valley following the salt flats. The park has developed a boardwalk that took us out into the salt so that we could get that “up close” look at this massive salt lick. There were areas of ponds where the water was about 2 feet deep with a salt floor and little salt “islands” coming up from the bottom. There are also fish living there. These little 1 inch long fish that have survived from centuries in this very heavy salt water...again amazing little creatures that live here. Then it was off to The Artist Drive. This drive took us to a 4 mile circular dirt road. Leaving the salt flats behind, we headed towards the base of the mountain. The road was like riding on a roller coaster, lots of mounds, twists, and curves and then we were into the area that gave this ride its name. The lower mountain was full of color made up from the different chemicals and minerals found here. Pink, purple, orange, yellow and red were but a few of the hues that were in front of us. It was like some one had come through with a large sack of colors and spilled them all over the mountain. 4 November ‘06 Death Valley became a National Monument in 1933 and a National Park in 1994. We have been thinking about the possibility if it hadn’t become either one and become something like a wide open ATV course. We’ve been able to hike some of the canyons that had been made by the awesome power of rushing floodwaters. As they flowed they eroded and destroyed rock walls and as this was happening they created some of the most beautiful natural hiking areas we have ever been on. Today we are off to hike the Golden Canyon. This is a hike of about 2+ miles each way. The whole area was at one time the bottom of a massive lake and now it is made up of large hills and mounds of a yellow/gold russet sand, mud, and rock. There were lots of little trails that we could take from the main hike, but after following them for a distance we found they would just bring us back to the beginning. A place called the Red Cathedral was at the end of our hike so after seeing that, having a bite and drink from our pack, we headed back for another great adventure. The Natural Bridge of Death Valley. After driving another one of those wonderful dirt “spur” roads for 2 miles we hiked the remaining ¾ mile into the “Natural Bridge”. This “Bridge” is another creation that came about from rushing water through cracks in weaker rock and cutting it into its present form. It now looms abut 60 feet above the current floor. 3 November ‘06 When our Dutch/American friends Herman and Antonia “Tony” Kophoff heard that we were coming to Furnace Creek here in Death Valley, they told us about this group called “The 49ers”. Well we had no idea as to what we were getting into…what a great party and all for a wonderful cause. On top of all that the 49ers are bringing to the Death Valley, we still have the Valley and all it has to explore. After checking into the campground and getting set up, we headed off to our first exploration. Zabriskie Point. This spot provides a beautiful view over the Furnace Creek Badlands, a vast area of uplifted, eroded yellow hills. These contours are the remains of a lake bed over 5 to 10 million years ago. It is unbelievable what the yellow tones and the contrasting shadows, as the day closes, bring to the canvas. Then it was off to “Twenty Mule Team Canyon”. It too was a part of the lake bottom and contained the same yellow hills with heavy texturing were the rain has streaked and pot marked the surfacing. The hills were also found to contain “Borax” so there are mines dotted throughout. This was another off road experience that took us on another circus ride through the hills, even as we traveled at 5 to 10 miles per hour. 1 November ‘06 Last Friday morning Louise and I awoke about 5am and headed for the airport in Las Vegas. Louise was on her way to Coeur d’Alene for Joelle’s 40th birthday. Leslee and Mikleane were also on their way to CDA as well but had no idea that Louise was going to surprise all 3 of them. We were unable to be around for any of their 40th birthdays, so Louise decided to make this surprise trip to celebrate all three at once. It worked out just about as planned…the best thing is they all had a great time. Happy Birthday Joelle !!! The last few days have been spent close to home except on Halloween. About 4 we headed for Las Vegas to see what Halloween is like there. Our main objective was to spend the early evening in the “Fremont Street” area. After a short stay along the strip we headed for Fremont and a place to park our car. We were treated to some wonderfully designed costumes from young kids to adults all night. The casinos weren’t too good to us financially, but it was still fun. One place we were on the hunt for was a small casino that serves these little frozen cocktails…kind of like Baskin and Robbins…26 flavors or more…twas yummy…we made a short night of it by getting back home just before the “witching hour” (mid-night). Now the rest of this week, a trip to Wal-Mart and another grocery store a couple of times and that is about all. Yesterday we invited Peg and Bruce to join us for lunch here at the winery. We really enjoyed the lunch. We had been told how good it was and it didn’t disappoint us. Bruce gave me a hat from KarmaBum (the web site that carries their European journal) and I gave him one of the flag poles like we have at the front of our coach. We plan to see each other somewhere out there in our travels, but right now it is an open book. Last week we met a couple originally from the Netherlands. They have their motor home across the street from us. Herman and Tony came to the states about 1974 and settled in California. Wouldn’t you know it, he went into real estate and soon after started his own brokerage with a partner. We’ve enjoyed hearing and telling stories about their and our trips to Europe. They purchased a book that gives them all of the convents and monasteries that accept overnight guests. It has been a wonderful way to travel through Europe for them. On Friday we check out of this campground and will head back to Death Valley. This time we will take the time to explore the southern end of the valley. On Sunday Herman and Tony will be joining us. |
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