Death Valley - Roadtrippin' with Darla Kay

Death Valley National Park, Homeland of the Timbisha Shoshone

Death Valley map-Hwy 178 from Shoshone to Ashford Mills to Badwater to Hwy 190 to Furnace Creek to Stovepipe Wells to Father Crowley Point

photos are in chronological order from Shoshone to Father Crowley Point, 8:00am - 3:00pm on May 18, 2005

May 18, 2005

We entered Death Valley National Park from Shoshone on Highway 178; we took 178 to Furnace Creek and Highway 190; we took 190 West out of Death Valley to Lone Pine.

Flowers and plants between Shoshone and Ashford Mill; I don't have a picture of the desert sage, but that's what we smelled the most through here. Death Valley had the most spectacular flowers in 2005 that it's had in about 50 years. Most were in March and April, but there were still a few in late May.

Hwy 178, between Shoshone and Ashford Mill

Ashford Mill Ruins

There was no water in Lake Manly when we were there, but I hear that in the early spring, there's a couple of feet.

salt, south of Badwater

still south of Badwater, Hwy 178

salt with snow covered Telescope Peak in the background

Darla Kay & Benjamin at Badwater,
the lowest point in the western hemisphere

The water's not so bad, just very salty. The worst thing about Badwater was the chemical toilet put in by the Park Service. It's nice that it's there, but the chemicals get into your sinuses and stay there for a while.

Salt at Badwater

Not supposed to go off the boardwalk

Sea level sign

Terry & Benjamin and Darla Kay & Benjamin

Between Badwater and Furnace Creek

looking out from Furnace Creek

Hwy 190

This is about all there is to Furnace Creek; there's also the Inn which is fancy (so I assume) and expensive and was closed when we were here. To the left in the photo above is a row of buildings which are a restaurant, a bar, a store; to the right is the post office and the Borax Museum. I guess there's a golf course somewhere and there are tennis courts; although, someone would have to be insane to play tennis in Death Valley. There's also a "motel", but it looked like a bunch of cinderblock rooms. Be aware if you eat in the buffet restaurant that you have to make your own toast; if some just falls out, it's probably someone else's.

Benjamin in front of the Borax Museum. I don't think the man working in the Borax Museum would know borax if you whacked him in the head with a clump. He was also somewhat sullen; I don't think Death Valley was his first residential choice.

These wagons, train, printing press, etc. are all behind the Borax Museum. They have signs on them explaining what they all are. You can read them when you get there.