Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Into the Furnace

Furnace Creek Campground, Death Valley National Park

Loved waking up this morning, taking an early morning run, and then jumping in the hot tub at our campsite. If you look into the distance you can get a glimpse of Gary and Ned soaking in the early morning.

 

 

Gary and Linda also had a hot tub at their campsite. Here's Gary soaking away...after soaking with us. I think Gary likes these hot springs.

I loved the quaintness of Benton Hot Springs.

 

 

 

Our first stop of the day was Bishop, at Schat's Bakery. Didn't buy anything, but I did my fair share of sampling.

In Lone Pine, we decided to visit the Museum of Film History. Hundreds of movies have been filmed in Lone Pine. Everything from Westerns to Space and Alien Movies. We had a blast watching the movie and touring the exhibits.

 

 

 

Here's Linda singing along with the Gene Autrey.

 

 

Death Valley was our next destination. Poor Winnie overheated going up one of the grades, but we used the opportunity to have an imprompu late lunch, picnic style, on the side of the road. After a half an hour, all was good and we tootled-along once again.

 

 

 

We've been to Death Valley on several trips, but its beauty never ceases to amaze me.

 

 

 

 

 

We finally made it to the Furnace Creek Visitor's Center and Campground. It was 104 degrees!

Death Valley is the hottest spot in North America and has kept the world record of 134 degrees. It's also the driest and lowest place in North America.

 

We're camped at Furnace Creek Campground.

 

 

 

It's hot, but nothing a little cold beer can't cure.

Ned's grilled up chicken for dinner along with corn on the cob and salad.

 

After dinner it hit a balmy 95, so we decided to do a bike ride to the Borax Works.

We poked around the Borax Works for awhile enjoying the evening sun turning the mountains brilliant shades of orange.

 

 

One of the cool things about camping at Furnace Creek in Death Valley is that for $5 you can swim in the resort pool and take advantage of the showers! Wahoo. At 8:30 we headed to the pool and swam until around 10. It felt amazing! By the time we left the temperature was down to about 88. We hung our bathing suits on our bike handles. Bet you by the time we wake up tomorrow morning there are going to be bone dry. Ha! What an awesome day with Gary and Linda.

 

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