Death Valley

Golden Canyon Trail

Artist's Pallette: The different colors are created by the different minerals on the hillsides.
Photos aren't nearly as good as the real thing.

Badwater Basin: This is the lowest dry land in the western hemisphere.
The white field isn't snow - it's salt. It was 89 degrees.

Stovepipe Wells Inn: Probably the best cup of coffee on my trip, staying in Death Valley.

Death Valley was spectacular, and there's no way photos will show the variety of terrain and colors I saw during my brief visit. I didn't get a chance to post an update earlier because I spent all day Tuesday and Wednesday on the road, and there's no cell service in the park. There actually was wi-fi available at the inn, but the guy working there told me it was a satellite link and there's no way I'd be patient enough to wait for the connection. Turns out he was right. My choices were to sit in the lounge this morning and wait (forever) for it, or hit the road.

Tonight: Best Western Yosemite Gateway in Oakhurst, CA
Tomorrow: Yosemite! I can tell by the foothills that it will be spectacular.
Tomorrow Night: Meeting parents in Reno

So if you didn't already know it, you learned the answer to a trivia question with one of the photos above. Here's another: Where is the London Bridge located? See photo below. Turns out in its original location it was sinking and not fit for the traffic of 20th century transportation vehicles. So it was sold and transported, with each stone carefully marked for re-assembly. The ultimate recycling.

The London Bridge in Lake Havasu City