Death Valley Days

This morning, Andy and Terry are getting ready to leave for Death Valley for a three day trip.

Springtime is the best time to visit Death Valley, not too warm, not too cold. Andy really likes to visit the desert once in a while, to see a little bit of nature for a change, and Terry does not object.

Their first rest stop on the road is at Barstow, in the high desert, where they get a bite to eat and stretch their legs.

At Baker, Ca, they would normally turn north to enter Death Valley at its southern entrance, but Terry and Andy take a detour straight east toward Buffalo Bill's Casino in Primm, Nevada.

It takes them about an hour or two out of their way. It's a little windy out here in the desert today.

Terry has not shown any interest in camping (as Andy had suggested) in Death Valley National Park, so they will spend their nights at Buffalo Bill's and commute to Death Valley.

It means a bit more driving, but Andy doesn't mind. He gets to travel a few different roads and see some sights that he hasn't seen before. Besides, the room rates offered by Buffalo Bill's these days are as low as they have ever been.

The most reasonable gasoline prices at home today are $2.05 a gallon, so this should prove to be a very low budget trip.

After a restful night at Buffalo Bill's, Terry and Andy drive north and west toward Pahrump, Nevada, a small town in the middle of nowhere. From here, they can have lunch and continue on to the southern entrance to Death Valley.

They drive through a lot of desert terrain until they find Badwater, the lowest point in North America.

The next stop, up the road, is Furnace Creek Resort. There are a lot of people from all over the country visiting here. The main campground is full of trailers and motor homes. This is the home of the famous 40 mule team which hauled borax ore out of the valley many years ago.

Andy and Terry continue their motor tour back toward Pahrump, where they stop for an early dinner. Then it's back to Buffalo Bill's for the night, and they'll drive home the next day.