Day 31: Death Valley to Pahrump, NV

Early morning walk in Golden Canyon

Tues, Oct 29

We left our campsite at first light to have breakfast at our first stop.    Golden Canyon provided us with a short 2.25 mile round trip walk.  Enjoyable while it was still cool and we had it all to ourselves until we were almost out of it.

 

Golden Canyon

On a whim, we decided to drive the Artists Drive.  This is a one way road that is forbidden to vehicles over 25 feet in length...fortunately we are just under 25 feet.  It did not disappoint.  The colors of the rock back there are simply amazing especially in an area they named Artists pallet….rocks  in many colors in the landscape.  We stopped many times to take photos so I hope they turn out okay.

 

Golden Canyon

Natural Bridge is a walk David went on...two miles round trip.   The 1.5 mile gravel road in is a little rough but we managed without knocking anything out of the cabinets.  I cooked up some lunch for my vegan feast while he walked.  

 






 

Glorious time to visit Death Valley National Park; I wouldn’t dream of coming here in summer at any cost. We stopped to see the Badwater area only to find out that the road beyond was closed to flooding.  Somewhere there had to have been rain but it surely wasn’t here; they say it doesn’t take much.  I can see why because there are run offs and washes everywhere around here.  This rock, rock dust, nothing much looks like dirt…just doesn’t hold/absorb water.  We had to reroute our way out of Death Valley and David assured me we had enough gas to make to it Pahrump (cheap gas).   Gas in Death Valley $4.97; Gas in Pahrump $3.22.

 



Artist's Drive in Death Valley

Pahrump…shopping at Walmart.  Golden Nugget Casino for Two for One Buffet…cost $13.00 with tip.  Gambling in the casino $1.00 plus the $6.00 free they gave us for getting a players card.  Penny slots…oh yeah.  I never win anything at these things.  David has some better luck than I do.  We dreamed of paying for dinner.  I don’t think that was asking a lot but alas, it was not to be! 

 

The colors in these rocks is phenominal

It seemed that the Golden Nugget Casino didn’t allow for us staying overnight in the parking lot but when we asked at the front desk, they told us we could.  They have security so we were okay with it.  The other choice would have been Walmart.

Green rocks

More Artist's drive

Natural Bridge in Death Valley

Water shoot in DV

last of Death Valley

Good by Death Valley