Brits 3 week trip report - October 08

This is a trip report of our 3 week holiday starting and ending in Las Vegas, via Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Encinitas, Los Angeles, Monterey Peninsula, Big Sur, San Francisco, Yosemite and Death Valley.

Warning : these reports contain opinions and may cause offence! These are only based on brief visits to each place, and are honest opinions, so include both likes and dislikes. Hope you enjoy them, and I%26#39;d be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Previous days%26#39; trip reports

Days 1-2 Las Vegas

http://tinyurl.com/6oy7z3

Days 3-4 Las Vegas to Zion via Valley of Fire

http://tinyurl.com/5vv9rk

Day 5 Zion to Bryce

http://tinyurl.com/6gsgeb

Days 6-8 Bryce to Grand Canyon and Encinitas

http://tinyurl.com/59ohpb

Days 9-10 Los Angeles

http://tinyurl.com/5j75da

Day 11 LA to Cambria

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32148-i484-k23834…

Day 12 Hearst Castle

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32148-i484-k23850…

Day 13 Big Sur and Monterey Peninsula

http://tinyurl.com/9qfoh5

Days 14-16 San Francisco

http://tinyurl.com/9pjvpj

Day 17 San Francisco to Mariposa

http://tinyurl.com/94ryj4

Day 18 Yosemite

http://tinyurl.com/9zojus

Day 19 Mariposa – Lake Isabella – Lone Pine

http://tinyurl.com/7ds7l4

Brits 3 week trip report - October 08

Day 20 - Lone Pine, Death Valley %26amp; Las Vegas

Up at 6ish to see sunrise over the mountains which was pretty spectacular. Had a nice included breakfast at our motel. There was a sign on the microwave which said “Do not cook eggs in microwave”, which looked like the kind of thing you really shouldn%26#39;t need to need people. We asked our server about the notice, and she said that someone had tried the microwave method of boiling an egg, and it made quite an interesting little explosion, with bits of egg finishing up all over the ceiling.

Got a little map from our motel showing movie location in the Alabama hills, including where Lone Ranger was filmed, so went through Lone Pine to the Alabama hills and Lone Ranger canyon with its strangely shaped rock outcrops for some good photos. At first we were the only car in sight in a vast landscape, and then next minute we were surrounded by dune buggies. Once again, not the kind of thing that happens every day. Then on towards Death Valley. The first 20 or so miles was as we’d expected on a dead straight desert road, but then it got surprisingly twisty going down to Panamint Springs, by Rainbow Canyon, before going across a flat valley floor, and up into the hills on the other side.

Stopped at Stovepipe Wells (which is at sea level) for a drink and a break. We’d been hoping to get our car brakes checked at a garage in one of the Death Valley “towns” marked on the map, but they were all tiny places, none of which had populations of more than 50 at most.

Took the road to Badwater, and stopped off at Golden Canyon for a short hike at 11am. Temperature was probably in the 90’s, but not too hot for hiking, and we both had hats. This was a really impressive hike, with huge sandstone cliffs ahead, and we continued for about 1 ½ miles before coming to a very obvious dead end of the trail. Most people turned back well before the end of the trail.

Badwater itself was like nothing we%26#39;d ever seen. There was a “Sea Level” sign halfway up the cliffs behind the car park, which was a neat idea, and we found we could actually walk on the salt flats, which looked like a wide road as the sides were so regular. It was hotter here, but we could stay out for quite a while before going back to the car.

Retracing our steps, we passed up the road to “Devil’s Golf Course” as it was a very rough dirt track. Went along Artist’s Palette drive which is one-way, so we were very surprised to round a bend and see a car coming towards us! Saw the colours of Artist%26#39;s Palette, but weren’t impressed by this – maybe it’s better later in the day. Near the end of the drive, the road compressed into a small and narrow canyon with some sharp bends – lucky we hadn’t met the oncoming car at this point!

Stopped off at the car park at Zabriskie Point. Walked the hundred yards up to the viewpoint, and WOW! Amazing panorama, with Escher-type landscape of sharp geometric points in various colours, with the whole of Death Valley spread out below. This really was spectacular, and there wasn’t really a hint of it from the car park. For us, this was by far the best bit of Death Valley.

Decided to miss out the road to Dante’s View, as the car brakes were still making the car judder when used for any length of time so we didn’t want to tempt fate. Drove on out of the park onto “normal” dead straight desert roads, and drove through Pahrump, the only town I know of named after a sneeze.

Expected desert all the way to Las Vegas, but there was a final surprise in store, as the main road back went through Spring Mountain state park, which was pretty. From here, we had a view of Vegas on the desert floor way below. Everywhere was sunny, except the Strip buildings, which were in shade, which made the view seem even more surreal of this huge city in the middle of nowhere. Next we detoured to Red Rock canyon drive, which was very impressive, before hitting Vegas just as it had got dark.

Back in the MGM again, getting an identical room, but on the 8th floor this time. Hotel was actually full tonight, so just as well we’d rang earlier in the afternoon to book our room. Had excellent pizzas at Wolfgang Puck in the MGM, before a bit of exploring and bed.

Death Valley had been a great experience. You won%26#39;t be at all surprised to know we have nothing like it in England! However we were glad we went through in a day, as an overnight stay would have been too much for us, and after the rigours of Yosemite lodging, we’d been looking forward to a bit of pampering Vegas-style.

Thanks to Tet14 and FriscoRoadrunner for excellent help and detailed knowledge which was really useful in planning our itinerary in the park.