DEATH VALLEY CALIFORNIA International HOT SPOT

We stayed 5 days in Death Valley.  It was grand and beautiful.  One surprise was that 80-90% of tourists there were from foreign countries. We heard Spanish, French, Japanese, German, Chinese, Italian and more.  A lot of tour buses were coming out from Las Vegas.

One million people visit Death Valley every year.  This is Artists Palette.  A three mile side trip of multi colored hills.

The Devil owns property here.  This is the Devil's Cornfield. There is Dante's view and the Devil's golf course too.

The beautiful Panamint Valley, west of Death Valley.

Mesquite Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells.

Dante's View.  Elevation 5,475 feet above sea level. Looking into the salt flats in Bad Water Basin, -282 feet below sea level.

The Devil's Golf course.

Tons of Borax was mined in Death Valley.  Who remembers washing their hands in Boraxo? I do.

Our rig at Stovepipe Wells. Very happy to have electricity. The air conditioner worked overtime.   The hottest day we had was 104 degrees.  Humidity was practically non existent.

D.V. R.R. locomotive on display at the Borax Museum, Panamint Springs.

If you can spot the  tiny white slash two thirds up the mountainside and above the white/gray rv?  That is sea level.

Many old relics of the west are kept out back of the free Borax Museum.

Two guys beating the heat while walking the Bad Water salt flats.  The water there isn't bad it is just very salty.

Being  below sea level, plus the high mountains surrounding the valley, equals extreme heat.  Death Valley is officially the hottest place on Earth.  The record high temperature is 134 degrees.

6 people had heart attacks so far this year while visiting D.V. This is not a place for foolish types.   Landmarks   look  much closer than they actually are.  They stress always carrying water and finishing a hike before 10 am. 

Bryan at the Furnace Creek visitors center.  Still pretty hot for early October and it wasn't lunch time yet.  190 feet below sea level.

Dante's View looking north.  It was 30 degrees cooler up here.

Cannot imagine working hard in a mine or even crossing the valley on foot.  Water is king here.   We were bummed when moon was too bright to see the stars.  Lesson learned - visit when there is no moon.   

Between Death Valley and Las Vegas.  The Area 51 Alien Center.

Thanks for viewing the blog.  The pictures don't really capture how awe inspiring and beautiful it is.  We met a young couple from Rome that were here on their honeymoon.  It made me feel good that so many fly thousands of miles to see our country.   It was a nice thing to be able to take the time to really explore the area.  After 4 months on the road,  I have to agree with what they say.....The West is the Best!  Love, Mary & Bryan

Lone Pine Movie Museum- Hollywood hangs out here!

These are the Alabama hills.  They are part of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mts. and are located a short way west of and behind the small town of Lone Pine, California along highway 395.  Approx. 600 movies have been filmed here.

Belongings of Bryan's favorite cowboy star Randolph Scott.

Does this place looked familiar? It should.  Some of the movies and TV made here?  Star Wars, Iron Man, Star Trek, Around the World in 80 Days, Chaplin, Django Unchained, Gladiator, How the West Was Won, Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy and Lost Horizon....there are too many to list.

A stage coach seen in many productions.

Steve McQueen on location in the Alabama Hills.  He is sitting on top of the ladder. 

A commonly used film projector when we were kids.

Incredible to see two costumes worn by John Wayne.  On the right is from the movie THE SHOOTIST.  Fake blood can be seen on his left chest area.

Boots that were worn by Randolph Scott.

An old RKO filming truck.

Costume and props from Iron Man. This is what Robert Downy Jr. wore in the opening scene.

The museum in Lone Pine has so many interesting things. Who knows what famous butts sat here?!

Photo of RD jr in Iron Man

There is a large Lone Ranger collection.

Kids today probably don't know ol' Hopalong!! There is a huge Hopalong collection among others like Tom Mix, Gene Autry and Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans.

Montgomery Clift costume.

From Gunga Din.

M

Humphrey Bogart drove this car around back in the hills.  Sorry but I have forgotten the name of the movie.

Russell Crowe wore this outfit in THE GLADIATOR

From the movie THE BORDER LEGION

Mt Whitney is in the center of the posts, on the far left is Lone Pine Peak. This is as close as we got to the hills.

I really had to talk Bryan into stopping here.  Do you know guys that focus on driving from point A to point B with determination and grit?  Even when you are retired and have no real calendar?  We had a great time exploring the area.  Sure makes life more fun and interesting (and being right about stopping never gets old).  Next stop: DEATH VALLEY

Along California 395

Hi to everyone!  We haven't run off into a ditch or gotten lost.  We have just been in the outer reaches of the internet.  Keough Springs goes way back in the family!  Great Uncle Howard was a masseuse here in the 1940's.  Nancy and Janet Curtis went there to visit and a love match was made.  This is where Aunt Janet met and eventually married her literal "Prince" at a dance at the springs.  He was a boy from Lone Pine named Prince Smith.

This place is the definition of SHABBY Chic!  Just double the shabby.  The water is the best of any springs we have been too.

This is Bryan in the soaking pool.  It is about 20 inches deep and 104 degrees. The water and the dry air really help with arthritis!

The original bath house from the 1920's

Old highway 23.  This road went from Bishop to Lone Pine.  It was made from an ancient native american trail.  This road was replaced by 395.

If you have ever known a Burke then you know they LOVE fish hatcheries.

The fish hatchery pond, ducks and some HUGE golden trout in the water!

Must be one of the best of it's kind.  Built in the 1920's.

Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States.  

The hatchery was an oasis in the desert.

LOVE taking photos when they are forbidden!  Schat's Bakery in Bishop........FABULOUS sandwiches and treats!!!

Our next blog is about the Alabama Hills pictured here.  We happened to be there for the Lone Pine Film Festival. 600 Hollywood movies have been made and are still being made here.