7-13-17

Luke went to bed feeling ill and woke up with a small temperature this morning so I made the decision for him not to run. We are headed into Mojave and Death Valley today and I did not want him getting close to dehydration and making whatever little cold he has worse. We ate breakfast and showered and left the hotel by 8:00. 

Our drive to Mojave on I-40 paralleled Route 66, sometimes within about 20 feet. We also got to see the start of I-40 and the 2554 miles to Wilmington, NC sign which was another indicator that we are heading towards home, albeit slowly. For 30 miles we didn't pass a soul on 66.  We turned north after 78 miles and headed into Mojave Preserve. We stopped in to the Kelso visitor center but decided to save all of our outdoor activities for Death Valley. Another 35 miles and we were in Baker, CA. This is the home of the 'Worlds tallest thermometer'. This was not nearly as cool as the ball of twine. We were expecting a giant thermometer with the red stuff that raises up to the temperature. Instead we got a digital scale. Disappointing. We grabbed some extra water and then continued north to Death Valley. 

It was a pretty drive if you can call the scrubby brush and lava covered mountains that. We stopped once to take a few pictures of the road in the middle of nowhere and make sandwiches to eat as we drove. Scott held the umbrella over me as I made sandwiches from the trunk because it was already a scorching 108 degrees according to our car. We entered the park and stopped at Zabriskie Point to catch the view. The walk up the hill was so hot and dry. When I stopped, I could feel the black rubber on my croc flip flops softening. We took some pictures then went back down to the car. I harped on everyone to drink lots of water today, so much that we've all been visiting the bathroom every time we stopped. 

We drove another few miles to the visitor center and ogled at the thermometer that said 121-123 degrees.  Our car had only gotten up to 115. After junior rangering, watching the park film and enjoying the AC, we headed south on the park road to see the Devils golf course and the Badwater Basin. This is the lowest point in North America,282 feet below sea level, there's actually a sign on the mountain next to it that marks sea level. This is also the hottest spot in Death Valley. It's a salt flat and I would have said it was around 130 based on our car temp of 122 degrees. We took pictures, walked out on to the flats (I tasted the salt) and then got back in the car. It was hot. You could feel your skin burning from the sun and heat. My phone overheated and went into emergency mode. Back in the car we drove through the Artists Palette loop and took a few more pictures before heading out. I would love to come back in the winter to explore when it is only 88 degrees in the flats. 

We stopped in the town of Pahrump for dinner then headed in to Las Vegas. We of course stopped at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign for pictures then checked in to our hotel. We walked the strip, exploring the casinos and hotels, watching the shows from the volcano at Treasure Island and the fountains at the Bellagio.  We walked about 2.5 miles and it was still around 95 -100 degrees outside. We went back to our hotel and we were all in bed around midnight.