A wider circle

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Today we went further afield than yesterday on a circular route from Furnace Creek.  We had an interesting day sighting animals, but no ghosts when we went to the ghost town, Ballarat.  Well, we had to visit Ballarat didn't we?  This Ballarat is named after Ballarat, Victoria, my home state in Australia.  Before going there we thought it would be named for Ballarat, Victoria since Ballarat is in Aboriginal name.

Photos and more later ..... this is simply to create the page for today.

40 mile loop

We visit Dante's Peak before taking the West Side Road to get close to the salt flats (the park ranger told us this was the best place to see salt pans).

The salt flats from Dante's Peak.

Dried out this becomes tumbleweed. When blown by the wind into your car it can cause damage and if it hits you, wow it would hurt.

The salt flats from Dante's Peak.

Dante's Peak gives beautiful views of the salt flats.

Garry went over to check out the Eagle Borax Mine.  On our way to this mine a red-tail eagle flew low in front of our car, it was beautiful to see.

A coyote was wandering aimlessly at the side of the road.  It was very hot.  What is he looking for?  Roadkill?

Me, at the Badwater Basin salt pans.  It was hot, extremely hot, being 282 feet below sea level (the lowest point in North America) the temperature rises.  At Dante's Peak, about 2,500m above sea level, it had been cool to cold.  The salt was tough and crunchy to walk over but not as bad as some of the new camino paths.

 The Desert Holly is a delicate color.

At Artists Palette the rock colors are amazing, white, peach, red, green, gray, black and more.  It is all very beautiful ... desolate, badlands, sure but beautiful in its own way.

Furnace Creek, California

I spend two days at home after being in Spain on the Camino de Santiago and I am off to California.  Garry and I are on vacation in Death Valley National Park (DVNP) and staying at the Furnace Creek Ranch. We will spend the next four days exploring the geological wonders of the National Park. Garry came to DVNP earlier this year on a geological field trip and wanted to share the beauty with me.

The oasis of Furnace Creek is below sea level and a little patch of green in the valley. Death Valley is one of the hottest spots in the world and is the lowest point in North America (282 feet below sea level). The low altitude, coupled with the high heat, creates furnace like weather .... hence the name I guess.

During the years 1883-1889 borax was mined in Death Valley. Twenty-mule-teams were comprised of eighteen mules and two horses hitched together. The teams pulled borax from the Furnace Creek area across the Mojave Desert to the nearest railroad stop. The wagons and water tank are shown above.

When I saw these two setting off I thought that I was still on the camino.  Nope, they were on the 2.7 mile hiking trail. There is an easy three minute uphill walk to Zabriskie Point and from the viewpoint I could look down at the trail that the two hikers would follow.

View from Zabriskie Point

View from Zabriskie Point

View from Zabriskie Point

View from Zabriskie Point

A view from Zabriskie Point showing volcanic flows, the top black layer. Millions of years of erosion give this place a badland feeling.