We are looking forward to today's adventure. We are off to Death Valley and the famed Furnace Creek Inn -- definately in the off season right now! Hope we don't melt before we arrive!
We had about a half tank of gas, but decided to fill up before leaving St. George. We had found $1.48, and weren't sure what laid ahead down the road. Some California tourists at Zion had told us the prices in California were awful. They had seen $1.56 and thought it was a great bargain -- so we thought $1.48 looked pretty good.
It is a really hot trip to Death Valley. Only 109 degrees here today! The RWH was working its heart out trying to keep us moving, keep the engine cool, and keep us cool. Poor thing -- it was a champ, though.
Leaving St. George you go through the Virgin River Gorge -- another really pretty interstate drive. It is actually in Arizona -- you travel about 30 miles before entering Nevada. Another inexpensive "casino" lunch.
We explored the park on the way in, and visited the visitor center with the most enthusiatistic Park Ranger we have encountered to date. He loves his job, and really enjoys sharing Death Valley with visitors. We had passed the Furnace Creek Inn on the way into the valley, and were anxious to see this bit of green in a sea of brown..
What an oasis in the desert. This place is incredible. A neat spanish mission style lodge with wonderful rooms with stone patios looking over the green oasis with running water and ponds. You ALMOST forgot how hot it was. The pool is filled with ideal 85 degree water directly from the springs -- crystal clear and no need to treat it after it travels through natural volcanic filtration. A beautiful sight overlooking the Death Valley salt flats and mountains beyond. I loved this place, and could have stayed here much longer. Dinner in the dining room was fabulous -- don't know how they do it out here 2 hours from anywhere! Definately a 4 star experience. The golf course will have to wait for another visit.
Gas in the park was $2.45 -- so we decided to try to get to a town -- of which there were very few for hundreds of miles. We are headed for Joshua Tree National Park -- almost 300 miles away, but we have the "inside scoop" on the best route from our friendly Ranger. Not sure what today will bring -- but it can't be worse than the gas price in the park!
We really enjoyed driving though the rest of the park on the way out, but were very disappointed in "The Devil's Golf Course" -- it looked so awesome in the pictures, but after driving 1/2 mile on a dirt road (Phil hates driving on dirt), we saw nothing that even remotely resembled the pictures in the books. What a bummer!
By the time we reached Shoshone, the first town outside the park, we had to have gas -- $2.35!! So we got just $10 worth -- hoping for better prices down the road. Another 100 miles and we came to Baker (home of the world's largest thermometer -- registering 104 today) and gas for $1.99 -- never did we think we would think that price looked good!! $20 at this juncture, and hoping for better down the road.
Poor Joshua Tree National Park got kind of a "drive by shooting". We only spent about an hour driving through the most scenic portion of the high plateau where the Joshua Trees are. We justified it by saying, when we get our house down here, we can come back anytime -- and it was getting late, and we were bound for Palm Springs with no gas and no place to stay!
45 minutes of rolling down the hills into Palm Springs and we passed up $1,87 gas near the freeway, where, we have found, gas usually costs more. It did nothing but go up the closer we got to town! The smog being blown into the valley from LA was unbelieveable! A thick white haze hung in the valley, partially obscuring the beautiful mountains. I've never seen it that bad.
Oh well, we can deal with the gas tomorrow -- let's find a place to stay. I had scoped out some of the older, historic motels in downtown Palm Springs. We had never stayed in "the Springs" before, so thought that would be fun. Landed at the Estrella Inn with its 3 pools, 2 spas, tile roofed casitas, and white washed hotel rooms set against the mountain backdrop. All nestled around manicured grounds in a quiet area 1 block off Palm Canyon Drive -- we could walk to everything. A real find at a great price this time of year.
110 degrees predicted for today -- and Phil wants to play golf! I told him "knock yourself out -- have a great time -- I'm heading for the pool!". Also was in bad need of a pedicure, so found a place to get that done -- and a haircut -- also badly needed! I feel like a new woman! We also made a trek down to El Paseo to my favorite swim suit shop. It had been 3 years since my last purchase -- also at this same place! Found 2 new numbers that will get me through a few more summers! Phil lasted 9 holes at the golf course -- he almost beat me back to the pool! Oh, we put another $10 of gas in the car -- $1.93 -- there has to be something better just around the corner -- we refuse to give up finding the best deal!
We had an interesting conversation with a couple visitng from Switzerland. It was fun discussing everything from Clinton, Bush, technology, pensions, Social Security, the economy, the environment and AAA and AARP -- they have been asked everywhere if the "had AAA or AARP" -- and had no idea what they even were! A fun afternoon soaking in the pool and talking. Their English was impeccable -- first language was German, but you'd never know it!
This evening was the Palm Springs Street Fair. A real happening with entertainment, vendors, massage, food, a farmer's market and great people watching. Stayed til all the old people had gone home and the young kids were taking over the streets! Decided we were out of our element!
Found out this AM that the official high yesterday was 114, but the motel people said it was 117 here - YIKES. Heading out for Disneyland today to meet the kids, but we have to fill up on gas - everyone says it is worse in LA, so we searched out $1.89 on the way out of town -- and thought that was a good deal -- we can't believe it!
After a week of 100+ temperatures, we were saddened to get into the smog filled valley and temperatures in the low 70's with no sunshine. Give us the clear days and the 100 degree temps! Had dinner with the Mootharts and plotted our strategy for the Park tomorrow. The new Downtown Disney outside the park is really nice -- good restaurants, fun shops, entertainment, etc. The kids were enthralled by the Rain Forest Restaurant.
Tomorrow starts our second year on the road! Hard to imagine!