HERR42
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We made a six day tour from Sacramento to Baker, the Mojave National Preserve, Sedona Arizona, Meteor Crater Arizona, Williams Arizona, and various points in Death Valley.
We really liked the Mojave PReserve. Before we stopped we hit the Mad Greeks and got GYROS! they really are the best in the USA! We found a good camp site and the Coyotes sang to us during the night.
We stopped at the Kelso station as we traversed the preserve on Kelbacher Road. The area is still used by the UP as a place to swap train crews between trains travelling East-West. The two tall water tanks are
leftovers from the days when they would fill a steam engine's water tender with 5000 gallons in about 30 seconds.
Sedona was a beehive of activity. The trip down Slide Rock Canyon on 89A is wonderful...but the traffic is outrageous. Red Rock park and Cathedral Rock are a must see and Schnebly Hill road was really nice...almost no traffic and an easy pleasant drive.
We went to Meteor Crater and then back to Williams where we camped just outside of town in the forest after a mexican dinner at Pancho's. All night there were Elk bellowing...it was very haunting and serene. We arose in the morning surrounded by deer and birds.
The way to DV was via Hoover Dam and Pahrump. When we passed over Hovver dam we realized that they are almost done building a new bridge that will eliminate the need to drive over the dam itself. Must be a homeland security issue. Glad I did the drive now.
Upon entering DV I was surprised at the size of the Furnace Creek complex and the vast numbers of RV's there...it was certainly a small city. The roar of generators and loud music along with the large crowds left a lasting impression. We camped at one of the public campsites and I was surprised at the abundance of potable water spigots throughout the campsite area.
We went up to Ubehebe Crater via the North Highway and then via dirt road to Teakettle Junction and on to the Racetrack Playa. It is qbvious that people are taking the Playa's rocks (that can be lifted) as souveniers. Oh yes...most of the teakettles at the junction are new! from 2007! There was only one or two that were older!
We looked over the "Homestake Dry Camp" just south of the Racetrack but elected not to stay due to the constant noise of jet aircraft (from Edwards AFB ?) hitting their afterburners. The noise was pretty much constant!
We attempted to leave the Racetrack area via Hunter Mountain Pass but got goofed up and ended up taking the safe route, doubling back the way we came in. We camped at Panamint Springs that night. Nice place.
a much too late inspection revealed that 2 turnbuckles had fallen off and one was missing. Washboards! ugh!
On the way out of Death Valley we stopped off at Manzanar, the concentration camp used to imprison Americans of Japanese descent during WWII. You know, the propaganda they fed everyone justifying what they did reminds me of todays "patriot act". Pitiful.....we never learn.
We came up 395 on the way back to Sacramento but did not stop anywhere except for a bit of diesel fuel in Bridgeport. $4.29 per gal. WOW! Most of the 395 towns are closed up in anticipation of the first big storm. Most all of the business from June Lake loop and above are closed as well as public and private campsites.
We really liked the Mojave PReserve. Before we stopped we hit the Mad Greeks and got GYROS! they really are the best in the USA! We found a good camp site and the Coyotes sang to us during the night.
We stopped at the Kelso station as we traversed the preserve on Kelbacher Road. The area is still used by the UP as a place to swap train crews between trains travelling East-West. The two tall water tanks are
leftovers from the days when they would fill a steam engine's water tender with 5000 gallons in about 30 seconds.
Sedona was a beehive of activity. The trip down Slide Rock Canyon on 89A is wonderful...but the traffic is outrageous. Red Rock park and Cathedral Rock are a must see and Schnebly Hill road was really nice...almost no traffic and an easy pleasant drive.
We went to Meteor Crater and then back to Williams where we camped just outside of town in the forest after a mexican dinner at Pancho's. All night there were Elk bellowing...it was very haunting and serene. We arose in the morning surrounded by deer and birds.
The way to DV was via Hoover Dam and Pahrump. When we passed over Hovver dam we realized that they are almost done building a new bridge that will eliminate the need to drive over the dam itself. Must be a homeland security issue. Glad I did the drive now.
Upon entering DV I was surprised at the size of the Furnace Creek complex and the vast numbers of RV's there...it was certainly a small city. The roar of generators and loud music along with the large crowds left a lasting impression. We camped at one of the public campsites and I was surprised at the abundance of potable water spigots throughout the campsite area.
We went up to Ubehebe Crater via the North Highway and then via dirt road to Teakettle Junction and on to the Racetrack Playa. It is qbvious that people are taking the Playa's rocks (that can be lifted) as souveniers. Oh yes...most of the teakettles at the junction are new! from 2007! There was only one or two that were older!
We looked over the "Homestake Dry Camp" just south of the Racetrack but elected not to stay due to the constant noise of jet aircraft (from Edwards AFB ?) hitting their afterburners. The noise was pretty much constant!
We attempted to leave the Racetrack area via Hunter Mountain Pass but got goofed up and ended up taking the safe route, doubling back the way we came in. We camped at Panamint Springs that night. Nice place.
a much too late inspection revealed that 2 turnbuckles had fallen off and one was missing. Washboards! ugh!
On the way out of Death Valley we stopped off at Manzanar, the concentration camp used to imprison Americans of Japanese descent during WWII. You know, the propaganda they fed everyone justifying what they did reminds me of todays "patriot act". Pitiful.....we never learn.
We came up 395 on the way back to Sacramento but did not stop anywhere except for a bit of diesel fuel in Bridgeport. $4.29 per gal. WOW! Most of the 395 towns are closed up in anticipation of the first big storm. Most all of the business from June Lake loop and above are closed as well as public and private campsites.
