Final Day of Death Valley Sightseeing: Dantes View, Zabriskie Point

Dantes View was recommended to us by Judy Ross (Meowmama).  We had to listen to what she said!  Dave had planned to play golf that day, but changed his mind when he found out the golf cost doubled on weekends, including Fridays.  So lucky for him (and for me), he was able to come along on the date with Dante!

The final part of the paved road up to the 5000 foot peak had a 15% grade.

An old mine that we passed.

Dantes View, looking down at the Salt Flats of Badwater Basin. 

On the way back from Dantes View, we stopped at Zabriskie Point.  This was an easy but steep climb to the top.

Somebody had to take a break to sit on one of the kindly-provided benches.

A final view from Zabriskie Point, looking down onto the parking lot.

Dave and I went for a bike ride on Saturday morning.  We biked to the Harmony Borax Works, out to the Death Valley airport, and biked through a couple of no-hookup campgrounds.  We noticed that the Sunset Campground, which is pretty much across the street from Furnace Creek Village, is priced at $12 per night for no hookups, and the usual discount to $6/night for those with senior passes.  What a deal!  We saw some creative set-ups with solar panels. 

And this morning we had to say goodbye to Death Valley.  We have other places to go!  We'll spend a couple of days in Bakersfield taking care of a few errands, including getting groceries.  Then it's on to a totally different part of California--the central coast, namely, Pismo Beach!

Here's a picture of the Sierra Nevadas as we drove from Death Valley, out Highway 190 to Highway 395 south.  ALMOST made it worth the harrowing trip on the mountainous, curvy part of Highway 190, and smelling a burned smell that made me think our RV was burning up during the long upgrade. 

Sierra Nevada Mountains