Finally getting back to my blog and continuing to tell the story of our journey across the US... it's been a busy Christmas and New Year period and unfortunately I had to get straight back into work. I've got so much to write about so let's keep going with the trip and then I'll share some other things :)
Our trip so far had been spectacular, but it had then been dark driving into Bishop. When we woke up, we could clearly see the landscape had changed dramatically from what we had seen in Yosemite and surrounds. Our destination for that evening: Las Vegas. And to get there, we would be going through Death Valley National Park.
The ground became drier and dustier as we entered Death Valley National Park, and we really started to feel like we were in the middle of nowhere. Al's stories in the car changed from mountain lions (which where going to emerge any minute while we were driving through Tioga Pass) to cowbows, westerns and coyotes.
We happened upon Rainbow Canyon where there were a few cars parked so we figured it would be a good spot to stretch the legs. After wondering around we noticed a few people on camper chairs with cameras... turns out military fighter plane exercises are conducted in this area, giving the area the nickname of Star Wars Canyon. Sadly, we didn't get to see any planes go through the canyon—and instead left the professionals to continue their waiting game and continued on, soon stopping at another canyon... this time Mosaic Canyon. This had taken a bit of research, and was slightly off the main track but definitely worth the stop. I think in the middle of summer it would have been unbearably hot, but it's an impressive walk and you don't have to go far to see the best the canyon has to offer.
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| Al and I walking through Mosaic Canyon |
Not far from Mosaic Canyon are the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes... these dunes just seemed so odd yet incredible in the middle of this desert. We walked around taking it all in (my shoes also took a lot in!) and again I was thankful for the time of year we were visiting as hate to imagine how hot the sand would get in the peak of summer!
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| Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes |
Our last stretch stop was Zabriskie Point. If time had allowed there were so many places away from the main road we would have loved to have seen, but we contented ourselves with the tourist spots that were easily accessible. Zabriskie Point certainly didn't disappoint though... the colours and shapes of the rocks, the formations and the creases—both Al and I played with the angles as we practiced our photography skills!
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| Zabriskie Point |
And finally, we were on the home stretch to Vegas. We only spent one night at Las Vegas as it was really just a transition, and for me one night was enough. I was excited to see the Bellagio fountains and for one night to see what the buzz of Vegas was about... but the next couple of days held far more excitement as far as I was concerned!
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| Dancing fountains at Bellagio, Las Vegas |
More on the trip next time x
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