Now that the dust has (literally) settled it's time to count the cost (and mix our metaphors):
RV rental : $1284.40
Gas : $ 667.46
Camp sites : $ 251.00
National park fees : $ 95.00 (includes $80 annual membership)
--------
$2297.86
That's about $460 per person for the five of us, and $328 per day for the seven night vacation ($66 per person, per day).
In contrast, seven nights of two rooms at the Furnace Creek Ranch would have cost $3,890.00 (let alone transportation costs, etc) so it looks like a great deal!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Homeward bound
We got home Saturday at around 12:30PM after leaving Kern river at 7:30 that morning ... probably a little more than a five hour run.
Took the RV to the house so that we could unload directly, and then I returned the RV and picked up the car (that'd been parked at CruiseAmerica all week).
It's pretty telling that I was able to tell Connie at the rental place that the children had unanimously agreed they'd do it all again!
Took the RV to the house so that we could unload directly, and then I returned the RV and picked up the car (that'd been parked at CruiseAmerica all week).
It's pretty telling that I was able to tell Connie at the rental place that the children had unanimously agreed they'd do it all again!
Passing gas
We're not talking gas of the "Dutch oven" variety here, though there was plenty of that in the enclosed space of the RV believe me!
We filled up seven times for a total of $667.46 for 155 gallons.
Since we travelled 1368 miles, that works out to just 8.8 miles per gallon.
Ouch! How I wish the RV had had a Diesel engine.
We filled up seven times for a total of $667.46 for 155 gallons.
Since we travelled 1368 miles, that works out to just 8.8 miles per gallon.
Ouch! How I wish the RV had had a Diesel engine.
Kern river valley
The KOA just upstream of Lake Isabella was OK as a rest stop, but the real surprise was how beautiful the drive down to Bakersfield following the river was.
With this in mind, and the fact we arrived at Lake Isabella with time to spare, I think we should have looked for somewhere to stay just east of Bakersfield along route 178.
With this in mind, and the fact we arrived at Lake Isabella with time to spare, I think we should have looked for somewhere to stay just east of Bakersfield along route 178.
Top of the pass
We had to stop at the top of Towne pass to pay further respects to the 508.
Team Tapir stopped there for soup in the middle of the night in 2006.
Heading down the long 6% grade at the other side before taking the Panamint Valley Road to Trona really drove home how tough a peddle it is coming up the other way.
Team Tapir stopped there for soup in the middle of the night in 2006.
Heading down the long 6% grade at the other side before taking the Panamint Valley Road to Trona really drove home how tough a peddle it is coming up the other way.
Real desert
As we left Death Valley heading to Towne pass we came upon the Mesquite dunes ... real desert at last!
Like father, like son
We came upon this tourist photo opportunity at Calico Ghost Town ...
... that reminded of a similar picture taken of my father.
The picture was probably taken in 1975 as we moved out of our house in Chester on the way to emigrating to South Africa so he'd be 37 years old.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Giddy up!
We stayed put in Furnace Creek today and so we all jumped on horses this afternoon and headed out into the desert for an hour's ride.
None of the horses were anywhere near the pedigree of Tinkerbell (they'd certainly never been anywhere near a chiropractor!) ... in fact mine and Mark's were fine strong mules.
The horses have been around the route so many times that they've worn a very dusty channel at least eight inches deep across the desert! Even our eyelashes were covered in dust.
Yin was quite the horse whisperer gaining a close bond with the animal who responded to her every command by attempting to grab a snack from passing bushes at every opportunity.
None of the horses were anywhere near the pedigree of Tinkerbell (they'd certainly never been anywhere near a chiropractor!) ... in fact mine and Mark's were fine strong mules.
The horses have been around the route so many times that they've worn a very dusty channel at least eight inches deep across the desert! Even our eyelashes were covered in dust.
Yin was quite the horse whisperer gaining a close bond with the animal who responded to her every command by attempting to grab a snack from passing bushes at every opportunity.
Nighttime swim
Rose and Mark and I had a fine time in the swimming pool here at the Furnace Creek Ranch.
We had to spend $75 on swimming gear since we hadn't thought to bring any with us!
It's a huge pool, possibly even Olympic sized. Heated by natural spring water we're told.
We had the whole pool to ourselves until around thirty boisterous scouts turned up ... by coincidence they are a Los Gatos troop camping here in Death Valley.
We had to spend $75 on swimming gear since we hadn't thought to bring any with us!
It's a huge pool, possibly even Olympic sized. Heated by natural spring water we're told.
We had the whole pool to ourselves until around thirty boisterous scouts turned up ... by coincidence they are a Los Gatos troop camping here in Death Valley.
Team Tapir rides again!
This one's for Chris, Kim and Duc. In 2006 Kim, Duc and I crewed for Chris' first Furnace Creek 508. We came through Furnace Creek early on the second day after spending the night getting over Townes Pass. In fact, our RV trip has taken us on many of the sames roads that form the route of the 508. I'll never forget Chris' amazing effort to complete the race so competively that first time (he's been back since!) or the camaraderie that was generated in the support car as Kim, Duc and I kept Chris supplied and motivated for almost 48 hours.
Plane crash at Bad Water
We probably shouldn't have tried to fly the Champ at Bad Water since the wind came up quite strongly as the sun set.
It's madness!
Of course we stopped at The Mad Greek at Baker for old time sakes.
Brought back memories of team Tapir stopping for a quick gyro to recharge the batteries ahead of crossing the Mojave national preserve.
Brought back memories of team Tapir stopping for a quick gyro to recharge the batteries ahead of crossing the Mojave national preserve.
Furnace Creek via Bad Water
We hung a left after Shoshone to take the scenic route to Furnace Creek via Bad Water.
You can never recall how isolated it really is once you get into the valley proper and all the vegetation drops away.
We initially thought we were lucky to see a family of coyotes until we realized they were begging for food. If I were them U's be hitching a lift out of there!
Of course we had to stop and take a lick of salt! There was also quite a lot of standing water that seemed very unusual.
You can never recall how isolated it really is once you get into the valley proper and all the vegetation drops away.
We initially thought we were lucky to see a family of coyotes until we realized they were begging for food. If I were them U's be hitching a lift out of there!
Of course we had to stop and take a lick of salt! There was also quite a lot of standing water that seemed very unusual.
Nothing but a Ghost Town
Had a lot of fun talking to the denizens of Calico Ghost Town.
Kathy in the general store spent a good twenty minutes telling us all about the collection old time clothing and other goods they keep there as well as the ins and outs of competitive chuck wagon cooking ... it's all about your Dutch oven skills!
Guess they're lucky that the are so close to the I15 ... even though it was Wednesday at 9AM on a snow day they still had bunches of tourists.
Kathy in the general store spent a good twenty minutes telling us all about the collection old time clothing and other goods they keep there as well as the ins and outs of competitive chuck wagon cooking ... it's all about your Dutch oven skills!
Guess they're lucky that the are so close to the I15 ... even though it was Wednesday at 9AM on a snow day they still had bunches of tourists.
Snow in the desert
We were buffeted by wind and rain for the large part of the night we spent at Calico Ghost Town RV park. Quite the storm!
Since the Ghost Town (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calico,_San_Bernardino_County,_California) is in the mountains behind Barstow it is well over 2000 feet above sea level.
We were amazed to wake up and find it snowing and the ground covered by a good dusting!
By the way, while I was outside taking pictures I heard two large booms that I took to be thunder or mining explosions. Later on I was assured by the people at the ghost town that the sounds were produced by military jets breaking the sound barrier.
Since the Ghost Town (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calico,_San_Bernardino_County,_California) is in the mountains behind Barstow it is well over 2000 feet above sea level.
We were amazed to wake up and find it snowing and the ground covered by a good dusting!
By the way, while I was outside taking pictures I heard two large booms that I took to be thunder or mining explosions. Later on I was assured by the people at the ghost town that the sounds were produced by military jets breaking the sound barrier.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Pioneertown
Went to Joshua Tree Bicycles to get James' front tire fixed.
The proprietor proposed we try Pioneertown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneertown,_California) for lunch. Unfortunately, it was completely deserted!
(Am posting from the Mad Greek at Baker, by the way).
The proprietor proposed we try Pioneertown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneertown,_California) for lunch. Unfortunately, it was completely deserted!
(Am posting from the Mad Greek at Baker, by the way).
Long Loop, more like!
Did the 3.7 mile Short Loop trail from the Black Rock camp ground at Joshua Tree, only to find it was over 4.5 miles.
Spotted a very nice Juniper bush at the top of the trail that made all the effort worthwhile.
Spotted a very nice Juniper bush at the top of the trail that made all the effort worthwhile.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Video report from our RV
The family's report from Black Rock Canyon camp ground at Joshua Tree national park:
Glory glory!
We just watched United vs Reading in the 4th round of the FA Cup.
Since we're roughing it, we ended up squinting at my iPhone's screen at the Fox Soccer2Go stream over the 4G network.
Amazing that it worked at all given that we're still in Joshua Tree at the Black Rock Canyon camp site!
Since we're roughing it, we ended up squinting at my iPhone's screen at the Fox Soccer2Go stream over the 4G network.
Amazing that it worked at all given that we're still in Joshua Tree at the Black Rock Canyon camp site!
Swossages!
Dusted off the trusty Cobb cooker (http://www.cobbamerica.com) and made sausages for supper.
Have used the Cobb ever since first seeing them at Anton and Aysha's in Jo'burg when we visited in 2010.
Coincidentally they promote the same charcoal solid fuel bricks (http://www.firecraft.com/product/lokkii-solid-charcoal-bricks-for-cobb/cobb-grills) that were so common in China when we visited Yin's family in 1996.
Have used the Cobb ever since first seeing them at Anton and Aysha's in Jo'burg when we visited in 2010.
Coincidentally they promote the same charcoal solid fuel bricks (http://www.firecraft.com/product/lokkii-solid-charcoal-bricks-for-cobb/cobb-grills) that were so common in China when we visited Yin's family in 1996.
Hidden Valley
We spent a good few hours at Hidden Valley which was really the highlight of our trip across the park.
We had an excellent time bouldering around the camp grounds. We were on top of the world and could see the horizon more than 30 miles away.
We went for a cycle only to find out that James' bike's front tire really does have a significant puncture!
We had wanted to do the 4 mile Lost Horse Mine trail only to find they don't let RVs onto the access road. Worst luck!
We had an excellent time bouldering around the camp grounds. We were on top of the world and could see the horizon more than 30 miles away.
We went for a cycle only to find out that James' bike's front tire really does have a significant puncture!
We had wanted to do the 4 mile Lost Horse Mine trail only to find they don't let RVs onto the access road. Worst luck!
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