Death Valley... and it was HOT!

Mommy said the temperature was 111 degrees!  Wow!  It sure is hot on a black coat!  Lass didn't care...  she's tough but I was wimpy....   We took Mommy's cousin Dave and his wife Trish with us.  They are really nice and they think I am cute!  They constantly pat me...  I am special!  They have a dog named Jack and after I realized that he would not bite me, I was fine and we played...  well, sort of.  Jack is kinda old...  Lass showed him her purly whites...  

First stop was at Zabriskie Point.  Mr Christian Brevoort Zabriskie [1864-1936] was the President of the Pacific Coast Borax Company from the 1890's.  This point which overlooks the valley below is a short drive from the Twenty Mule Team Canyon Rd...  2.7miles of unpaved road.  Boy! was Daddy glad we had Mommy's car!  He hates unpaved roads.  And this one was fun:   it has sharp "S" curves and steep downs.  We had fun...  except listening to Daddy complain....  what a wuss...

A view of the valley from the Point:

From Zabriskie Point we went to Furnace Creek to check in with the very nice Park Rangers.  They thought I was cute....  they thought Lass was ok but I was special!  

Our next stop was Artists Palette.  The colors of the rocks are beautiful...  Mommy told me so...  but the photos do not do it justice.  

Next:  Badwater…  the lowest point in North America!  282 feet below sea level.  There are lower places in the world but not on this continent.  It was HOT!  But Trish and Dave braved the elements and walked 3/4 of a mile out onto the salt flats; then they had to walk 3/4 of a mile back!!    I am not sure if they were brave or a bit silly but they loved it and had fun.  Lass and I and Mommy and Daddy stayed in the car after walking to the water to see the fish.  It was so hot, even the fish were under the plants and we couldn't see them.  

                                   Dave and Trish walking out.....  

                     Salt Flats and "Sea Level" sign up 282 feet on the rocks

    

         Vegetation still flourishes even in this very harsh environment

We had fun looking at all the people and watching all the activity.  But, alas, it was time to come home....  

Maybe again soon we can go on a trip with Dave and Trish...  they are more fun than Mommy and Daddy but you better not tell them.....  

Tess