We slept fairly late today, jetlag and day 2 activities. We eventually left Furnace Creek (189 feet below sea level) at 10:00am, in about 90 degree heat and headed up the Mountain to drive along a 29 mile one-way, four wheel drive track.
We started the track and after about 3 miles the car went BEEP, BEEP, BEEP to inform me that the right rear tyre was deflating quickly. I jumped out and could hear the air rushing out the tyre. My first thought was "My God it's cold!". We had climbed to over 6,000 feet and it was freezing....
Thankfully two other cars appeared fairly quickly and between the 7 grown men that were there we eventually managed to change the tyre - but it was not easy! In the process we discovered that all tyres on the Suburban were over-inflated, it helps to read ALL the instructions in a book and trying to change a tyre on a dirt road is not the easiest thing to do.
The people that helped us were amazing - I am sure if they had not appeared we would all still be sitting on that dirt track now.
Aprehensively we continued along the remaining 26 miles of dirt track with no spare tyre. It was worth it.
Red Pass and Titus Canyon were amazing. Death Valley just keeps getting better and better. Red Pass - more green with huge craggy mountains. Titus Canyon - narrow gorges, amazing colours in the rock. All a little scary to drive - my mother would not have liked it - and 4WD was essential.
We got out, had a picnic by the side of the car and tried to keep out of the wind - which was now gusting around 50 mph.
We headined into Stovepipe Wells - our stop for tonight and then on to Mosaic Canyon. Another 2-3 mile walk through possible the best canyon so far. Very narrow, very pretty and the kids had a great time climbing rocks and sliding down rock slides formed by years of rain and people making the rocks glass like.
Next stop Mequite Sand Dunes. James and Olivia made sleds out of a torn up nappy box and we marched about 1 mile into the dunes to find a dune steep enough to sled down. Yet again - they had a great time while Emma and I just marvelled at the views.
Quick swim, few beers and it's dinner time now.
We leave Death Valley tomorrow (assuming no more flat tyres) and we head to Las Vegas. I think Death Valley has been one of the most stunning places we have been on this planet - and we've seen a lot of outback Australia, the Red Centre and in Europe done the Alps and Pyrenees.
Death Valley should be on everyones list to visit.....possibly in Winter when it's a little cooler though.
Ken
Keep the stories coming and can't wait to see the pictures!!
ReplyDeleteAlso love that you got upsold by the sales rep playing on our male ego. Enjoy the suburban. It brings back great memories. My parents had a maroon one from 1979 that we road tripped in.
You are so right - I'd have my eyes shut a lot of the time. In fact, may have to take my Avomine to read the Blog over the next few weeks. However, enjoying travelling with you and looking forward to the pics when you are up and running camera-wise.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Anne & Eddie, Penicuik
Where was NRMA when you needed them :-) Ross
ReplyDeleteNRMA would not have been much good - we were really in the middle of knowhere. The two cars who stopped to help were really great - it took two blokes to lift the tyres - they are that heavy! Not sure Emma and I would have made it.
ReplyDelete