Robin's birthday

Robin’s 54th birthday. We spent the morning at the Inn, having breakfast in the dining room, then walking around the pool area and gardens, taking pictures, before checking out at eleven. Driving north on our way to Scotty’s Castle, we stopped at the Old Borax Works, drove through Mustard Canyon, and took the full Salt Creek walk. After taking the Scotty’s Castle tour, we drove to Ubehebe Crator and lingered awhile to take in the spectacular view.

It was after 4 PM by then, time to hit the road home. We returned the way we came, through Stovepipe Wells to Trona and Ridgecrest, where we stopped for dinner at Denny’s. Home before 10.

Death Valley, October 2000

Ridgecrest. Ate breakfast at the hotel, then drove to Trona, and on to Death Valley via highway 190. After a stop at Stovepipe Wells, we went to the sand dunes, and hiked out to a nice spot for smoking and soaking in the wonder of the place. Then on to Furnace Creek, where we checked out the Inn (our room wasn’t ready yet) and the Ranch (ate lunch there), then drove on to Badwater, where we took a walk out onto the salt flats. On the way back to Furnace Creek, we took the Artist’s Drive loop, and stopped for a hike in Golden Canyon.

We checked into the Furnace Creek Inn at 4:30. Our room (#126) had a terrace overlooking the palm garden, and Robin couldn’t have been more pleased. After drinks on the veranda, and a rest in the room, we dressed up for a fantastic dinner in the dining room. Back in our room, we watched the end of the first game of the Yankees-Mets World Series (and much to our pleasure, the Yankees won in the bottom of the 12th inning).