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TRAVEL TO DEATH VALLEY, 49er ENCAMPMENT, ...

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TRAVELOGUE # 4 - More Adventures in Death Valley and the 49ers Encampment (DV part 3 of 3)

Friday November 11, 2016 - Monday November 14, 2016

Published Dec. 21, 2016

At first, I wondered what I could possibly find to do in Death Valley for 10 days! Well, it wasn't hard!

Friday, the wagon train arrived at Furnace Creek with a Marine Color Guard and a lot of folks watching along the route. Very exciting!

Saturday there was a parade and the Solos dressed in their yellow shirts and participated. Sunna and I walked in the parade (but without a yellow shirt.) I got some great photos of the almost full super moon. Sunsets, sunrises, and moon rises can be spectacular in the desert. Saturday was the last full day of the Encampment.

Sunday morning there was music on the Fiddler's Stage and then most folks began leaving. Myrna and I stayed until Monday, so Sunday afternoon we did a little more exploring, and then headed out of Death Valley to Pahrump, NV.

 

Marine Color Guard

I'm not sure they were part of the wagon train but they were right behind them...

These photos were taken on Friday afternoon, when the number of RVs was at it's peak.

Above and below: the Furnace Creek Inn

Rock formations across the road from the Inn

Solos getting ready for the Saturday parade

Above and below: different groups who support the 49ers Encampment

Above, a group of Danish folks

This wagon was full of park service people

Coyotes were never very far away... Folks with small dogs (and cats) were particularly vigilant.

Horseback riders entered Death Valley and arrived at Furnace Creek with a lot of fanfare. Above, they were riding across the open ground. Below, arriving at Furnace Creek Ranch.

Above and below: Part of every day was happy hour!

Moon shots - Above sun still shining on the mountains

Spectacular sunset...

The final evening of music started with the finalists in the Fiddling competition (above) followed by the Sourdough Slim (below)

Family of musicians (above) and Old West Trio (below)

Sunday morning music - great way to wrap up the Encampment

Above and below: Zabriske Point - a lookout over some very beautiful rock formations

View from the lookout

Myrna and Sunna were waiting patiently(?) for me to finish taking pictures!

This was a side road thru a colorful canyon

Above and below: the view from Dante's Point - high above Death Valley

Above: the view of Badwater. Remember my earlier photos? I walked out to where the large expanse of salt flats started (about 1/2 mile from the parking area) and felt like I'd gone half way across the valley. Wrong! As you can see the salt flats are extensive from that point!

This shows the view to the north - almost the full length of Death Valley

Above: heading back to Furnace Creek. Below: behind the visitor's center.

Below: the Harmony Borax Works. For a time, this was big business, but the distance they had to travel with the ore put them out of business.

Above: this road wound thru Mustard Canyon

Above: can you tell how many fewer RVs there were by Monday morning?

Leaving Death Valley - climbing back UP to sea level!

 

Next installment - after Death Valley and on to Pahrump, NV (with some fun places on the way)