Take Me to Texas ~ West Coast RV Adventure 2023 ~ Day 32-34 and Home!

Let’s Get This Party Started! 

Hope Travels 2023 ~ The West Coast RV Adventure – Day 4 & 5 

 

We woke up to a sunny, pretty day, and all I could think of was, “Let’s Get This Party Started! I was checking things out even before Dad got the privacy curtain down. After we packed up and took a trot around the Kampground, we were off!  Dad said we had to make hay today, whatever that means. I think it means just drive a lot, because that’s what we did.  Time for my morning nap!

We went by something called Hoover Dam but didn’t stop because Mom and Dad have been there before. Then we entered into Nevada.

We made it into Las Vegas. Mom said “no” to Dad’s “do you want to go put some money down on the tables” question, so instead we stopped for lunch and for something at a pet store that Mom said I’d need in Death Valley. I have no idea what that means. They had lunch at a yummy Hawaiian food place but I had to stay in the LHOW. Then we hit the road again. Best I can tell, Nevada just has a whole lot of nothing. We saw a mountain with snow on top - kinda cool. More weird land formations. And a whole lot of nothing.

So I hunkered down for a long nap.

Later in the afternoon, Mom said we were entering Death Valley. It’s really hard to describe Death Valley. First, it’s HUGE! And VAST. And yet diverse…so many different colors and textures and shapes. Rugged mountains. Scrappy shrub. A long, wide flat valley with mountain ranges on the east and west. Light yellow elephant skin like mounds. Black mounds. Red mounds. And then brilliant sand dunes that seemed to have been deposited from the Sahara Desert except the backdrop was those barren mountains. All of this was just so surreal and other worldly. 

 

We got to our campground, and boy was it HOT! Mom carried me to check in. I didn’t understand why, but I didn’t complain. The nice man shared some interesting facts, like Death Valley is bigger than the state of Connecticut. It also has the lowest elevation in the US at Badwater Basin. Interestingly, the highest elevation is only 100 miles northwest at the peak of Mt. Whitney. But don’t ask, we’re not going there. Badwater Basin has been the filming location of lots of movies. The ones you’d most likely recognize are the recent Star Wars movies. You know, when they’re in the middle of some desert planet. Yep, that’s Death Valley. 

Back at the LHOW, Mom and Dad got all hooked up at the campground, and then I had to do my business. Mom warned me that I wouldn’t like what was coming next, and she proceeded to put these ridiculous things on my feet. I mean, what was she thinking?!? I couldn’t walk in them, in fact if I even moved, I started to fall over.  Then they took me outside where (did I mention how hot it was, like 109 hot) they actually expected me to walk around in these things and do my business??? Uh, SO not happening! 

Mom and Dad went to the bar to get a drink. Laura, the bartender has two dachshunds. Every day we’ve met one or more people who have dachshunds. Just further proof that we are the best dog breed! When they got back, we all sat outside and watched the sunset. Now that was really pretty! Except for the little flies that bit Mom and Dad. I think one even bit my fanny once! What the heck??

Later, we tried to stargaze but there were too many clouds to see much. So it was bedtime for us. There aren’t any train tracks in this crazy big desert but believe you me, we kept the AC going all night long! 

The next morning, we decided to hit the road. Again. For some reason the valley looked even bigger in the morning and much more boring without a pretty sunset. The sand dunes glistened in the morning sun though. Mom was talking about how horrible it would have been back in the 1800s again. Man, those people must have felt as if they made a serious wrong turn to end up in this God-forsaken valley in a covered wagon. 

We headed west out of Death Valley across the valley floor and up the mountains going from  5’ to 5000’ elevation. At the top of the mountain we really thought we’d be out of Death Valley. But no. There was another desolate valley in front of us with yet another mountain range to the west. Really?? We thought this place was huge yesterday. It just got even BIGGER! So we drove back down to sea level then back up to 4000’. It was interesting to observe the vegetation and color changes with higher elevation. Spring green still dusted the mountainsides and flowers were blooming. What a contrast to the desolation in the valley!  

We stopped at Fr. Crowley’s Vista Point. Fr. Crowley was a priest who lived there and pastored anyone who passed through. He was beloved by locals and all those who encountered him. The National Park website said it was a short 400m walk to an amazing vista point along a canyon that the Air Force used to train pilots to fly. So we headed out. Hmmm, 400m was really almost 1.5 miles. It was quite the topic of conversation amongst those we encountered. Well that, and how cute I am. You guessed it. A ways in, I found a bit of shade and sat down. This little black dog with short legs was done. 

After that, we just drove and drove. Mom and Dad had lunch in Tehachapi at Petra, a yummy Mediterranean restaurant in a cute little downtown area. Petra allowed me on the patio, so I didn’t have to stay in the LHOW. Check out their gyro and garlic fries. Yum! 

So for all y’all who don’t live in California, Dad says you won’t believe the gas prices out here! Geez! Luckily, Mom and Dad have a nifty app that helps them find the best gas prices. We aren’t paying THAT much! 

My Mom and Dad both lived in CA for a really long time, but today we’re driving a lot of roads they’ve never seen before. Nonetheless, the scenery started to get very familiar, and it made both of them really happy. Brown rolling hills dotted with oak trees. Well ordered farm field after field with a random palm tree sprouting upward. And then, finally, the Pacific Ocean. Mom was REALLY happy when she saw the ocean! 

But it had been a long day of driving, so we headed straight for our campsite. Mom whispered to me that she CAN’T WAIT to get to the beach tomorrow. I’m not sure what that means, but I hope I don’t have to wear those goofy shoe things!