We ended up taking the 395 from Lake Tahoe to Vegas. This should be on everyone’s bucket
list if you like to drive. We
started in mountains, and ended in the desert. It was worth the 10-hour drive.
When we started off in the morning, we did discuss whether
or not to go through Death Valley because of the extreme heat warning. Tim being Tim – we are going! This is a
once in a lifetime experience. I
gingerly agreed, and followed.
The views were to die for, and the road kept you totally
engaged with the twists and turns.
About two hours into the drive we came to a summit of one of many
passes, and as you reached the top, looking down was a huge lake nestled in was
looked like a volcano plume. We had no idea that it was coming, and wished we
took a picture, but it becomes problematic when you are traveling at 80mph, and
fly but the only scenic look out point.
The heat started to crank up a bit by Bishop, California so
it was now top up for the rest of the day.
Well……..it was time; the Death Valley sign was right in
front of us, and no turning back now.
It was a cool 37 degrees C, so I thought we would be okay.
The road itself is like riding on a rollercoaster. No sure how someone in the passenger
seat would survive. It was so fun,
and the temp was now 43 degrees C.
As we head through the desert in is like you are on the moon. There are quite a few big hills. You go
from below sea level to 5000ft above sea level. At the highest point, there is a pull out you can look down
the whole valley. It was like a
mini Grand Canyon, but the coolest thing was as we were standing in the
45-degree heat, an American Fighter Jet did a fly by in the canyon. It was the best thing ever to see
that. He did a little flip, and
everything. Total Top Gun.
Now…..to the pit of despair –Furnace Creek. Hottest place EVER!!! I truly did not believe that it could
get that much hotter, but is so did!
52.5 degrees c. We got out,
and it was like a blow dryer on hot blowing on you. I really loved the signs to they had posted as you went back
up in altitude. Turn off air
conditioning for the next 10 miles to prevent over heating. Ah nope, that is not gunna
happen!!! I was actually panicking
because this is the first time in this trip that my engine temperature gauge
moved. If it to over heat, I am in
the middle of nowhere, not a busy road at all. (could be that the smart people did not go through Death
Valley) I was going to melt in the
middle of the desert. We did make
it through, but the cars were definitely cranky. I was never so happy to see 47 degrees C in my life; which
was the temp all the way to Vegas from there.
Once we arrived in Vegas, we were greeted with a frosty cold
beer, and Tim and I discussed that was probably a bad move going through Death
Valley, and our friends agreed. We
can say that we have done it, and don’t have to do it again in the summer
Now please enjoy this brief interlude, because what happens
in Vegas stays in Vegas!!!!
