I am to start with this: outside the general store in Yosemite on Tuesday morning, I found one of those micro fiber bits of cloth that you are to use for your glasses. I picked it up. Barb and Karen yelled "ewww." I then cleaned my glasses, and put it in my pocket. Further "ewws"...I think it's the best thing maybe of the trip and they cringe every time I get it out.
I then have to tell that today we came closer than we would like to oblivion. You see, here we were in the Mojave desert and we were about to run out of gas! Michael was driving, so don't ask me. But by the time we figured out we had just 40 miles left on the car's calculator, we were in the middle of nowhere! We cell service so I found the next place on yelp -- 12.5 miles away. When Michael turned at the corner less than a mile from the building we could see, the car said "---" where the miles left in tank should be!!! Yikes.
And, then...the place was straight out of a bad movie set. Like Twilight Zone. The wind whistling, sand blowing, and one pump! And, yes, it was not digital at all! (and a high price) Two men sitting on the porch in rocking chairs with a dog. Creak creak creak.
We used the restroom, got $20 in gas, and high tailed it to "civilization."
Whew!
Now, back to all the funny things I've not said.
Back on Tuesday: I guess I was whining. (it happens) Michael says "you want some charcuterie with that?" Funny. Ha ha.
We have listened to lots of playlists on Karen and apple my music. Yesterday, Karen was playing in alphabetical order and the song "Hallelujah" came on back to back times, in different covers. Michael says, "good lord, again? What's this song called?" Barb quipped (as per usual): "Good lord, this song is long." :)
Yesterday was a brief discussion of the beginning of the new law in California that allowed euthanasia. We had a discussion of some musical (of course) Michael knew of that the depressed guy was helped by the black humor of a song about all the ways his friends could help him die. It starts something like "this rock...this something something rock" with an intimation of using it to shorten his life. As we passed a sign for a local landmark, Barb quipped "I guess that's why they call it hospital rock."
And now, for bathroom discussions. Yes, there have been many. About the quality. Today's at Jawbone (see later), wasn't so bad; my worse so far was Muir Beach, which had no running water. But we are now keeping a list of the worst ones...there was one at the top of Yosemite that you had to hold your breath to go into...
Now, for our day.
Today, we started by having to return to the motel TWICE!
This led to a lecture from Michael on "we need to do better and not forget stuff." K said "in my defense, this is the first day I've forgotten anything." The poor Google maps app was ready to give up on us really going to Stovepipe Wells (in the center of Death Valley National Park) -- we made 3 false starts.
Here's the dunes there. Yes, in the middle of the desert. It was a mere 106 there. The guy in the general store in Stovepipe said last week it was 121 one day. They carry t-shirts and paraphernalia there that says "the hottest place on earth." It has hit 138 there.
But, as the joke goes, it's dry heat.
It was hot, dry, but impressive. The rocks are a wonderful color, and many changing colors. The whole landscape looks inhospitable (and is).
Here's today's link: https://goo.gl/photos/aLDT69yKvufz5w5o8
And then 5 hours in the car, including the stop in Jawbone for gas (yes, that's what it was called) to the coast...
We had Sonic for lunch/dinner.
And got here in time to see this:
Stunning sunset!
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