We left the Bay Area today at 10:30 AM with the long drive to Death Valley to go. We went down I 5 and saw a lot of trucks. We were reminded of the late afternoon trips to Joaquin Miller park by some friendly traffic in Bakersfield.

After some roads to serve the farms and those passing through, the drive became scenic. Rocks grew out of rolling hills like mushrooms and then there were so many windmills. All sizes too, with each size spinning evenly with its mates.

Then we hit Desert Proper, complete with Joshua tree forests. The shadows on the hills in the distance were both mesmerizing and a reminder that we still had 2 hours of driving if we were to reach our goal. So we changed plans and turned off the small highway on to a dirt road that we think is for ATVers on to a smaller one and set up camp.

It is great to have taken this step.