Death Valley/San Fran/Reno April 2015: China Date Ranch, Pots and Pupfish

Lots of driving today! We left about 10:00 and headed south through the entire length of Death Valley, stopping briefly at "Badwater", the lowest point in the western hemisphere (-282). (We got a kick out of watching the tour bus load of Japanese tourists. They dress so colorfully!) We pass through a little burg called Shoshone and on into Tecopa Hot springs (pop 90), the home of "pots" and the China Date Ranch. We'd been here last year, but it was so interesting we decided to return.

Now, understand that this is out in the middle of NOWHERE, nothing, I mean nothing, for miles. The burgs of Shoshone and Tecalpa are the remnants of old gypsum mining towns. Tecalpa Hot Springs stays alive thanks to snowbirds from California and the fact that there are several hot spring "resorts". But the place is basically one big junk yard with trailers scattered around. Interestingly, however, is the fact that some years ago a guy who imported clay pots, supposedly from all over the world, somehow accumulated them here and then left, never to return. So there are pots everywhere! And they're all for sale, just pay the lady in the Chamber of Commerce office We bought two pots here last year and this time we found one to take home for Janet.

About 7 miles south of Tecalpa one will find the China Date Ranch. You drive down into this canyon, through twisty turns through rock and sand and voila! there's a real oasis of date palms! Its a functioning date orchard complete with a gift shop, antique store and snack bar where they sell the obligatory "Date Shake" which makes the trip all worthwhile! Although we haven't done it, there's also a trailhead for exploring the Alamagorsa Scenic river.

On the return trip, from Death Valley Junction, we detoured to check out the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. After about 5 miles of dusty gravel roads into the desert, we came to a brand spanking new visitor center, immediately wondering if our tax dollars had paid for this beautiful building out in the middle of nowhere. (Turns out it was financed by the Sale of Public Lands Act; but the words "Pork" and "boondoggle" came to mind!) There really isn't anything here expect a massive effort to save the Pupfish. Return not recommended.

Returned to base for dinner at the Saloon - again. This time we split a wedge of lettuce salad and an order of chicken strips. Very tasty!

So that concludes our exploration of Death Valley National park. It still ranks as one of our favorite places on the planet. Tomorrow, we head out for the California coast, a much more "civilized" place, or so we're told.