It was very hot at 3.30pm, but we still ventured out into the desert.
There were fourteen of us in the bus.
On the way we stopped for views - quite spectacular they were.
Nothing from here to the horizon!
Tire marks across the white sand.
This looks as though it is about to break off,
It took courage to stand on it!
A walk was just what we needed in Death Valley!
1and 1/2 hours we plodded around - very slowly with, 1.50L´s of water per person.
This is the dryest desert in the world. According to our guide it takes six years to fill a tea cup with rainwater!
A tortured landscape eroded by sun and wind.
The Andes in the distance.
We could see San Pedro in the distance.
And, down in the valley there were mad people sand boarding!
We got to the top of the hill and Alex said -
´We are going down here - on your feet not on boards!
So, off we went.
Just to prove that I did it too!
The second bit was even steeper, but by now we all had our ´sand feet´!
And the shoes were very full at the end!
Looking back up we were quite impressed with ourselves.
We were very thristy and gulped down the water.´
We were relieved to see the van round the corner.
We were driven to Moon Valley.
It didn´t seem much different from Death Valley, until we got round the corner.
The sky was darkening and the white balsic rocks gave it a weird feeling.
The wind was howling, we had to take the hats off for the photo!
Sand was blowing everywhere.
making patterns.
The entrance in to the valley was down another sandy hill!
We were amused that these people had to sand walk as well!
The rock is pure salt!
Formed millions of years ago.
The wind and infrequent rain create strange surfaces
and shapes
The valley floor is sand, but when it rains it becomes a river.
The water runs down the mud face causing rivelets.
The drops drip off the ends of the riverlets and form a bubble pattern as the water evaporates.
The salt becomes so hot that cracks appear. We could hear the rocks cracking as we walked along.
It was rather like the cracking of a glacier.
At night bits fall off the rock faces. Not a good idea to be there at night.
The sun was starting to set and we were off again to watch the sun set over the rock formation called
The Amphitheatre. You can see why!
The walk up to the view point was hard going!
Sunsets never do what they are supposed to do when you are sent to watch them!
And this was no exception,
But, it did improve.
As we drove back to San Pedro it got better - but we were in the bus!!!
It had been a great tour though and we learnt a lot about the desert.
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