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2000 Miles - A California Round Trip (a CA 94112 SPECIAL)

Death Valley and Sierra Nevada (Part II)

"The Motel of Beatty (Nevada)."

"The Motel of Beatty (Nevada)."

Thursday, September 7th 2006: Did I tell you that I originally wanted to stay overnight in Stovepipe Wells Village? Unfortunately there was no room left but I got the hint to follow the 375 to a place called "Beatty". There is a motel right behind the city limit where I should ask for Jim for a special room rate. So I did. It was totally dark and finding this Motel means another 40 Miles ride thru the night. About one hour later I finally approched. Nobody was present when I get in hotels lobby. I had to use the phone to call somebody. As in a bad crime movie a guy showed up coming from the back one minute after I placed my call. We talked a bit. I payed cash and got the room key. It was around 10pm but still hot. I turned on the A/C chilling down a bit, copied the pictures of that day, ate my Subway sandwich for dinner and felt asleep right away.
Next day comes up and after a quite comfortable sleep I'm so looking forward for a revitalizing shower but I only can choose between warm water and hot water. Due to this very special climate over here the water won't get cold as you would prefer it. No choice so I'm having the warm shower in the morning and the only thing that's cool are my water reserves in the fridge. It's almost noon - time to drop off the keys and ride away.

"Thursday, 5th day: Inside Death Valley and the escape from it

But before I return to the Valley I just wanna hold on for a while to get some impressions of Death Valley's surrounding. The first picture shows my Motel where I slept upstairs. Just before leaving Beatty a Baptist Comunity to the right and a unidentified castle to the left get in front of my camera's lens. As I passed the border of California from/to Nevada to enter Death Valley some strange yellow grids crossing the streets. I don't know what this kinda tunnel is for and Any hints will be appreciated ...

Let's enter the Valley. You'll be amazed how much vegetation there is. But be aware that two fatal mistakes can blow out any life: a dead caused by lack of water can be prevented by having enough water with you before entering this deadly zone. A second reason that can occur and you would never expect is a dead by flash floods. When at a certain time the rain cannot drain into ground such flash floods may threaten and destroy any life around. So watch your steps anytime. Death Valley is also famous for its beautiful and unique landscape. The best time to photograph may be in the morning and evening. Then the sun won't burn that intensive and the light would be much more softer to get that awesome pictures. I guess attractions like The Sand Dunes, The Mosaic Canyon or Zabriskie Point present themselves as best as they can before 9am and after 6pm. About 4 hours later I'm almost on my way out of the Valley but you might spend one week or more to see everything of this most life-treatening place on earth.

Finally I escape from Death Valley using the 190 East over Panamint Springs. Later on I'll get on the 136 North to join the Interstate 395 North at Lone Pine. While having this ride the landscape will change every half hour from Hills and Valley, Joshua Trees to kinda salt lake scenery. The last picture shown below is one of my favorite: I've never seen such a atmosphere full of energy, gloomy light and mysterious mood. So I stop on a turn out on I395 right away to get this beautiful picture and to catch the mood the picture spreads. And I'm not the only one as just some feet in front of me another car stops. A girl jumps out of the car and starts taking pictures of this motive as I do. A really nice story.

"The Pines Cottages of June Lake"

My nightly resort on last night
(June Lake Pines Cottages)

Nonetheless I have to find an new accommodation for this last night - it's the same procedure as every evening. Same time I wanna be stay around Yosemite National Park as close as possible. Because this would be my last target I've in mind for the next day. So feeding the navigation system again will brings up a location called June Lake. It's really dark so I don't care about lakes ore any idyllic nature. Most important thing is to find that village and finally I did. Asking for a room available for tonight let me end up in a really nice motel: the June Lake Pines Cottages. The rate would be $60 /cash and $75 w/credit card. I hesitate a while with both rates in my mind. But I know I'm running low of cash so using the CC seems to be the method of choice. The asian looking women responsible for administration of the motel was that nice - and maybe feeling with me a bit due to this really tricky situation I face. So she let me pay with my CC charging $60 instead of $75. And I really do appreciate the decission she made. And her friend was that nice too showing me the room I couldn't find due to the darkeness. It wasn't just a room but a Cottage. Below some nice pictures of it and how it looks inside. It's that comfortable and cozy I wanna stay here again next time.

And on last day: Yosemite National Park and the return to San Francisco (...)