The lowest point of our journey and at the same time, the lowest point of the US! From Fournace Creek we took a little detour and went to Badwater Point, 282 feet below Sea Level. It´s a huge salt lake, from far it looks like a frozen up lake. The area here gets arround 2-3 inches (50-75 mm) of rain per year, while temperatures climb easily above 120 degres (45 Grad) in summer. Everything is dry here, and yet, some animals and plant survive here, even 5 kinds of fish!!!
Death Valley used to be a area were Borax was mined. But arround 1920, the mining was not that profitable anymore. The company owning a huge part of the mines, had originally set up a farm at Furnace Creek, were they grew clover and grass to feed the mules used for mining. When the mining was abandoned, they opened the beauty of Death Valley to tourism, and changed the farm into a lodge. That was the lodge were we stayed and as we learned here, Ronald Reagan liked the place too and was often a guest here.
It was a nice sunny day, just warm enough to enjoy sitting in the sun for a picknique. Late in the afternoon we took the road again and drove to Stovepipe Wells, saw a awesome sunset. Death Valley was an other highlight of out trip, and at this time of the year its very quiet, perfect for bikers like us. Sometimes we felt like the only living people on earth.
(No pictues today, the internet goes via Satelite and is very slow)
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