Road Trip! Badlands National Park is calling me

 If there was a shorter, straighter way through Nebraska to South Dakota, I never found it. What I experienced was a dog-legged journey through cut fields just beginnng to sprout, views of silos and the fleeting back-ends of pronghorn. 

Roadside gas stations were overflowing with people paying CASH for bits and bobs... slowly.  I was being transported back in time to when life was simpler. The universe reminded me that this was literally what I had been asking for!

Along the way, I came upon 'Car-Henge' quite randomly and surprisingly. I stopped of course. It's weird, wonderful and definitely falls under the category of art installation. My final thought was not "why?" as my initial thought had been; It was "why not?!"

There is still the occasional (giant by any standards) Trump 2024 sign around. I do wonder if there had been more and if the recent political climate has changed things for some in middle Nebraska. 

As I drive, Neil Young and his harmonica is belting out ".. because I'm still in love with you I want to see you on dance again. Because Im still in love with you on this harvest moon". I kind of wish there was a harvest moon now. Nonetheless, I am singing along with great joy and enthusiasm in my atrocious voice. Life is good. I crossed into South Dakota just before 4 PM. There were beautiful cumulous clouds, the ground was now green and rolling, trees sprout here unlike most of the Nebraska leg - which was also beautiful in its own way. However, I have to believe that someone in SD was in charge of where to draw the state line and Nebraska paid the price!

Through White Clay I drove. Turns out there was a Pow Wow going on there this weekend! Super fun energy abounds and it appeared to be an amazing gathering place, making me a little sad to pass through so quickly. BIA 27 (Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rd 27) took me closer and closer.

Through Buffalo Gap National Grasslands where the earth was bursting with wildflowers and bison. 

Reaching Badlands National Park just around 7pm. Timed perfect for late afternoon color at Yellow Mounds and a sunset picnic dinner at Pinnacles Overlook.

Tonight I found my spot boon-docking just outside the entrance of the Park with a couple of dozen other vehicles. We are perched on a dirt road, looking over the Badlands. Cows and with newborn calves graze idly nearby.  I have all of 6 hours before the alarm will wake me! Night, night!

Death Valley to Joshua Tree (Day 3)

 The musing this morning was "what will be my last meal?"  How will I fill my belly and soul with final views, experiences and thoughts of this most beautifully unforgiving place?

Dante's View - my pick for sunrise. Death Valley's highest place and with it, a long 80 minute drive in the pre-sunrise darkness.  At at elevation over 5000' and with a wind of 50-60 mph, it was nothing short of frigid. 

I tottered out onto the spit, high over valley, my tripod tucked under my arm and found a spot where I could wedge myself between rocks and hug my camera close. Even with ALL of my winter gear on, it was a mental game to stay the course and enjoy watching the environment light up. 

In the parking lot, I watched a dozen little birds darn near fight over a tiny puddle of water on the asphalt. I hadn't seen fresh water ANYWHERE so the struggle was real. I tipped a bit out of my water bottle onto the ground for them and watched their delight and gratitude... 

Mosaic Canyon - A good place to stretch ones legs and there may have been a picture or two but it really was more about the walk! (And still no animals.)  This is technically a slot canyon... but fast forward to my post around Day 11 and slot canyon takes on a whole new, much more claustrophobic feel!

And then there was driving out through Panamint Springs... SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! I did not leave enough time today (or in a lifetime) to do justice to the glorious drive. 

Majestic scenery, beautifully smooth roads that are perfectly cambered and really, hardly anyone sharing it with me!

Beast and I were very happy to let slow campervans pass us, to stop willy-nilly and to breathe the last of our delicious Death Valley air - a gusty warm wind with no hint of smoke. Long may it last. 

At Father Crowley overlook to Rainbow Canyon there were no daring fly-boys practicing low canyon maneuvers in hyper-expensive military jets. Windy. Way too windy today. So windy in fact, that the metal barrier was singing like a Himalayan meditation bowl!

Google was routing me to southern California along roads that were not part of the original plan... keeping me safe from raging wildfires and unhealthy air quality. It was a long drive and I was simultaneously pleased to arrive at Joshua Tree and get out of the car. Most grateful for the cute and friendly hotel that I had landed at. 

Due to the wind event, the hotel had no power; no lights, no wifi or tv and no hot water. The owner greeted me from reception under flashlight conditions. His computer was down but he found my reservation on his phone!  He was happy to light tea-candles in my room and reassure me that power would come back on soon - But admitted it had been off 10 hours already. I, in turn, reassured him that me and my bottle of wine would be just fine in the dark room! What would be, would be. 

I booked a second night with him after realizing that cleaning and laundry were among the things that were most stressing him out. In return, he let me park in the disabled parking space nearest my room for easy unloading the dark as my room door remained open... because I didn't have a room key-card yet. 

I was grateful for a warm, comfortable, safe space. A clean bed. A friendly face and kind conversation. 

The power did come back on eventually. :-)