Reflection time

Up this morning at 5.30 and loaded up and away.  First stop was Pahrump only 50 miles but still stopped and topped up with gas.  Now Jan told me to drive straight through this town, no stopping, no sightseeing, no talking to any one as this town has a reputation.  By law in Vegas being a friendly girl or some one that gets paid to be extra friendly is illegal but if you go 50 miles out of the city limit you can get all the fun you want!  Even big ranches dedicated to this sporting activity and rumour has it that the people involved in this sport are not ugly and are very athletic.  As I listen to Jan its back on the bike and away I went.

Death Valley - even the name would put you off going there but I had a lucky break as there were a lot of clouds about and it was early so temp only got to about 105 (40 NZ).  One minute you are 2000 feet above sea level then down to the flat and you are 150 feet below sea level but the whole package was breathtaking surrounded by mountains and this dry lonely landscape.

When your in this environment it gives you time to think and reflect on things, for example getting lost, that is part of life.   We all loose our way sometimes but look, find the right path/road and get back on it.  Also had time to think of my family of whom I am very proud of and realize that I haven't been spending much time with the little angels so will have to rectify that when I get home (doesn't mean I am going to be a fulltime baby sitter though)!

Anyway staying at Rays Inn in Independence got here at noon and it's one of those towns that you blink and you are through it but just standing here looking at the Mountains (MT Whitney) you think to yourself "life doesn't get any better.  Ok if I stopped in Pahrump it would have been.

Bit of a sad history here though, during the second world war they interned 10000 Japanese/Americans here at camp Manzanar.  Llook up on the net, makes some interesting reading.

Coming through Lone Pine it started to rain for 3 minutes got my wet gear on and it stopped.  Anyway it was refreshing but it was still hot, dried out in 5 minutes.

Just been to a lovely wee bar down the street.  Had 2 beers came back to room and zonked out.

Going to Mammoth Lakes tomorrow which is very high up in the mountains with apparently some of the best views in the country (lots of small lakes there so if too hot might go skinny dipping in some lonely wee spot).

Location:Independence CA