Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:37:02 -0800
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: How not to explore the back roads of Death Valley
In-Reply-To: <BLU0-SMTP88D3E38B672D5F607B0C02A68B0@phx.gbl>
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Yes, the language complication for travelers.
Probably a bit of 'cultural' misunderstanding also for a European visitor
to the US..I'd suppose that in Europe they have nothing like Death Valley
and that a German "National Park" ( or whatever they have in Europe) is even
more 'structured' than our national parks...of which Death Valley NP is one
of the least 'formal' (so far) of any I have visited.
However, anyone with eyes should be able to see their tires sinking into
deep sand or see rocks higher than the ground clearance of their vehicle.
Just because there is not a sign you can understand it's not going to be any
different in reality..if you are in danger of disabling your vehicle or
being stranded..you shouldn't need a sign or a ranger standing there to tell
you to 'go back'..Also, it takes the best part of a whole day to arrive at
Death Valley NP, traveling though similar desert country to get there. When
they have rolled down their windows and encountered that 120+F temp, they
would have to be aware that it was 'pretty hot' or maybe even very hot.
A slightly different aspect of the Urban Mentality I mentioned in my other
post and one that is Vanagon-specific is how some City drivers have no
understanding of passing. I surmise that unless there are more than two
lanes on a road, some city folks may be unaware that they are allowed to
pass and may in fact do so at any time, if there aren't any oncoming
vehicles using that one other lane. I have had drivers follow me for miles
and miles on a normal two lane highway in wide open country. No danger
passing, but they ride right up behind and then just sit there forever. I
think it's because they may never have encountered a two lane highway...or
something.
Don Hanson
On Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 10:53 AM, Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@q.com> wrote:
> No argument about the lack of wisdom demonstrated by Herr Tourist, but the
> though crossed my mind when I read the article that perhaps, if he did not
> speak English, he did not comprehend the meaning of the "4 wheel drive
> only"
> sign mentioned. Just a thought, and something to keep in mind when
> visiting
> foreign lands ourselves.
>
> Karl Wolz
>
> Driving around Death Valley mid summer in a rented van on backcountry roads
> IS pretty stupid..
> Don Hanson
>
>
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