Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2017 10:59:17 -0800
Reply-To: bernie <1234bjs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: bernie <1234bjs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Roadtrip advice for Southwest US trip
In-Reply-To: <CAOMLKhF+VUsRJGTiHT3704kpjfwu+5QGkd41bsjJAcYMPtSJqw@mail.gmail.com>
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Valley of Fire is around 50 miles from Las Vegas and a nice State Park.
No recommendations of places to stay in Las Vegas.
In the old days Circus Circus RV Park would give you three free nights.
That was until the bean counters took over. There are some of those places
that try to sell you a RV Membership and will give you two nights free.
Well almost free! You have to agree to go to a 90 minute presentation where
you get a hard sell and at the end, if you have not bought, a gold chain
wearing closer comes in for the kill! So not exactly free and not
recommended.
We sat through one on a trip across US over 35 years ago and never again.
You drive through Pahrump on way to Death Valley. The only thing I stop for
in Pahrump are supplies, gas and excellent Thai food at My Thai restaurant.
A mom and pop establishment where you get great food at good prices. It's
in a tiny strip mall near a Shell gas station and if you didn't know it was
great food you probably wouldn't stop. Top up with gas as it only gets more
expensive in Death Valley.
As you continue the drive west toward Death Valley
you will arrive at Death Valley Junction. Stop and walk around the remains
of this little bit of history.
From Wikipedia
In 1914, the Death Valley Railroad
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_Railroad> started operating
between Ryan, California <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan,_California>
and Death Valley Junction. It carried borax
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax> until 1928, when operations ceased.
The name of the town was changed to *Death Valley Junction* from *Amargosa*
(*bitter* in Spanish <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language>, most
likely meaning "bitter water", as the Spanish words *agua* and *amargosa*
are feminine). From 1923 to 1925 the Pacific Coast Borax Company
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Coast_Borax_Company> constructed
buildings in the town, hiring architect Alexander Hamilton McCulloch
<https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alexander_Hamilton_McCulloch&action=edit&redlink=1>
to design a Spanish Colonial Revival
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Colonial_Revival_architecture> whistle
stop <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Request_stop> centered at the hotel,
theater and office complex building, now known as the Amargosa Opera House
and Hotel <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amargosa_Opera_House_and_Hotel>.
The town began to decline in the mid-20th century. However, in 1967 dancer
and actress Marta Becket happened to visit due to an automobile repair.[5]
She became enamored with the theater, and with help from benefactors, she
leased, then purchased, the hotel and theater complex. The Amargosa is now
owned by a non-profit organization.[*citation needed*
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>]
Marta gave performances at the Opera House for many years.
There is a lot of rich history about the hotel, the Borax mine, Zane Grey's
visit that led to him writing a magazine article, which in turn prompted
the Pacific Coast Borax Mining Company to build the Amargosa Hotel which
provided the miners and their families with better living conditions.
Zane Grey was appalled at the conditions of the workers and their families
on this first visit through the area and he did not stop writing articles
until conditions improved.
Marta still resides at Death Valley Junction but her health has suffered
and she requires care.
A restaurant there has been reopened and it's worth stopping for a iced tea
or sandwich.
It sounds simplistic but many people forget to up their water intake in the
desert environment so drink up.
I see people going for a hike with no or very little water. What are they
thinking?
If you have the time you could stay a night or
two at Tecopa Hot Springs which is about 6 miles from Shoshone and about 35
miles from
Pahrump. If going there from Pahrump it's a different highway. This is not
far from another entrance to Death Valley on other side of Shoshone. It's
a funky area with reasonable priced camping that allow access to nice hot
springs included in camping fee. Make sure
you have drinking water as you can't drink the water there. Hot springs are
segregated by sex
and no bathing suits allowed as they say bathing suits can affect the
water. The waters are reportedly second only to Baden Baden, Germany in
terms of there healing quality.
Wifi access at the community center right in the campground area. You can
access 24 hours a day if close to the community center. Otherwise
when community center is open in morning take your coffee and computer
inside.
I don't believe any of the campgrounds in Death Valley have showers,
however, for 5 dollars you can buy a pool pass at Furnace Creek, and
Stovepipe Wells. This gives you access for 24 hours.
My last stay in Texas Springs campground at Furnace Creek, a generator free
campground by the way, I noticed what I hope is not going to be a trend
from overseas campers.
It appears a few budget travel books geared to lowest common denominator
are recommending dealing with the parks by arriving late, leaving
early and not paying.
The parks folks are not amused and gladly ticket anyone they identify in
this activity.
One night I was there we could have heard a pin drop at 9PM as everyone was
in bed to be up early the next day.
At midnight a rent camper van arrives with music very loud. Nothing like
announcing your arrival.
They don't take a vacant campsite, of which there were many, but park next
to washrooms at the back. They don't pay or have any intention of paying.
However beside have no scruples they don't appear to be very bright as they
sleep in
to 10:30am. Talking about rubbing it in to the camp host as he makes his
rounds to check payment slips! The host was in communication with the
Ranger and ticketed and had to visit Visitor Center deal with behavior.
They were from Europe and it's a strange way to be guests in a country.
Bernie
Vancouver
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