Jen's Birthday

We went to Tecopa, Ca। in Death Valley, where Jen loves to lounge in the Hot Springs. While in Tecopa, we visited the China Ranch date farm. A real oasis of date palm trees, the Armagosa river, and a unique gift shop. The date palms come from all over the world, as far away as Iraq. A variety of date products can be bought and ate here, a farm rich in fiber and I am sure quite regular.


















We also checked out the near by Shoshone, Ca। with it's neat cave condos. Charles Manson called this home before moving on to the Death Valley cabin in which he was captured. The museum here is full of information on the surrounding area and houses remains of a mastodon. While here, we ate at a great restaurant called Cafe C'Est Si Bon. It has a remarkable vegetarian menu. It doubles as the town's internet cafe, with a superb book collection.

We try to head here often, during the winter season. In past visits, we traveled into Death Valley, via Titus Canyon. A 26 mile, one way dirt road that descends a vertical mile to the valleys floor. It's not far from the ghost town Rhyolite, Nv. This road cuts across the desert, winds into the mountains through yet another ghost town, Leadfield, Ca.. The road enters an unbelievable canyon, for which the road was named, a must see. Accessible by high clearance two or four wheel drive vehicle. Be sure to call Death Valley Park information for info on possible road closure.

One trip last winter we traveled to Death Valley Racetrack playa। A dry lake bed, famous for it's mysterious moving rocks. No one has seen these rocks in the act of moving. Some believe it is the wind, while others believe it is aliens or the supernatural. These rocks move in a straight line, make a perfect 90 degree turn, while leaving the same depth indention no matter the size of the rock. Located off a 26 mile dirt road passing Ubehebe crater. Be sure to use a high clearance vehicle and stay to the right after Teakettle Junction .