We managed to complete the journey in an almost unheard of two stops, although this was most in part due to the fact we were on a highway with no stopping places not because of the lack of potential photo opportunities. After an hour or so driving along the coast road, we veered off in land and it wasn’t long before we hit the desert. I wasn’t expecting to see camels and cacti however I was still a little surprised at what awaited us. There were vast flat plains with nothing but sand and a few bushes, but then you had spectacular red, brown and orange mountains at either side. Every so often, you came across a little cluster of houses, semi deserted, a bit like something from a horror movie. It therefore came a bit unexpected that we experienced some of the best bits of road so far in the US. On what must be newly sealed roads there were none of our friends - messers pothole, crack and ridge were to be seen. Strange how you learn to appreciate simple things!
We stopped briefly in Red Rock Canyon State Park which was enroute and took a short walk up the nearest hill to snap the scenery. The red rocks were amazing, but having listened to Chris talk endlessly for days about which snakes he wishes to spot, and remembering half way up about the existence of scorpions, I have to admit that progress was somewhat hindered by unusual serpent shaped twigs and branches which suddenly seemed to be everywhere.
We arrived in Ridgecrest mid afternoon - just enough time to have a quick explore and check out not one but two supermarkets (one twice!). Ridgecrest seems quite quiet but one of the biggest places we’d seen since entering the desert. It seems to have everything you might need although probably only attracts people like us - on route to Death Valley. It’s a good temperature here but very windy. It’s meant to be like this all weekend. Always the way when there’s a track session looming!
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