** PHOTOS WILL BE ADDED SOON - PLEASE COME BACK **
We woke in our cabin to the sound of bird song surrounded by trees which was novel for this trip. We had breakfast with us, (including two bowls of cereal from yesterday's hotel - naughty), so were able to get on the road just after 9am. Today is very much a driving day with 330 miles to cover so we're aware we must keep moving.
June Lakes sits in a loop of road running through a valley so we set off north having approached from the South. The Sierra hills are beautiful and open up over Silver Lake, a large lake backed by forest and cliffs already populated with small boats and fishing parties from the camping parks alongside.
In the early part of our journey we visited Mono Lake which is geological oddity. It has no outlets and water level only drops naturally due to condensation. Some years ago Los Angeles started taking water from it and the level dropped considerable causing the already high concentration of salts to to escalate. Underwater springs rising from the bottom created tufa towers, the equivalent of stalactites but going upwards from the lake bottom. As the water level fell, many these formations are now on land or rising out of the waters. A particular breeds of flies live on the salt and create black strands which come alive and buzz loudly as you walk through them, however, they stay 1" above the floor and are not interested in flesh so are not unpleasant.
Leaving Mono Lakes on the 102 we are faced with "42 miles of narrow winding road" but the road remains a full carriageway and the bends for the most part can be taken at 50mph.
This road does have a feature that several people have told us to enjoy. The tarmac is just laid on the rolling land with no attempt to flatten and sections are like roller coaster rides switching between downward G force and weightless stomach. A few too many too fast makes you feel very odd. Have to watch the blind summits, more for a bend after than oncoming traffic as it's all double lines no overtaking.
We have crossed into Nevada so now has a 70mph limit and we begin to encounter the desert. The textures vary throughout the day but this early section looks like a tarmac car park 20 miles across that has been abandoned and the weeds are breaking through the surface. We encounter road heading many many miles in straight lines and pass through lunar scenery with rock strewn dust, salt lakes, rolling areas of low brush, low hills full of different colours from mineral deposits.It's notable that we are 50 miles north of Death Valley and a lot of the scenery is familiar. At one point we see a small twister travelling along and crossing the road half a mile ahead.
This area has very few towns and you have to make sure you have sufficient fuel. Looking at today's drive on Google Satellite reveals a burnt out uninhabitable zone. It is extraordinary that there are a couple of tiny towns, one announced its population proudly as 13 and a half.
Eventually, about 30 miles short of our destination we head through a pass and some colour comes into the vegetation.
Booked into La Quinta which is as well because there is no available accommodation due to a Fair and Horse races this weekend.
Statistics: Miles today: 327 miles; Miles so far: 1337; Fuel today 4.359 gals; Fuel so far: 39.991 gals; States: California, Nevada; Time Zone: Pacific(UK-8)
09:15-18:00
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