Death Valley National Park

A picture of me.

Amargosa Hotel at Death Valley Junction

Up to the Death Valley Junction where we find the Amargosa Hotel and Opera House.  It seems as if attempts were made to bring this hotel back to life but it is only partially revived and mostly empty. An air of by-gone days clings to it. From the adjacent Opera House comes the sound of a man singing.  This Opera House was made famous by a PBS special about its owner who bought it and who performs on its stage.  

This is the place to perform on stage or speak to ghosts.

What really makes the kids happy.

At our hotel/casino/RV Park in Amargosa, a statue of a cow and an old windmill beckon tourists.

Geological features become more beautiful and sculpted as we enter Death Valley National Park.

Zabriskie Point

We are surrounded by Italian and French tourists who have come by bus.  There are lots of Europeans here.  Neal overhears an Italian who is taking in the view say, “Bravo Zabriskie Point, Ciao!”

Golden Canyon.  The kids give-up quickly and collect rocks in the shade with me while Neal soldiers on.  He said it was hot but interesting.  Temperatures reached into the 90s today and by May will be 100+.  In the afternoon, we get a big reprieve when we swim at the resort pool at our campsite/hotel in the middle of the Park. 

I know what you’re thinking.  Why did I take a picture of this little fish? Because I find fish interesting and because  it’s evidence of the rich animal life here that belies the name  “Death Valley.”  In a shallow creek, these ephemeral and endangered pupfish,  become more active to spawn.  They are about an 1 1/2 inches long and the males display these brilliant colors. 

  Ancestors of the  Salt Creek pupfish lived in streams flowing into a huge fresh water lake that was present in Death Valley 10.000 years ago. As the climate became more arid, these fish became stranded in permanent water holes throughout the dessert and developed into 10 separate subspecies including these Saltwater Creek Pupfish.  They were named “Pupfish” by an ichthyologist because they were “playful like puppies.”

We stroll along the salty creek where the "pups" live.