Day 4, Teach your Children Well

March 25, 2023

It was very hard to sleep last night. The winds came through and shook the RV and caused banging outside. Denis managed to sleeping but when a car alarm went off and the winds had died down some, I ventured out. Luckily, I didn't see anything wrong and finally fell asleep.

In the morning, we joined a park ranger for a walk and talk about the park's flora and fauna and its geological history. It was interesting to learn of the prehistoric animal bones that look much like rhinos, camels, and elephants they've found in the park. He also pointed out evidence of volcanic activity, earthquakes, and heavy rain and how they have impacted that area. His big takeaway for the Girl Scouts in the group was that the earth and its creatures continually evolve and it is important for us to preserve and nurture what we have for future generations.
This really hit home on our drive to Death Valley. There are a lot of wide open spaces which makes this a great area for OHVS and ATVS. These sports definitely leave scars on the landscape. Luckily, there are some parks that are dedicated to the sports but I'm not sure how other areas far from anywhere can be patrolled.
We stopped at a rest stop. Not the most scenic stop and I worried about eating lunch across the street from a "minerals plant," but we were happy for the picnic benches and bathrooms

We are in Death Valley for the next few days. The landscape is dramatic. We are staying in a campground in the park but run by a private concessioner, Fiddler Campground at Furnace Creek. We didn't plan six months in advance so weren't able to get a spot at the National Park campground. This campground has no services but we were able to get water at the campground across the street.
After dinner, we walked to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center to see a photography presentation of beautiful spots in Death Valley. 

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