Our experience in Death Valley was an adventure not to forget. Our expectation was that it was a desert, flat and expansive, with many desert plants. Well, we found out there is more to Death Valley.
First off, we discovered the sand dunes. The colors were layers of red, yellow and shades of lavendar. But that was not our adventure.
Using the National Park map as our guide, I saw a small road that was labelled Titus Canyon. Thinking that a canyon in the midst of Death Valley would be extremely interesting, I suggested we take that road. Since it was my birthday, Barb said we could go or do anything I wanted. It was a one way road and gravel.........no problem with that, so we thought. As we drove, the road got narrower and more uneven. In fact, there were sections with pot holes and large rocks that we had to go over. We were beginning to realize that this road really needed a jeep or other high clearance vehicle. Fortunately, at least, our Honda had relatively high clearance and all wheel drive. And since this was a narrow one way road there was no turnng around. So, we continued bumpy road and all. Until.................we began to climb. Looking ahead we realized we were going up the side of a mountain, with switch backs and S-curves and drop offs, all on a road which required going over large boulders and ruts. That's when fear set in.
For two hours we worked our way up the mountain pass, around the curves, over the rocks, into the ruts. I imagine the view was wonderful but have no idea since all I could look at was the narrow road in front of me. There were several parts of the trip that were especially frightening. We had one switch back that was only as wide as the car, that had several large ruts in it as we made the curve. As the car rocked its way through these ruts, our only thoughts were that it would not rock too much and go over the side. This could have been the Death Valley for us.
But we made it up the mountain and down the other side into the canyon. And finally we could look around. It was beautiful and refreshing and cool.
Three hours later we were back on the main road. Safe and sound :) Barb has now told me that for future birthdays, I cannot do
anything I want.............
It was an adventure we will not forget.
Love and hugs,
Linda and Barb
Well, here we are in St. Louis and boy did we experience weather. Yesterday evening we could tell severe storms were coming in. So we turned on local St. Louis news weather radar tracking and discovered we were about 5 miles north of where the tornado tracking was indicating the tornado would touch down. We spent the hour watching as it approached our area. 
I think this one may make a good portrait.
