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Another gorgeous day in BBL but unfortunately time for us to move on. Breakfast, followed by a quick pack for me, some work doing quotes for equipment for a good customer for Pete and we were once again on our way.
Once down the hill from BBL the roads were mostly straight with desert on both sides, low scrub leading to the ever present mountains in the distance. We travelled for a short time on Route 66, passed the Route 66 museum Billy Connelly visited when he cruised the famous road and some diners claiming fame courtesy of being on the route. We passed through what we would think of as middle of nowhere communities each with various industries on grand scales; huge industrial complexes for companies like Rubber Maid, the huge Southern California logistics airport and a massive federal prison at Victorville, concrete quarries, oil companies, mineral mines, radar installations and a solar power station that went on for ever. All this and more stashed far from major cities unlike Australia where we all crowd close to the coast.
Three hours on the road and while the desert on either side remained the same the mountains took on a more substantial look, the Eastern Sierras were quite something. We stopped for gas at Inyokern, our second fill so far, gas $1.89 per gallon. As we rejoined the highway 3 Blackhawks came whizzing by.
About 20 miles short of Lone Pine it was like magic, suddenly there were patches of green grass with cattle grazing and there was even a natural spring bottling plant.
Then it was back to mile after mile of the same low scrub and desert. We passed where Owens Lake used to be before being diverted by the powers that be in the 20's, now it's a boggy marsh with salt plains that are being mined.
We checked in to our hotel for the night and set off to explore. Mt Whitney is the highest mountain in the US at nearly 15,000 feet. A long winding road took us up to Mt Whitney Portal which is a recreational area at about 7851 feet; there's camping areas, hiking trails, a waterfall and babbling stream, a welcome change after a few days in the desert. We climbed up another few hundred feet to well over 8000 feet to the top of the waterfall. Pete again turned in a great example of his mountain goat ability whilst I plodded along behind.
Back down to Lone Pine we checked out the few shops before returning to our hotel.
Another great day of awesome sights.
Left over soup and chicken from last night for dinner. We took a short drive away from town to check out the night sky which was amazing. A hot chocolate and another early night completed a big day. Tomorrow we head across Death Valley to Vegas.
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