7 Days solo roadtrip in most southern parts of California 2017 (Part 3of4)

From Los Angeles to San Diego, then desert area of Joshua Tree National Park and now Death Valley, road ways were from glass lands, rock canyons and sand dunes. I was excited to take my road trip every day. Well, after horrible traffic in LA, got strung from cactus thorns and it was more to go...

Here it is...my trip from Joshua Tree to a hostel I found in Lonely Planet, $25 per night not to far away from Death Valley. Welcome to Tecopa, CA.

Cynthia's , a Hostel in Tecopa 3 hr 3 min (180mi)from Joshua Tree Nat'l Park I would say I have learned from this part of my trip. I assumed town that got a hostel would be some what good size of town. My way to Tecopa, it was a desert road. Sun set was around 8pm. I got pretty good on my time until about 45 mile to destination after sun set. Wifi dropped out on me. I was a little nervous ....alone in the middle of no where, no phone, no Wifi. Well, I did prepared for this I got actual map from AAA, so I pulled over and looked for the route. It was not too far away. My phone GPS kept saying "Rerouting", but it talked when needed to turn. That helped. Finally, I was there. The wind was so strong. This town is smaller than school parking lot!! I got there around 9pm. My hostel was in a pod home...not, that was every homes around here. Oh!! what did I get myself into..First time, by MYSELF in a desert!!! Finally, I met a host of the hostel. He recommended me there were some restaurants that might still opened. I went in town try to find thing to eat. Imagined, every building here looked like square box on the sand. House and restaurants were in a pod home, but business building would hank a wired Christmas light. I found nothing, but Tecopa Hot Spring. This was my third time closed to a hot spring on this trip...Well, it might be time.

Tecopa Hot Spring, Wow 24hrs hot springs pool. I have never taken public bath before. This was a hot natural spring in desert. It was one of a great idea I did and broke my wall that I had never done before. It was sex separation. There were two pools in ladies, one warm one hot. There were three or four people in warm, I was an only one in hot pool. Passed 9pm it was not many people at the pool. I just got it all myself. Love it! The hostel was in nice location, clean and got Wifi.

I had slept in comfortable bed listening to the winds all night long. In the morning I drove to the next town called "Shoshone" to get breakfast on the way to Death Valley. It was good.

Day 5

Death Valley National Park 1hr 14min (71mi) from Tecopa. Ticket automatic machine $25 for 7 dys used.

- Zabiskis Point it was a short walk but it panoramic view of geology of Death Valley. this view point was 360 degree you would have to see.

- Devil's Golf Course due to a rough texture from salt formation, "Only the devil could play golf" on its surface. I was glad that I rented a high clearance vehicle because all the dirt roads that to most of the trails in Death Valley.

- Badwater Basin, the salt flat that is the lowest point in north America. This trial was flat area that started from bridge cover salt flat, then trail to see salt formations. I did research and pretty much know what I was looking to see and why I want to see. Some might be just a rough detail, but I read sign before I went on my trial. Learning that a sign of Nat'l Park giving a last resource of information of you need to know what or why you was there. I saw a man who tried to dig salt flat to see what was underneath. Mmmm, I wanted to tell him this trail to see what would it be on top! Not dig it!!! ....Another case, family let a girl picked salt crystals from salt flat and kept in a bottle ^%^&%!! Nature needs to be reserved for the next generation. Why you did not teach them when you could?!!!... These are the reason why I desire to write article. I could not tell every one, but at least I showed my point. Travel appreciated, care and respect where you go and what you came to see. If you have no idea what should you do or why you were here...Read the SIGN!!! or visitor center.

On the salt flat I walked until I found nobody there and good lines of salt flat that was my point. I kept myself walking before the temperature had too high. When it was hot, it was heat on salt flat.

- National Bridge took little longer dirt road to the trail head. Trail was up hill in canyon, so there were some what shade to escape from the sun. It was really photogenic place.

- The Golden Canyons trail

- Mesquite Flat Dunes, this sand dunes were the easiest to visit in Death Valley. The highest dune rises about 100 feet. Escaped from the heat, I got here around 5.30pm then looked for the highest dune and kept walking. Walked about a mile until I got to one of the highest dune. Sands got in my shoe that was loaded 2 more pounds on my feet. Near by the trail head, I saw many people set up their picnic table having dinner with a beautiful sunset.