Saturday Summary - Week 22 - Sharing the Road, Chasing Extremes & Finding the Unexpected

March 28 – April 3 - Death Valley, CA (100’s) → Isabella Lake, CA (70’s)  → Barstow, CA (80’s)  → Lake Havasu, AZ (80’s)

I’ve been looking forward to posting this week’s adventures; it was an amazing week. This week was special. Not only because of where we went (although Death Valley National Park certainly delivered on that) but because, for the first time on this trip, we didn’t experience it alone. Gretel & Steve joined us. 

Death Valley: Better When Shared

We’ve visited friends and family along the way, but this was different. Gretel & Steve didn’t just meet up with us, they lived this part of the journey with us. They saw the early mornings, felt the heat, experienced the logistics, and understood firsthand what this lifestyle really looks like for us. They tent camped next to us instead of living in the bus with us, and that’s a good thing. Skuhlie is barely big enough for two.

There may not have been a more intense place to share this experience. Death Valley is a land of extremes: the lowest elevation in North America, one of the hottest places on Earth, and the driest place in the U.S. It feels almost unreal. And somehow, we got to experience it all together. It definitely made the experience more tolerable.

We started early each day, 6 am alarms to beat the heat, and packed in as much as we could before retreating to shade. We were very grateful for their rental car, and Steve drove us around in the air-conditioned car.

At Badwater Basin, we walked out onto the salt flats, half a mile of cracked white earth, until we reached standing water. In the lowest, driest place in North America… there was water. And above us, a sign marking sea level, 282 feet overhead. It didn’t make sense. It didn’t have to. It was just surreal.

We drove through Artist’s Drive and walked through the colors of Artist’s Palette,a place we never would have attempted in the bus. We stood at Zabriskie Point, looking out over endless ridges and valleys that seemed to stretch forever.

By the second afternoon, sitting outside felt unbearable. Sweat didn’t evaporate; it just existed, dripping down my back. We found brief relief at the Wild Rose Tavern, where the air conditioning and a cold drink completely lifted our spirits.

That was the turning point. We had planned to stay another night, but instead, we made a collective decision, one more early morning, and then we were out.

The next morning, we went to the sand dunes. At Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, the landscape shifted again. Soft, rolling dunes that felt like a completely different park. Watching Don, Gretel, and Steve walk out into the distance, growing smaller and smaller against the massive landscape, was one of those perspective moments you don’t forget. We explored Mosaic Canyon, a narrow slot canyon with smooth, sculpted walls, and Salt Creek, where tiny pupfish somehow survive in one of the harshest environments imaginable.

Every stop felt like a different world. But what made it all stick wasn’t just the places; it was sharing them. The laughter, the photos, the “can you believe this?” moments. Sitting together after a long, hot morning, replaying what we’d just seen. Even the misery of the heat (it was intense) felt more manageable together. That heat really wore us down. And then… we left. Driving out of Death Valley felt just as extreme as being in it. Long, steep grades. Climbs and descents that made us rethink future national park routes in a very real way. Within three hours, we went from 102°F to the mid-60s. It felt like stepping into a different world.

Lake Isabella: A Pause and yet another pivot

We landed near Lake Isabella, and it was exactly what we needed: cooler air, shade, and time to sit together and reflect on what we had just experienced.

That evening with Gretel & Steve was one of my favorites of the week. No agenda: just conversation, laughter, and replaying the highlights of Death Valley. It’s one thing to experience something incredible; it’s another to sit with people who were right there with you and relive it together. They headed out the next morning toward Sequoia National Park, but not long after, we got the call, tight curves, steep grades, and more challenging driving ahead. Combined with our own hesitations (and dropping temperatures into the 30s), we made another pivot. Sequoia would have to wait. We’re hoping to schedule another trip where we rent a car, where I feel more comfortable driving in those extremes.

Route 66 Revisited

Instead, we rerouted toward Barstow and found ourselves back on Route 66, this trip has a funny way of circling back. We stayed at Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner, a fun, retro stop that’s been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The food was solid, but the root beer float? Worth the stop all on its own. Harvest Host stops are a fun and important part of our trip.

Lake Havasu: The Unexpected Detour

With Sequoia off the table, I went looking for something different and landed on Lake Havasu City.

Because… why not go see the London Bridge? Yes, that London Bridge! It’s one of those stories that feels too strange to be true, and yet, there it is. Originally built in the 1800s over the Thames, later dismantled, shipped across the ocean, and rebuilt in the Arizona desert. Only the exterior stones are original, but still, it’s a conversation starter.

We drove into town because the wind made me hesitate riding our bikes. We explored the London Bridge and the surrounding London village, and even checked out the replica lighthouses scattered along the Colorado River. There were reminders that not every stop is going to feel like the right fit. (We’ll just say one dinner spot gave us enough reason to move along quickly.) But that’s part of it too.

Week 22 Takeaway

This week wasn’t just about where we went; more importantly, it was about who we shared it with. Having Gretel & Steve with us changed the experience in the best possible way. It brought a new energy, new perspectives, and a deeper appreciation for what we’re doing out here. Because at the end of the day, the places are incredible. But sharing them? That’s what makes them unforgettable.

Next up: even more desert, hopefully this time with a slightly less heat.