We're... almost... there...

...YES!!  We're home!  

The kids are a little stir crazy after nearly 6 hours of travel today, but still managed to get excited when they saw that Santa had made a second visit, to our home (as well as calling at Furnace Creek campground)...  what lucky rascals!

The journey was pleasantly uneventful.  Here are some photo's from the day:

- We noted an impressive number wind-farms along highway 58:

- Before feeling like we were properly re-joining the rat-race on highways 99, 5 and of course the 101:

- Kids were very well behaved and glad to be nearly home (sorry for image quality; iPhone lens was scratched by Death Valley dune sand):

Top quote for today was from the little C-3P0 android that sits on the dash and quotes Star Wars on demand:  "Thank the maker!"  (very appropriate, given Rosey had made it the whole way without trouble, despite being 19, nearly 20, years old)

To finish, I thought I'd share a couple of photo's I particularly like from our overall trip:

- Sam and Theo admiring rock structure in Death Valley (it was a brief moment!  I'm amazed I captured it):

- Mae is pleased with her hiking ability up Golden Canyon in Death Valley (worth a click to enlarge):

That's the end of our travels...  for now at least.  Thanks for following, as well as the comments and e-mails along the way!

To end on a cliche (I can't help myself), here is a quote from Hemingway:  "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end"

Over and out!!!

P, K, S, T and M xxx

Just when you think you've seen all the canyons you can stand...

...along comes Red Rock Canyon.

After a slow start this morning, we headed to Red Rock Canyon State Park for a number of short walks to take in the flora and fauna and to explore some very impressive rock formations!  Sam and Theo were slightly more interested in light saber battles to be honest, but enjoyed scrambling over the rocks, while Mae pottered along with her purple unicorn.  The rock faces were other-worldly, and we thought they looked like some form of alien accommodation.

Fortification followed in the form of very fine milkshakes at Mike's Roadside Cafe in Mojave, before an evening of  games - Set and Bananagrams.  Mae is still not asleep at 9:40pm, due to an untimely nap today, oh dear.  We now prepare for a LONG journey back home to Menlo Park tomorrow.

Interesting fact:  In 1840, the last few survivors of an expedition across Death Valley, staggered through Red Rock Canyon.  Thankfully, our journey has been much more pleasurable.

Top quote (still in use now):  "GO TO SLEEP!"

Mojave National Preserve

Despite only spending a day here we are suitably impressed with Mojave N P.  However, it's been a LONG new years day, Kay, my usually trusty blog co-author, is now asleep next to me, and I'm a little lost for words, therefore I am going to cheat by making this a picture-blog.

Before I do that, here is the top quote, and it's from Mae, at the end of a dusty day where she's been asking to dress up for a couple of days now:  "Can I be a princess now?"  (how could we refuse?)

Photos:

- Kelso sand dunes (just behind the oddly located 25 mph sign) is made up of sand from ancient local lake beds.  Apparently dune fields like this are called Ergs - a name that, to me at least, is almost as strange as the fact that dunes are formed by aeolian process, or by the winds ability to shape the Earth's surface:

- The Union Pacific railroad runs through Mojave.  The boys were very impressed when one driver delivered us a fine 'baaaarrrp' of his horn and a friendly wave:  

- I find abandoned buildings interesting, especially when there are chairs on the porch, so Kelso ghost town was a treat:

- It is important to practice Jedi maneuvers during travel breaks:

- We decided we liked Joshua trees:

- A lot...

- Including the leaves that drop off them:

- Here's another photo.  Did I say we liked Joshua trees?  Learnt a few things about these trees from 'wiki' today:  (1) They only grow between 2000 and 6000 feet.  (2) The trunks of Joshua trees are made of tiny fibers and don't have growth rings so it's difficult to determine their age, but it is believed they can live for up to 1000 years.  (3) Cahuilla Native Americans used to make sandals and baskets from the leaves and eat the seed and fruit.  (4) Climate change threatens their existence because, let's face it, they can't run off to cooler climes...  

- Interesting desert fauna:

- The view west as we leave the park is impressive:

- As are some of the road names on I-15:

- We complete our journey from Needles, through Mojave N P and to a town called Mojave (that could be twinned with Needles) by meeting up with Sue and Dar for a slap-up meal in the Cafe 58, imaginatively named after the local highway.  We end our evening with a movie and a nice cup of tea before seeing them off on their own vacation!

Hope you are having a fine new years day - wherever you are!

Happy New Year!!!

And best wishes to you all for 2009!!!

This message comes to you from Kelso Dunes at Mojave National Preserve.