Went to Death Valley for vacation - The Barker Family Ranch. You know. Where the Manson Family was when they were arrested. Although that entire story is a somewhat fascinating one, I'm not a Manson obsessive. The Boyfriend has been this exact route before, being the the historical site buff that he is: JFK consipiracy stuff/sites, Wounded Knee, Ghost Towns, etc. - he loves that shite. And I, the good sport that I am, threw myself into the experience as I would any other. Plus, I love the outdoors and am a Tomboy from way back....

We drove for 2 days there, and then back in 100+ heat with the airconditioning off in the car to save on gas. Once we reached the mouth of Death Valley, gas was $4.00 a gallon at the last station. Once in Death Valley, it was so hot that we couldn't run the air in the car or the car would overheat.

The ghost town of Ballarat. From here it is still several miles to the ranch. It was here that authorities found the boots of slain stuntman "Shorty," hanging over a fence....one of the Manson Family victims.



About to enter Goler Wash. 7 miles to the valley where you find The Barker Family Ranch.


We had to drive across a salt flat to get to this point....at 3 pm, the air coming into our car felt like blasts from a furnace, I was already drenched with sweat while riding in our car before arriving at our destination...We left the car at the mouth of the wash and had 7 miles to hike in carrying our gear including several liters of water. We had no idea if the well a the ranch was still running....




A mile hiking up an incline, and at the hottest time of the day, we decided it was foolish (pussies!) to try to hike all that way and we better just drive in. This is my Waterloo. Over and out, Johnny.




AAAAAND - as I peruse the photo account for the next photos, alas, they didn't FRWAKIN upload. It's late. I have to work in the a.m. So, this will be a 2 parter. Only because I am 2 lazy to retype/post all this again. Pussy.

I would have given up without the air condition. I would have further given up with having to pay $4 a gallon.

Did you go by the moving rocks?!

Moving rocks?! Does this site require the taking of lsd?.........j/k

After 2 days at the ranch we left and drove across Death Valley. 5-7 miles through Mengel Pass where I was introduced to "stone stepping." We had to drive the car over small boulders. We were already committed to driving this route. Which only means that we had no room to turn around. He was driving, I was in front guiding (hand signals!) him over the rocks. Couple of times I thought we were stuck in the deep sand in between the rocks. But...the intensity/fear/exhiliration was so very awesome....

http://www.billandcori.com/deathvall...ving_rocks.htm
Creepy

xtreme driving. I would have had a heart attack. I can barely handle driving during thunderstorms.

Your pictures make the place look beautiful, though. Definitely an experience.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I remember hearing of those!! But, no, no moving rocks. It was creepy enough seeing the various graffitti left on rocks by the Manson Family...

The place was beautiful. It was so harsh and testing of oneself. It's been a while since I've had a vacation - I NEEDED to do something that ALMOST kicked my ass....

such awesome terrain

don't it make you wanna just take out a rifle

Manson and the family still walk among those stones........You can still hear their singing in the wind, changing tune through the crevices of the mountains...

It's pretty interesting to know Barker Ranch is still up and standing, not to mention still fully furnished inside.