Five Days Out--- March 23

Ever optimistic, our group set out this morning to yet again explore Death Valley.  We visited the Mesquite Sand Dunes, and trod some of the finest-grained sand on the planet...took another group photo, then hopped on to the next attraction, Stovepipe Well, which was the only water source between Furnace Creek and Skidoo.  To mark the location, someone stuck a stove pipe in the ground a long time ago.  The road out to this singular attraction was forty odd miles of washboard dirt strewn with boulders waiting to break a wheel.  We proceeded on to the Ubehebe Crater for a look at an old volcano, while the gale-force winds nearly tipped over people and cars...small children and assorted pets could be seen floating off into the desert from the lip of the crater.

Please note at this point that there have been no mechanical disasters or mishaps of any sort!  We reached Scotty's Castle about 11:30 and found that their snack shack consisted of a little box with one mud pie and and a stale pretzel. There was no lunch at the castle for us Model a-ers...which was too bad 'cause we travel on our stomachs.  I think Chuck bought the mud pie. The castle tour was well worth the price ($9 senior) and we left for Stovepipe mentally if not gustatorially satisfied.

The Beamans arrived back from Parrump (I dunno that spelling) with a repaired radiator, and stories to tell. A friendly radiator guy took them in literally (put them up for the night at his place) and soldered the injured radiator back together...Bob and Mary came in a little ragged, but they are safely back!


The Griffins look like they are ready to make the trip back, and the only unsolved problem at the moment is with the Polland A...the cylinder head is stuck fast, and needs more removal work than we can perform on the road...they will go home in style on the back of a flatbed tow.

The weather looks awful for the return trip...snow over the Tehachipi, lots of rain, and, of course, our nemisis...the damned wind. Keep a good thought for us storm-tossed souls as we crawl back, battered, but undaunted.

The Death Valley-in-the-rearview-mirror-Gang