Waking up early in Walmart’s parking lot after our first ever blacktop boondock, I run inside and grab a few grocery items then take the dogs for a free run in the dog park. While they’re busy getting acquainted with some new friends I take the opportunity to check the oil in Freedom and make a quick swipe across the windshield in an attempt to clear off a few bugs.
Dogs exercised, van ready to roll, I point her nose back toward the main street and out to 395, then north. I have been considering going into the west side of Death Valley so Olancha will be our next stop and a side trip to see Owens Lake and possibly Death Valley.
It’s later in the day than I would like so we stop at a large pull out on Hwy 190 right across from Owens Lake where the road gives us a choice. Death Valley to the right, Lone Pine to the left.
Owens Lake and the towns of Olancha, Keeler, Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine, and Bishop all have had their water basically stolen from them by the County of Los Angeles. Read about it HERE.
I take some photos of the dry lake bed (although there is some water in it due to the wet winter this year) with the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada’s behind it.
Because the China Lake Naval Weapons Center is nearby, there’s frequent jet flybys. I try to get a shot without power lines in the frame, but never accomplished it.
In the morning I am still hesitant about heading into Death Valley and because I think I am too low on gas to make the round trip I nix the idea. Next year I will plan for it.
We turn left and head toward Lone Pine, 19 miles away. Following the east shore of Owens Lake we come to a spot in the road called Keeler and a “Historic Marker” ahead sign. The historic marker is the old town cemetery of little Keeler. I stop and get a few photos.
We will camp in the Alabama Hills just west of Lone Pine tonight.
Thank you so much for your continued interest in our adventures. Hugs, Shawna
Current Read: Rising Sun by Michael Crichton
What’s in the Night Sky: March is fireball season and they should peak around the change in seasons from winter to spring. Venus will only be visible until the 25th when it dips below the horizon. You can still see ——— in the early morning sky.
2DogsTravel.com 
Good morning! Now you are talking names of places I have seen at least on a map….lol The snow pack in the mountains looks pretty deep there too. Lassen here is pretty deep, Manzanita Lake frozen over with, I think, they said 33 inches of snow still. Enjoy the journey!
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