Desert Day 3: Mojave National Preserve

Day 105

World's tallest thermometer is not something one anticipates to just run into. Yet, there it is. Standing tall in Baker CA is a 134 ft tall thermometer to remind you just how damn hot it can get in death valley. The height of it represents the hottest day ever recorded here, 134 degrees on July 10th, 1913. We had packed up and left our makeshift home in Stoddard Wells in search of new territory. Watching race teams show up to play is cool, but the dust was atrocious and it's time for a change of scenery. Before departing Barstow we dumped the tanks and picked up some fresh fruits and vegetables. It was during our hour drive to the big ass thermometer Katie and I discussed where we would go next. We've got 14 more days to kill before we meet up with Uncle Bill in LA.
 
Billboard after billboard lines the highway advertising for free parking in Vegas. Vegas? Yeah... we should go see Vegas. A quick search shows us a few places that are available for anywhere between $25-$45 a night. That's a reasonable price for full hookups. Honestly we were expecting it to be much higher. However it's close to the end of the week and the weekend traffic would be upon us. A plan is hatched to hang out in the Mojave desert over the weekend. We'll drive into Vegas on Monday and hang out for a couple of days. Now if we can just find a parking spot....

 A quick search on the NPS (National Park Service) webpage shows that dispersed camping is allowed anywhere in the park. Roadside parking is allowed anywhere it has already been established. Another quick check of www.freecampsites.net showed us a place 12 miles into the park. It's loose stones on top of hard packed sand. That'll hold big girl up enough to not get stuck.
This place is wild. I've never seen anything like it. 

A solemn wall created from an old lava flow

Miles of lava stone to our north

Desert Sand to our south

With home set up we can now fill the next two days with something to do. Who knows what that'll be.