So glad chatted with our waitress Connie and a couple from San Diego last night who recommended we take the June Lake Loop enroute to Mammoth Lakes! Top decision as just beautiful. Still part of the Inyo National Forest, Grant, Silver and June Lakes are picturesque and serene. Plenty of RV trailer parks, camping grounds as well as cabins and motels. Perfect to fish or kayak. A worthwhile 14 mile diversion. Once back on the 395, a slight detour to check out the town of Mammoth Lakes - a real ski resort area (even Maccas looked like a chalet). Hard to imagine these amazing granite mountains covered in snow which could only be weeks away!

Continued on through the Owen valley, flanked by those majestic Sierra mountains, through Bishop, Big Pine and stopped at the visitor's centre at Lone Pine. Decision made to continue the 78 miles to Stovepipe Wells in the centre of Death Valley and rang and booked a room at the only resort. Another OMG trip! So different to a few days ago in the lush Napa! Desolate mountains of incredibly varying colours with road winding around, often like a roller coaster and very steep at times. And the temperature!!! Got to 111degrees F a couple of times! Negligible vegetation - some cactus like plants. After Panamint Springs, Stovepipe Wells is very welcome little oasis. Besides motel style rooms there's a general store, gas, pool (though too hot at moment), saloon bar and restaurant. Enjoying a rest.