S: James was very sweet and drove us to Death Valley as I still didn't feel well. We weren't really sure what to expect, but we stopped just before and filled up on supplies - mainly beer in true Keeler style. We stopped at the visitor centre and got a map and asked the local ranger for some tips for the best places to see. After that, we found a camp site and went to bed early after a few games of cards so hopefully I would feel better in the morning.

J: In the morning Sam thankfully felt a lot better so we headed off to Bad Water which is a dried up Salt Lake. It was a large salt flat that was 200 meters below sea level which made it an unusual place to be. We then walked to the Natural Bridge, which is what you would expect. It was a nice walk that led to a dried-up waterfall, but the sides of the canyon looked like wax dripping down a candle which is caused by the small amount of rain fall dragging sediment down the edge but quickly drying.

S: As I was feeling better I offered to drive most of the canyon. Next stop was Devils golf course, as apparently only the Devil would play here. It is another Salt Lake but this time the salt has formations coming up from the ground making incredible shapes. A quick picture of James trying to play golf and off we went around Artists Palette. There are lots of different types of metals in the rock colouring them red, green and blue. They are incredibly beautiful to look at.
Death Valley is home to an endangered species called 'pupfish'. We visited the Salt Creek Interpretive trail and walked along the boardwalk seeing lots of pupfish floating down the creek. We didn't expect to see one, yet alone maybe 50? We also noted some large foot prints we think they were from a cat of some sort. Likely one of the mountain lions here.

J: Death Valley was already surprising us with its diversity and then we found Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes which where oddly named as they weren't flat. We wondered around the Dunes bare foot and it was beautiful, then running down one of the dunes Sam dropped our camera..... It looks like Death Valley might have killed our camera.
Later we made it to Mosaic Canyon Walk which was the best walk of the day, it winded through tight canyon walls and up into the larger valley. We walked with the sun setting and the shapes created in the shadows were beautiful. Although Sam was worrying about being out in the dark so we marched quickly on the walk back down.
We then set up at Stove Wells Pipe camp ground and Sam built and started the fire with the metal match all on her own, I was impressed she had paid attention in the Grand Canyon. We made a simple pasta meal and just enjoyed the scenery around us, the sky was intense purple and pinks as the sun set and it was a special moment to just enjoy with a beer, we were really happy we stopped at Death Valley, it was a surprising place.

S: Now I must tell a little secret and it's only fair now that we have left Death Valley to tell you all. We rented our car as you know and it clearly stated in the rentals terms you were not to go to Death Valley, as you weren't covered by insurance. Funny enough I don't remember going to Death Valley lol.