USA road trip – from Las Vegas to San Francisco

Po zelo kratkem spancu in jutranjih nakupih v Walmartu in Toys”R”Us smo se takoj odpravili naprej. Plan je bil narejen že doma a zaradi “shutdowna” nismo točno vedeli, kaj bomo sploh videli in kako bomo morali spremeniti našo pot. A na začetku nas to ni skrbelo. Najprej smo se odpeljali v White mountains, prebivališče najstarejših dreves na svetu – več kot 3000 let starih borov – najstarejši je star kar 4841 let. Rastejo na višini 3000 metrov in več in pravo doživetje je bilo pohajkovati med temi starci. Spali smo kar ob gorski cesti, na višini mislim da 3200 metrov. Naslednji dan smo se počasi premikali v smeri Mono lake in zapuščenega mesta Bodie –  vmes je bil čas še za kopanje v divjih toplih vrelcih Mammoth hot springs. Bodie, staro zapuščeno mesto je verjetno najlepše ohranjeno mesto iz časa zlate mrzlice. Slano jezero Mono lake je po drugi strani čudež narave – eno izmed najstarejših jezer na zahodni polobli, preslano celo za ribe. Najlepši kotički se skrivajo na južnih obalah jezera – kjer kraljujejo tufe – apnenčasti stolpi. Prespali smo v kampu poleg Mono lake – teta na recepciji pove, naj ponoči malo bolj pazimo – vsake toliko pride na obisk medved.

After a very short sleep and early morning shopping at the Walmart and Toys”R”Us , we immediately went forward. We made travel plan at home but because of the government shutdown we didn’t know what are we going to see and how many changes is there going to be. But at the beginning we did not bother tot much. First we went to White mountains, where you can find the oldest trees in the world – bristlecone pines – more than 3,000 years old, the oldest one is 4841 years old. You can find them at an altitude of 3000 meters and more, and it was a real experience wondering around them. The first night we slept just near the mountain road – at the altitude of more than 3000 meters. The next day we went slowly in the direction of Mono Lake and Bodie – but there was still time for swimming in the wild hot springs – Mammoth Hot Springs. Bodie, an old abandoned town is probably the best preserved town from the Gold Rush era. Mono Lake on the other hand is a true natural wonder – one of the oldest lakes in the western hemisphere, too salty even for fish. You can find the most beautiful parts of it on the southern shores of the lake – where tufa towers rise into the sky. We spend the night in the campsite next to Mono Lake – lady at the reception told us to be careful at night – sometimes they get a visit from the bear.