BISHOP

Satellite internet delay in Death Valley so you’re getting 2 entries for the price of one today.

After finding a scorpion in our room last night  there was little sleep to be had at Stovepipe Wells.  The bags under my eyes are now larger than the one holding the dirty washing but there’s no time to nap as we head out of the heat towards the cooler climes of Bishop.

Beautiful sierra mountain view on way to Bishop

First a trip down memory lane at Lone Pine’s Film History Museum where the cowboy heroes of our youthful Saturday matinees still live on.  Roy Rogers and Trigger, the Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy – yes they’re immortalised in this small town in this very interesting museum.

Lone Pine Film History Museum

Hard to believe that many of the western movies of yester-year were filmed in the mountains just outside this town.  The infamous peaks of the Sierra Nevada and Alabama hills can even be seen in films such as Tremors and Iron Man.

Hi Ho Silver

Why did the chicken cross the road?  Obviously to get away from this hairy scary critter.  Almost this size of my fist, this brown tarantula was in no hurry to get to the other side. 

This is the mother of all spiders!

As old as the hills or in this case the trees as we hunt for the Methuselah tree in the Bristlecone Pine Forest growing high in the White Mountains. This tree is over 4,000 years old but it’s location is top secret so it’s anyone’s guess as to which one it might be.   Do you think it’s this one?

Looking for the Methuselah tree

Could it be this one?

What about this one?

Or this one?

Pit stop in Bishop, small city on the US 395 highway that will take us towards Yosemite.  

Bishop - main street

Largest city in these parts

Spending the night in the Vagabond Inn and already you can feel that cooler mountain air.  Keeping the thermals to hand and checking the corners for beasties before bedtime.

The Vagabond Inn

Room 207