Books, Bites, and Sights

Making transitions isn’t easy. Like most, I can be very resistant to change in my personal lifestyle and routines. I know what I like, and I like what I like. Prior to Covid and my time in the Peace Corps, I had the sentiment that physical books were superior. The smell. The look. The feel. The packed bookshelf that all could see and admire. If you had mentioned using a Kindle, I would have audibly gawked and immediately stuck my nose up. But after meditation and contemplation and just general realizations, I came to the conclusion that I want minimal physical possessions. I want to reduce the amount of things I have to keep up with or move or look at or grow attached to. Simply put, I don’t want that bookshelf full of books.

Reluctantly and uncomfortably at first, I began selling all my physical books and forcing myself to “look but don’t touch” any physical books for purchase. Denying myself that leisurely stroll through my favorite bookstores. Boo. I devoted to only buying digital books via my Kindle, and through this endeavor, I discovered Libby.

And after discovering Libby, I began abandoning buying books altogether, both physical and digital, because with Libby you can loan digital books and audiobooks for free with an active library card. The habit of spending hundreds of dollars on books a year – poof, gone.

Occasionally on Libby you have to go onto a waiting list for popular or new releases. But what do they say? All great things come to those that wait.

Steps:

• Download the Libby app onto your phone.
• Use the app to find your hometown library
• Sign in with your library card
• Search, filter, request, download
• Navigate to your shelf and boom! Happy reading

In Death Valley, I listened to Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak via Libby. No cell service? No problem. I downloaded the entire audiobook prior to driving into the park which allowed me to access it throughout my entire time in the valley.

My take: As a preteen, I loved all things horror. Horror novels, movies, haunted houses. All the things. Now? As an adult? Nope, nope, nope. I oddly have no drive or desire to even dip my toe into that realm. I am not sure what caused this transition, but you’ll sooner find me swooning over a Fabio on a stallion Kroger bought pocket-paperback romance novel than me wide-eyed and clutching a Stephen King bestseller. To circle back, Hidden Pictures was one of the first horror novels I had picked up in quite a while. The novel certainly was chilling. But in terms of horror, I felt that it fell flat. Is it supposed to be horror? Is that what Rekulak was going for? I can’t say. But I would categorize it more as being a supernatural thriller than a horror novel. Needless to say, it was refreshing to read outside of my stereotypical genres, but I wouldn’t put this on my must-read list, even for those that do prefer the creepier, eerier side of life.

For this post’s bites section, I want to talk about Amory and I’s cooking set up and essentials.

Incase no-one mentioned it, living in your car and managing a no-dairy, gluten-free, organic, fresh, slightly keto, FODMAP diet isn’t easy. Even worse, Amory and I eat ALOT. Hiker hunger? It is real.

We miss having a fridge. We miss our plant-based milks and yogurts. We miss non-canned meats. We miss our ability to cook hot meals with ease. Don’t even get me started on the mental and physical dread of washing dishes while living in your car. Ugh. But we manage and, truthfully, three months into this journey, we do better than manage. Tricky at first, better now. Keep reading to get my Books, Bites, Insights on it all.

Our essential equipment:

Below is everything we use to cook while living in our car. Nothing more, nothing less.

• Camp Chef 2 burner stove: Runs on propane, could manage with one burner to save space but having two is nice when we make a larger meal, affordable
• Cast-iron skillet: An embodiment of use what you already got, heavy but versatile
• Stainless steel saucepan and lid: Great for boiling things or using as a bowl when all else is dirty
• Various forks, spoons, and knives: Nothing fancy, all mismatched
• Stainless steel spatula: Small and works with everything
• Chef knife: Don’t forget to bring a cover of some sort for your knife to protect it and yourself
• Cutting board: Wooden and necessary, sometimes used as a table/shelf
• Jet-boil: Runs on propane, great for making coffee and oatmeal
• Aluminum foil: Used like a lid over the cast-iron skillet when needed
• 2 plates, 2 bowls: Use what you have, be sure they are durable and stackable
• Glass bowl with lid: Lid has been great for helping keep food hot or cold, we use this bowl a lot for mixing because it is larger than our other two bowls
• 1 thermos cup: For coffee, or cereal, or anything really
• 2 camp mugs with lids: Very durable and versatile
• Flatpack Collapsible Sink: There is really no nice way to put it – dishes suck but a collapsible sink makes life easier and would be one of the things I would dare to say is a must when living out of your car

A simple, quick, and easy go-to car meal that requires no refrigeration and minimal cleanup is salmon cakes and rice; Using gluten-free pancake mix, water, olive oil, tahini, and canned salmon. Mash it. Mix it. Pat it out. Put oil in the skillet. Fry it. Add precooked bagged rice to the skillet when cakes are ready. Finally, season to your liking. Want to add some fiber and healthy fats? Avocados stay fresh in the car and pair well with most meals.

Hiking

Sunset at Artist’s Palette: Follow the one-way Artist’s Palette 9-mile scenic road for an easily accessible desert sunset over a glowing hillside of pinks, yellows, greens, and blues. Colors are maximized in the late afternoon making this spot perfect for a sunset. This mesmerizing phenomena is caused by the oxidation of volcanic deposits and was a highlight of the trip.

Sunrise at Dante’s View

•  Roughly 40-minutes from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Dante’s View allows you to sit back (no hiking necessary) and watch the sun slowly light up the notorious Badwater Basin and the breathtaking Telescope Peak. Books, Bites, Insights? Don’t forget your coat – the elevation change can decrease the temperature drastically.

Mount Perry via Dante’s Ridge (8.9 mile in-and-out)

• After watching the sunrise at Dante’s View, trek Dante’s Ridge to continue exploring Death Valley’s jaw-dropping landscape. The trailhead’s parking is the same parking lot used for Dante’s View making this trail convenient post-sunrise. The trail did require some rock scrambling at the end to reach the peak (which IMO is the most fun portion); however, the majority of the trail is easy-to-follow.

Sunrise at Zabriskie Point

• Sunrise at Zabriskie Point, an iconic and easy-to-access Death Valley vista, is only 15 minutes from Furnace Creek Visitor Center. On a morning with clear skies, you may even see Manly Beacon glow.

Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop via Zabriskie Point (6.4 mile loop)

• After watching the sunrise at Zabriskie Point, hike through striking golden-walls and narrow canyons via the Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop. With occasional rock scrambling and all the stereotypical desert vibes, this loop trail maximizes the diverse desert scenery while keeping it simple for those that prefer or need a more laid back trek.

Badwater Basin

• A must when in Death Valley National Park. Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America with a depth of 282 feet below sea level, requires little to no time, and once done you can say the cliche, “Been there, done that.”

The Devil’s Golf Course

• The Devil’s Golf Course is a massive, jagged salt field that you can walk on. And while this stop is unique to Death Valley and on the way to Badwater Basin, you can skip it if on a time crunch.

Camping

Furnace Creek Campground

• If you can snag a site at Furnace Creek Campground, do it. With flush toilets, large dish pits, and a picnic table at each site, the campground only costed $30 dollars for the night and was located right behind the visitor center. Lord forbid having to drive in daily to the park – unless scenic, long desert drives are your thing. Additionally, there is no cell service in the park, so being close to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center which offers free 24/7 wifi is key. The campground is also nearby Furnace Creek Oasis and Ranch which has many amenities including a general store and post office.

Mile Marker 129 Dispersed Camping

• Campground full? Or just looking to stay in budget? Roughly 24 miles West of the Furnace Creek area just outside of the Death Valley National Park boundary, you’ll find ample dispersed camp sites on BLM land; Commonly called “The Pads”. I discovered this location by asking a park ranger about popular, boon-docking spots nearby. She told me to drive west out of the park on Highway 190 to mile marker 129. Once past mile marker 129, turn right onto the gravel road, keep driving until you see an unclaimed concrete slab, park, and set up camp. Seem to good to be true? I thought the same, but it really was that easy! Pinky-swear.

Superbloom

• Disclaimer: Amory and I did not plan to visit Death Valley during the once-in-a-decade superbloom, but boy oh boy did we appreciate Mother Nature blessing us with this rarity. Seriously, we didn’t even know that a superbloom was occurring until we stumbled into the visitor center which was filled with tri-fold boards on the event. Books, Bites, Insights? The National Park Service defines a superbloom as, “conditions when so many flowers are present that they appear as swaths of color across the landscape, rather than isolated plants” with the last recorded superbloom in 2016.