USA 2016: Bodie, California

With Dad's newly discovered cowboy hat, we were already feeling a bit western-inspired. So, after an overnight stay near Death Valley, we decided to head north to Bodie, California. First, we drove a long, straight highway for dozens of kilometers north. That day, coincidentally, the Delft University of Technology and VU Amsterdam universities in Nevada were also trying to set a bicycle speed record. No wonder, since there are long, straight stretches of road where you hardly see anyone. Finally, north of Death Valley, we found a turnoff towards the mountains. That's when I finally got to show off my driving skills. Like a roller coaster, we wound our way up and down through the mountains, through numerous hairpin bends. Then came another stretch of highway where we also passed the entrance to Yosemite National Park, our next destination. We continued past several lakes, including Mono Lake. Finally, I was back in action. It turned out to be a good thing we'd rented a four-wheel-drive SUV for the west; we were going to drive on the unpaved roads. Another winding road through the hills followed, this time on loose gravel, a thrilling downhill stretch with a precipice either in front of or beside you. After this drive, we arrived in Bodie. Bodie is an abandoned mining town in California. Initially, gold was discovered there, later primarily silver mining. From 1912 to the 1940s, the town gradually dwindled and became a ghost town. Today, it's a state park and is maintained in the same state as it was abandoned. You could look around some of the buildings and see how people used to live. Quite a sight to behold. It's a more authentic western town, unlike the more touristy places you'll find along Route 66. When we left Bodie, we drove back towards Mono Lake. Shortly after leaving, we saw a gigantic plume of smoke in the distance. The plume grew larger as we approached the lake and eventually the turnoff for Tioga Pass to Yosemite. We scanned the radio for what it was. But later it turned out that a forest fire was raging that burned down about 6,000 hectares of land.