Since our departure in Orlando, our fridge has had an unopened pack of Branchli (a kind of Chocolate Bar). And today they would find the purpose of their destiny, but more on that later.

We started in the morning (somehow this is the most common sentence in my blog) and drove over a small pass (at almost 1000 meters above sea level). Then it went down to the valley floor. It lies at the lowest point at -85 meters, which is below sea level. This makes it the lowest point in the US. The Death Valley is also the hottest place on Earth (measured 57 degrees celsius) and the driest in the US (by precipitation). Since it is still spring, it was only about 35 degrees, but already that was VERY hot.

Our first stop was at Furnace Creek, an oasis in the middle of the valley with a restaurant, post office, a visitor center, campsites and a golf course. In fact, it is the lowest golf course in the world (the highest is in Bolivia). And here we needed the Branchli.

About 25 years ago, I was already in the US, in Death Valley. Together with my friends Matthias and Taylor, I made a tour in the southwest. And then I also had a friend in New York, who desperately wanted me to send him a pack of Branchli. At the time I thought that it would be easier and cheaper to do this from the US and not from Switzerland. So I took a pack with me, and then brought it with me forever. Only in Death Valley did I take the time to go to the post office and ask for help with shipping. I had no box and certainly no idea what kind of postage I needed. The people were very nice and helped, but told me they would rather keep the chocolate themselves. I laughed and promised that I would bring a box the next time I visited Death Valley.

And this promise I could finally redeem today. So we went to the post office and I explained to the baffled lady why I gave her chocolate. I think she did not really understand what that meant, but my guilt has been eradicated ... I'm finally free !!!!!! ;)

After this mess we drove to Zabriskie Point (vantage point) and then left the park via Badwater Basin. After a relatively leisurely drive (including 30 minutes waiting at a construction site, until we were finally allowed to drive through) we came to Barstow. There was our next campground at the foot of the old silver city of Calico. And there we go tomorrow!