Furnace Creek, Death Valley California

This place is an international hotspot. Literally. It holds the record for scorching heat (134* F. was recorded here one July in 1913 making it the  hottest spot on earth. Furnace Creek is also a sleepover spot for a cavalcade of international travelers who want to experience this vast desert landscape.  For that you need a car.  But the oasis of Furnace Creek is fun to explore on a tiny bike tour around this National Park headquarters.  

Roads: Paved roads. Optional graded gravel. (Off road riding is forbidden since it scars the fragile desert landscape.) 

Route: This is about two square miles of civilization nestled in the midst of DV's ….. square miles.  A mile up hill on the highway will take you to the elegant Furnace Creek Inn. A mile down hill on the bike path leads to the Harmony Borax Works, where workers boiled borax balls into a wash day additive.  

Discoveries: Poking around on two wheels you will find cold drinks and supplies at the general store. Restaurants, stables. Airstrip parking for those who prefer wing into the desert. Acres of manicured golf course greens. An Audubon Bird platform overlooking golf course ponds with an astonishing diversity of water birds. Stands of feathery tamarisk trees, date palm orchard, spring fed swimming pools, The elegant Furnace creek inn, a desert version of a classic national park lodge, with beautiful gardens and a great deck for sunset watching. borax museum, and exhibits in the national park headquarters where rangers are on call to answer your every question. Spin through the camp grounds for a tour of the crazy range of what constitutes american camping. 

Detours and tips.

only mad dogs and englishmen go out in the mid day sun.  

Pickleweed Ride: San Rafael California

Take a breath of fresh air on this waterside, flat, three mile segment of the Bay Trail.  You'll find long windswept views of open water, the Richmond Bridge, bird filled wetlands on the inland side.  This path will  lead you into the bustling Canal district of San Rafael. This ride is where office park meets the Latino, Spanish speaking world.  

 

Road: Mostly flat paved path, some gravel stretches.
City streets.

Route: Park at the the tiny beach on the Richmond bridge end of Jean & John Starkweather Shoreline Park. 

What you will see: The mostly paved path runs for a mile or two along the water's edge.  

Discover: Giant Lupin and rip wrap landscaping decorates the office park end.  This changes to open marsh and ponds on your left. Crowleys island lies off shore.   

The sign marks the end of the path.   Here open space abruptly turns into San Rafael's busy canal district, home to legions of latino workers. Just past the end of path you might continue onto Pickleweed Community Center. Here you can stop into the library for some bilingual reading. Or some enthusiastic  soccer or volleyball games. Off in the distance are the masts of sail boats at ..... Marina.  

To explore the Canal district go Left on Kerner to Bellam.  

Left on Bellam

Detour: Check out the spectacular mega mercado, Mi Puebla. Lock your bike on the racks outside and stepinto another country: foreign, full of color and very friendly. Mi Pueblo Foods, a great place for a snack or stepping into another world.   Take out tamales greet you at the door, left is deli for take out or sit down food on the left, Look right and a discover shelves stuffed with latino groceries galore.