CHINA RANCH DATE FARM

ON THE WAY HOME FROM LAKE TAHOE WE STAYED OVERNIGHT IN PAHRUMP, AND IN THE MORNING WE SET THE GPS TO TAKE US TO THE CHINA RANCH. IT STARTED OUT OK, SKIRTING THE EDGES OF DEATH VALLEY WHEN WE WERE SUDDENLY ON THIS DIRT ROAD?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? DO YOU THINK THEY ACTUALLY HAVE PALM TREES DOWN HERE? THIS IS THE CROSSING OF DEATH VALLEY AND THE MOHAVE DESERT.

THE WELCOMING COMMITEE….

HEY MARY, DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT .38 HANDGUN IN THE TRUNK?

BELIEVE IT OR NOT THERE WAS A CREEK AT THE BOTTOM SURROUNDED BY PALM TREES….

THE FRUIT IS HARVESTED IN NOVEMBER, SO THERE WAS STILL LOTS OF DATES ON THE TREES. EACH FEMALE TREE PRODUCES 100 – 300 POUNDS OF DATES. ENJOY THE PICTURES….

THE WORD I’M LOOKING FOR IS “OASIS”. THERE WAS A GIFT SHOP AND BAKERY ON THE PROPERTY. MARY HAD A DATE SHAKE, AND I HIKED TO THE TOP OF A MESA FOR A PICTURE.

WE THEN ASKED THE GPS TO TAKE US HOME TO THE MOHAVE VALLEY AND THE GPS HAD US ON THE OLD SPANISH TRIAL HIGHWAY AND WE AVOIDED DRIVING THROUGH LAS VEGAS.

WE ACTUALLY HAD GOOD WEATHER FOR LAKE TAHOE IN NOVEMBER, AND ALTHOUGH WE WEREN’T IN SHORTS AND T-SHIRTS WE DIDN’T HAVE A FOREST FIRE OR SNOW TO DEAL WITH.