Driving

The immigration official at San Francisco airport frowned and checked the photograph in the passport once more, then pointedly held it up and looking straight at David asked 'Is this you', Davids deadpan response was 'yes'.

What are your plans whilst in America he asked looking at me, 'Road trip' I replied, 'where?' 'San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego..Newark' I replied without much thought, 'Lot of driving' came the reply 'just you, he's too young!', I cringe internally and laugh it off.

'What car are you getting' the young Japanese american officer asks, 'Not sure, probably a Corolla or other mid size' he frowns and suggests we pick an American car, I suggest a G6, 'a Pontiac, yeah they're OK, not so popular though and I hear they're phasing them out. You should choose a Mustang, maybe a convertible' A discussion then ensues about distance noise and heat, after which he lets slip he has an SUV.

I suggest that may be a good choice, he says no way and complains that with gas at $4 a gallon I would find it expensive. I bite my tongue and nod, finally accepting our stamped passports and moving away to collect our cases.

On a positive note, I just checked the NPS website and can happily report that the Plow men have capitulated and the siren song call of their summer jobs seems to have worked wonders as according to the site Tioga Pass will be open from Saturday 18 June, With any luck it will stay that way thereby facilitating our Transit to Death Valley.

Their post actually states;

The Tioga Road will open on Saturday, June 18, 2011, at 8 am. There will be several no-stopping zones and visitors should be aware that hiking opportunities are extremely limited due to snow and dangerous creek crossings. No services will be available along the road.

As my body is saying it's 01:30 whilst the clock says 17:27 I'll close for now with the comforting knowledge that at least the drive to Death Valley will be shorter than it had previously promised.

Posted in: Route,Tioga,travel