We both don't get any decent sleep. Jules makes me leave the truck at 6:30 in the morning; I pour him two bowlfuls of water which he gulps in a hurry - he must have been really thirsty. The third bowl is only emptied half-way - and the water freezes in it in ten minutes while I am trying to make coffee. I wonder how cold it is - must have been about 20 degrees outside.
A few times through the night I wished Jules slept, and close to me. I remembered the story - however probable - about the origins of the name of the rock group "Three-Dog Night." This night wasn't quite that cold, but it would have been definitely a two-dog night had I slept in a tent - hence the title for the report.
Matt and Thao also get up early. It takes us a while to "thaw out" and make breakfast, after which toys come out of their hiding. Neither of them is a firearm, but the entertainment value is very close.
The plan for the day starts with a visit to Defense Mine.
There, however, lies a problem. It has been 10 years since I've been to Defense Mine during one of the Rover Rendezvous events, and I sure don't remember which canyon is which. Garmin GPS is utterly useless, but Google Maps on the cell phone shows us a trail leading toward, yet not reaching, Defense Mine.
Around 10 in the morning we're on our way.
Nadeau Trail to Minnietta Mine
Somehow, I see the first open mineshaft far sooner than I anticipated. Hmmm.... We disembark, and venture inside for the first five forks in the mineshaft, after which I find that I should have concentrated harder at remembering them.
We find our way back, and drive on - for all of 20 minutes or so. The road is very rocky, with some sharp outcroppings threatening sidewalls and wheel rims.
An abandoned cabin appears, and next to it - a Subaru Forester. I am in awe of the owner's driving abilities and ambitions; fifty feet further the road disappears in the dense bushes.
Hmmm... Is it really true that Defense Mine is no longer accessible? The jeep guys at the Barker Ranch seemed to know a lot about Defense Mine - have they really been there?
Nothing to do here, however, so we back out of the dead end, turn around, and head downhill.
On the way down we pass the mineshaft we've peeked into, and come across a large and well-built cabin.
Next to it there's a sign: "Minnietta Mine Cabin."
We must be in a wrong canyon.
We peek inside the cabin - it is even larger, and better-equipped and stocked than the Geologist's Cabin. A Grand Cherokee is parked nearby, suggesting someone's exploring the mine works on foot.
The Subaru catches up with us; its owner, a sunny kid in his mid-20s, graduated from USC and moved to Bishop. I can't put these two facts together in any reasonable manner, but that's okay.
We discuss the local places, and the conversation veers off to Lookout City; he waves his hand in the opposite side of the canyon.
We are in a wrong canyon.
The kid shows us a couple of great books on Death Valley and its environs, we take pictures and leave.
Defense Mine will have to wait for the next trip - from the valley floor, it is easily a 3-4 hour trip by itself.
Somewhat defeated, we drive off back to pavement, to hit Trona Road to Highway 190, past Panamint Springs, and towards Old Toll Road to Darwin Falls and the town of Darwin.
Oh the falls...