Attempted to drive to Badwater basin as a day trip, got about 15 miles in to realise the only route into Death Valley was closed due to the road being washed away by the recent 1 in a 1000 year storm. Diversion was a 200 mile round trip. Nope. Save that until tomorrow en route to California. Went to Ryolite ghost town which came about as a result of the gold rush about 100 years ago, but quickly realised there was no gold!. So what was to be the next boom town lasted about 2 years, remnants of a school, train station and a house made of glass bottles remain. Fascinating to see. We then headed to Mel’s diner for lunch which was lovely, I had a jalapeño cheese burger and chips and Mel had a salad. Drove to a casino up the road for a look around and went to the largest Sweet shop in Nevada (or America I can’t remember), we had ice creams. Then back to the room for Mel to have a kip and I went to the pool to read. Headed out about 6pm to the Roadhouse 95 bar for a beer for me and a vodka and coke for Mel. The barmaids loved my accent. Mel thought they were prostitutes. We also fed and watered wild burros in the day which was cute. We went to the Happy Churro bar next door for a pitcher and then finally to JJ’s BBQ next door. I had 1/2 pound of brisket and 1/2 pound of pork and jalepeno mac and cheese. Mel had 1/2 pound of pork and some fries. The meat was possibly the best we have tasted - smoked for 2 days in a smoker. Then walked to the hotel. I went out to star gaze but couldn’t see a lot due to the light pollution of the massive billboards everywhere. Had a tinnie, contemplated life, and went to bed.