Course. (I've played this challenging course on past trips with just my trusty five iron and a putter and have done quite well. In the middle of one of the hottest places on earth, there are actually water hazards.)

As it was already after five, we decided it was time to head home. The most direct route was CA 127, which would take us to Badwater. At 282 feet below sea level, this is the lowest point in the United States. Badwater also holds the distinction of having recorded the highest temperature in U.S. history: 134 degrees back in 1913, just two degrees shy of the worldwide record.

It was at this point that we clocked the day's highest temperature, "just" 114 degrees, verified by the Camaro's driver information system displayed on the infotainment system's blue LED display.

One of the attractions at Badwater is gaining some perspective on just how far below sea level 282 feet actually is--almost the length of a football field. On the cliff to the east of CA 127 someone painted "SEA LEVEL" three quarters of the way up the side of the rocks.

We headed to our last planned shot, Shoshone, a small hamlet just south of the park, stopping first at the intersection of CA 127 and CA 178 to