I'm scrambling right now in an attempt to write this quick blog post before I lose Internet access. I have been out of civilization for a couple of days now and to be honest, I don't really know how to handle it. I've had no Toronto Blue Jays daily updates, no cell phone service, no e-mail. It's odd to say the least.

The reason? I'm in Death Valley. I guess I might be letting a little secret out early, but I'm in Death Valley writing a travel story about the legendary hot spot (literally) in California, and while I wasn't so hot (pun intended) about the story at first, what I've found has been fascinating. I've driven on roads that have bounced my Toyota Tundra all over the place. I've walked in canyons that have beautiful marble-like stone walls. I've stood at the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at more than 200 feet below sea level, and from that point looked up at the mountain wall in front of me to see a sign that reads "SEA LEVEL" way above me. I've seen rocks that have traveled across a flat land though no one has ever seen them move. I even played golf at the lowest golf course in the world at 214 feet below sea level.

Most of all, I've been sweating. A lot. Anyone complaining about the heat in Bakersfield needs to go to Death Valley. It's a different world here.

So look forward to an up-close look at Death Valley next month. I'm going to begin my trek home to the cool weather of Bakersfield.