Wow that's a lot of concrete!

     Yesterday, I visited a very large mass of concrete that blocks a river and forms a lake. This structure is located over 19 hundred miles outside of 285. 


Lake Mead and Hoover Dam taken from the Mike O' Callaghan-Pat Tillman Bridge on 9/15/2012

     The towering Hoover Dam (named for our 31st president) is located in Boulder City, Nevada, just south of Las Vegas.  The dam itself is situated in Black Canyon.  I spent an entire day at this landmark. 

     Before you enter the recreation area, you must first past a security checkpoint where a guard takes a look inside your vehicle.  As long as your not a sheisty individual, you should be fine.   Once you pass the checkpoint you can go check out the Callagan-Tillman Arch Bridge. The bridge is fairly new, just opening in 2010. As you climb the stairs to reach the bridge, there are several places where you can stop and read silver and black signs providing information about the bridge and it's namesakes.  You can only reach the pedestrian bridge from the Nevada side.

Once reaching the top all you hear are cars, which are crossing the bridge too, and helicopters providing tourists birdseye views of the dam.  Below are some pics I took while walking on the bridge's pedestrian walkway.  Just in case you were wondering....yes it was hot.  But still comfortable. (Or maybe I'm getting used to it.)

The 1st thing you see when you reach the top of the pedestrian bridge.

 

In this picture you can see Lake Mead (top), Hoover Dam and the Colorado River (bottom)

 

 

Straddling the state line.

 

 

Welcome to Arizona Sign

 

 

One man, Sherman Jones, died during the construction of the bridge. This is at the site in his honor.

 

 

 

     After leaving the bridge, I made way to the great Hoover Dam.  It will cost you 7 dollars to park in the garage, but its worth it.  Who wants to get into a scorching car after walking around all day?? Not I!   It is amazing that this was constructed in the 1930's.  The main purpose of this dam was to control the mighty Colorado River.  Once the dam was finished it took 6 years for Lake Mead to fill.

Above you see the bridge I was standing on in the earlier pictures.   You also have a better view of the Colorado River and the Black Mountains.

 

This was the 1st time I EVER heard of the Bureau of Reclamation.

It's hard to capture the beautiful shade of blue eminating from Lake Mead. Here you can also see the flood line from 1983 and some water craft in the distance.  I assume they can't pass that barrier.

 

The "Winged Figures of the Republic" Statues taken from the overlook.

 

 

You gotta rub the feet for good luck!!

 

 

I also took a tour inside of the Hoover Dam to get a closer look.  Stay tuned for that post...coming soon.

 

 

 

 

The Valley of Fire

If the temperature is over 100 degrees.....you may not need to visit a place called the Valley of Fire.  

 

 But of course,I visited The Valley of Fire State Park on September 3rd (a very special day to those in the know) and it was over 100 degrees.  At one point it got sooo hot that I got confused. 

 

This park is located about 50 miles outside of Las Vegas, Nevada right off of I-15 north.  The drive from Vegas is pretty uneventful unless you like viewing desert scenery and driving fast. The speed limit goes up to 75 outside of town. It costs 10 dollars per car using the west entrance, from what I could tell on the east entrance you payed on the honor system....'cause I aint see no guard there!!

A 38 year old eye.

The rocks are a beautiful shade of red because of iron oxide (rust baby). 


The Beehive

Believe me, it was as hot as it looks. When the wind blew, it was like a million hot blow dryers were directed right at you!!!

 

This part of the park was extraordinarily beautiful.  To get the true feel for the magnificent colors you gotta come and see for yourself ......or maybe I just need to get a better camera :)  It just looked like God had a paintbrush and a pallet of reds, yellows and grays. Sometimes it felt like another planet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were also a lot of different plants. Most was small bushes but I did spot a few cacti.

 

 

 

"Booty, booty butt cheeks."

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I then decided to try to hike the fire wave.  But walking through hot sand compounded by the dry scorching wind was horrendous.  I'm not sure how far I went, but I know it wasn't over half a mile.   

 

There was also some signs of life. I saw a couple of lizards.  I didn't see any snakes.  The only sound heard was the wind, an occasional car and people speaking different languages.  This, like some of the other places I visited were full of foreigners.

What animal does this look like???

 

Moon Face!!

 

If you ever come to Vegas, take a break from the sin.  Get outside and see the Valley of Fire!!! It's a good day trip.

Arizona

Even though the title is Arizona, I gotta throw in one picture taken in New Mexico.  The drive on I-40 through New Mexico is BORING. It pretty much looks like this. (see below)



New Mexico...yeah that's about it.

Arizona is more picturesque.



Arizona Border Welcome Center (Aug 15, 2012)

Making way on 1-40 west through Arizona you will start to see signs about a meteor crater.  I had never seen a meteor crater, so I decided to make a quick stop.   The crater is located approximately 40miles outside of Flagstaff, Arizona.  It was created about 50,000 years ago.   After driving up a winding road, you will arrive at the attraction.  I was surprised it was 16 dollars to get in to see "a big hole".  But there is also a little museum and gift shop.   You can get more information here http://www.meteorcrater.com/  

Check out the video below. 

 



 

The evening sky outside of the meteor crater site.

Amarillo, Texas

Can you guess what's shown in the picture?? 



These are

Cadillac Cars!!!

 

 

I visited the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo Texas while cruising down I-40 last month.   This was originally created in 1974 (yep that was a good year) with cars dating from 1949-1963.  Its amazing to think that these cars were once prized possessions...and look at them now.  Originally the artists just buried the cars, but as the years progressed, people began to paint them and steal the parts. 

 

 

Spray cans now litter the ground.

 

Most of the visitors were foreigners.  I even heard languages that I didn't recognize.



 



Oklahoma

Oklahoma....home of the great plains,buffalo(bison?) Indian territories and casinos. Driving through this state on I-40 you will pass through several Indian territories, some I've heard of like Creek and Cherokee and others I had not heard of.  There are 39 tribal nations in Oklahoma. This is the 1st time I have ever felt a Native American presence in America.  Here are some quick pics taken at one of the roadside tourist traps....Oh I ment to say attractions!

 

Fake bison.

 

Real bison (Pop quiz....which is male and which is female?)


 

Check out the baby in the video, chillin' out with mom.

Fish and Butterflies

Yesterday I traveled about 70 miles outside of 285 to Callaway Gardens.  The main reason I went was to experience the Day Butterfly Center.  Since the Butterfly Center was not as big as I expected I decided to do a few other things. 


So I began my day in the Butterfly Center.  First of all it was HOTTTT inside.  I knew it was going to be humid to mimic the tropical environment, but I didn't think I would feel like an oven.  But besides that it was nice to see all the butterflies flying around and not worry about any bees.  I got there early so it was not packed with people. There were some folks with really nice cameras with LONG lenses, I felt like an amateur snapping pictures with with a cell phone. Here are a few pics of butterflies that I hadn't seen before.
 



The "eye" helps to ward off predators.

  

After leaving the Butterfly Center I decided to rent a bike. (No helmet cause I'm a G!!!)   It looked like it was from the 1970's but oh well.  I rode to the Sibley Horticultural Center first to take a look at the plants. I  really liked the bike trail because it went through the shady woods.  

I don't even like bananas but I like looking at the banana plants. Fun fact.....they are PLANTS not TREES.

  




Banana Flower with bananas at the top.



After looking at the plants I decided to feed the Koi.  Here is a little video of........fish.

After leaving the Sibley Horticultural Center I rode my rented 1970's bike to the vegetable garden.  This is  where The Victory Garden was filmed.  That's an old PBS show that used to come on back in the day when everyone had nine channels. There were a lot of flowers and a lot of bees.  There was a sign up to inform the visitors not to eat/pick the fruits and veggies.  But lo and behold there were a group of folks chowing down on what appeared to be muscadines.



Three bees on a Sunflower. Please don't sting me!

Pretty Peppers



My solo day trip to Callaway Gardens was good.  I got a great workout riding that old bike around and got a little closer to nature.  It's always good to get outside and stop being mesmerized by little glowing rectangles all day.   If you ever go, be sure to get water and snacks BEFORE you go into the park.  I bought some water, a small bag of chips and a Twix for almost six dollars!!!