Hoover Dam and Las Vegas Here We Come!

May 21-24

We intended to go to Sedona, Arizona on our way to Las Vegas but a forest fire has started on the road t to Sedona - and the direct route was blocked.  We decided we had seen plenty of red rocks and the cliff dweller site was on a dirt road - so we headed first to Hoover Dam (like any loyal power company retiree would do) and on to LV. 

A new very high bridge has been built across the Colorado River in from of the dam.


We drove across the new bridge

and walked across the top of the dam. Our tour included the inside of the powerhouse -  looked a lot like Cowan's Ford  or Bad Creek inside but it was amazing to consider how they built this  huge thing in the mid 1930's. 

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Next Stop Las Vegas!  There is enough neon to go from one end of NC to the other.  It's beautiful at night but we saw lots of things we weren't used to.  People legally drinking alcohol on  the streets; women offered for a party on every block.  People putting lots of money on the table for gambling. 

 

We saw the fountains at Bellagio, the Paris Hotel, Venetian, New York, New , Trump Hotel (covered in gold - they say) etc - we walked  2 1/2 miles of the Vegas Strip just for fun.

On Thursday, we did a few of the tourist trap things - we visited the world Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop of Pawn Stars TV show fame. We found a good park and only a short line. I had to buy something there  :) None of the TV personalities were there but we  saw lots of items that had been purchased on the show.



We also visited Count's Customs, another one those Las Vegas TV show locations. and took a tour of Danny's car collection and saw several vehicles that had been featured on their show..  Another good park for the Vette - right in front of the shop. We saw Roli and Horny Mike (I know that means nothing to some of you :)) but no good pictures.  They looked busy eating lunch as a hot dog stand near by....

 

 I was surprised at how friendly everyone was. Guess they were just regular businesses until TV producers found them....

 

Grand Canyon - It's really Grand! + Route 66

May 20

Today we move from Utah to Flagstaff, AZ by way of the Grand Canyon.  We went from the North side and had a really steep trip in.  But the view was beautiful. 

We got to see the very beginning of the Grand Canyon where the Colorado River flows slowly.



These pictures do not do justice to the colors in the Canyon. Nothing like seeing it in person.

 

 We saw several female elk on our way out of the park. 


We also found Route 66 again  in Flagstaff along with  a Route 66 Museum......I remembered Route 66  from the TV show but the museum describes the route was used to move settlers west in wagons....... Most of the old road is in really poor shape.   Glad Alvin didn't want to follow this road for 2800 miles - or what is left of it!

The sign behind the car says Historic Highway Route 66 

Pitiful, bumpy, narrow Route 66.

Breckenridge, CO to the Canyons

May 17 - May 20

We left Denver for Breckenridge by way of Estes Park, CO.  Snow on the high mountains is visible  outside Denver.  Breckenridge ski resort is closed but snow is still visible  everywhere.  We are at 9600 feet above sea level and we could tell a difference in the air for sure. .

Breckenridge got 14 inches of sow on Mother's Day so some roads in Rocky Mtn National Park are still closed.  So, we head to canyon country.   First stop is Arches National Park.   Arches are magnificent examples of God's handiwork.  

 

 

 

 

Holes are in rocks everywhere you look

Alvin is standing in the opening - look how big the arch is!

 

 

Our next stop was Bryce and Zion National Parks.

 

These rock formations in Bryce Canyon are called hoodoos.  They look like wet sand art - extra large.

  

 

Zion National Park is known for its slot canyons - the best one takes a long hike through water - we toured through the park  by car and some hiking.  To get there required driving a step curvy road through a very long tunnel.  Lots of fun with the top down.  

 


This slot canyon did not require a long hike.  This one is actually fairly wide.

We spent the next day in the Grand Canyon.  These pictures do not depict all of the colors you actually see in the rocks.   While the Colorado River can't be seen in these pictures, we were surprised how blue/green the water was.

 

 

The more we drive, the more we cannot understand how anyone could  not believe God created heaven and earth!      



From Dallas to Denver

Before we left Dallas, we had dinner with Alvin's nephew Brian Wyant and great nephew Joshua. Joshua just found out his eagle scout work has been approved so we celebrated at Buca - by eating in the kitchen - what a treat.

Leaving Dallas we headed northwest and finally saw oil wells....... and took at detour to Frederick, OK.  Everyone was harvesting grain and hay. 

 We got followed by a drone - after we accidentally passed a US Army flight training facility, I guess they were training on drone flights as well as airplanes...

We spent the next night in Amarillo, TX  and found an unmarked section of old Route 66 an found the tourist stop of Cadillac Ranch - old cadillacs buried  part way in the ground. There is paint 1/2 inch thick in some places. Another unexpected side trip...

  
We took the back roads to Denver, CO on Friday, by way of New Mexico. We saw one small store in 40 miles - no quick trips to Walmart here, very few homes but lots of farms, cattle, wind mills for electricity -land is so flat you can see for miles.

We passed Pike's Peak but it was covered in snow.  We did not make it downtown so we didn't see the pot outlets or the customers........  :)

 We did stop by Mile High Stadium for a quick look.......... Very pretty stadium.

Sorry this post took so long - computer security issues are finally resolved.  More Later

Tuesday - Day 2 started in Memphis at  Graceland tour and to Texarkana TX.
Graceland was a pretty neat tour to recall lots of memories of Elvis.  Most of the people touring with us were from another country - just a reminder of his popularity. This was a short travel day so we found time to take a detour for me to get a manicure and pedicure....    Weather is too chilly for convertible........ I am sure weather will change,

Day 3 took us  through a rainy morning to  Parker, TX to the ranch used to film the outside scenes of the original TV show Dallas and used for inside and outside scenes for the new Dallas.   Rain stopped an hour outside Dallas so we had great weather for the tour. This picture is at the patio table that several family fights we filmed for the show :) And of course we needed a picture of the mansion. We are hoping to see lots of animals - first one was Texas longhorn cattle.



 

We finished the afternoon in Downtown Dallas, touring the JFK assassination site.  It's hard to believe it happened 50 years ago.

 Sixth Floor School Book Depository site - Corner window was location of shot

 JFK Memorial Site from the Grassy Knoll.

This one was also taken from the Grassy Knoll. See the X in the middle lane?  That is location Kennedy was shot - Anyone on the grassy knoll also could have had a perfect shot........ Theories continue,,,,,,,,,,


 More to come soon.

The Adventure Begins - for Alvin and Denise

5/12/2014

Welcome to our blog where we will share a few nuggets about our trip. You have this special invitation - we are trying not to let the world know we are gone for a. month  This trip has been in the planning stage for over a year. We are finally on our way- tightly packed and hoping we packed the right clothes.

630 miles and 4 states are already behind us. We are just outside Memphis, Tennessee.  We decided to head down I- 85 and go through Georgia. Alabama and Mississippi to avoid the all too familiar stretch of I-40. Weather has been rain free so far.

We took a surprise stop at Talladega International Speedway and toured the race track - in a van - we did not drive  :)  It's the largest NASCAR track at 2.66 miles and highest banking of 31-33 degrees....... Of course that was a neat treat for a day we thought was just driving..

THANKS to many of you for your suggestions, ideas and well wishes, and a special thanks to Deanna and Lauren for keeping the Mariposa home base in maintenance mode while we are gone.