#130 Apr 2016 There is more to Vegas than Casinos

At the end of the previous post I said there is so much more to explore on day trips around Vegas.

Our first view of Valley of Fire State Park was out of this world. The colours are so vibrant and the shapes so otherworldly that they don’t seem real.

The layers of sandstone and shale reveal the ancient seas that advanced and retreated over hundreds of millions of years.

Upheaval from tectonic plate movements juggled the layers creating fascinating configurations.

At Rainbow Vista a kaleidoscopic of colours draws your attention in every direction.

We saw a few blooming cactus to enhance the colour scheme.

Over 70 million years, 10,000 feet (3 km) of deposits have eroded away. The forces of nature and millions of years have created fascinating formations.

We could spend days exploring Valley of Fire but time always limits our options.

Red Rock Canyon is part of the Aztec Sandstone that continues from Valley of Fire. It can be seen from the western side of Las Vegas.  

Over 1,700 climbing routes attract climbers from all over the world.

The surrounding desert has a great variety of drought and heat tolerant plants.

There are unexpected bursts of colour. 

There are not sufficient words to describe Death Valley.

From a mile above the Valley, Dante’s Viewpoint provides a spectacular view.

Look for the car on the road below - it's the small black dot!

In 2010 the village of Furnace Creek had a census population of 24 people. Notice the elevation is minus 190 feet.

Summer temperatures regularly hit 120*F (49*C) with a record of 134*F (56*C).

In March we only experienced 89*F (32*C) with about 10% humidity!

There is not much in Furnace Creek except very dry, extreme heat and tourists. The settlement includes a resort, ranch, campground, store and pub. The most popular orders are ice cream, beer and water – not necessarily in that order.

Who remembers “20 Mule Team Borax” from Death Valley?

Tremendous tectonic activities have created dramatic shifts in the surrounding mountains. At about 2,000 years old, this scarp is recent evidence of the forces that have created Death Valley.

In our post #117 we walked on the sea floor at Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick.

Bad Water Basin is 282 feet below sea level. Look for the small white sign in the upper middle of the photo.

Hundreds of miles from the ocean we were walking below sea level.

The striking colours splashed onto the rocks at Artist’s Palette were made by ancient hot, mineral rich waters bubbling up from below.

 

 

Whenever a little water is available there is colour in the desert springtime.

As we headed back to Vegas we enjoyed another desert sunset driving through Pahrump.

Geologic forces that act upon our earth are slow but irresistible. Visitors only see small changes, such as the crumbling of a cliff face. But all the time, mostly unnoticed, there will be pressures that build mountains and erosion to wear them down. 

There are many natural wonders around Las Vegas that balance the overwhelming images of over the top commercialism in the city.

#129 Jan-March 2016 Finally Spring in Vegas

2016 started quietly. Ralph continued working regularly at VCC.

The end of January I flew to Calgary to celebrate my sister, Judy's, 60^th birthday. We took a trip down memory lane to Canmore. Ralph and I lived there from 1974 to 1978 during which time Dave and Kari were born.

The town has changed dramatically, however, the Canmore Hotel has been a focal point for over 120 years.

The Coal Miner statue portrays the town's primary industry for many decades. Ralph even worked at the mine for a year – still repairing buses but in a very different environment.

When we lived in Canmore we thoroughly enjoyed our front room view of the Three Sisters.

When I returned to Surrey the crocuses were promising that spring was on the way.

Late February I returned to Calgary for the funeral of Auntie Pearl. She was the last member of our parent’s generation so it was a sad and reflective time for Judy and I.

Flying home I could see that spring had not arrived in the mountains yet.

The winding, muddy Fraser River welcomed me back to spring.

In March we joined Al and Brian and Tigger on the Sunshine Coast. Monique and Peter went over as well and as usual there was lots of visiting and laughter.

Who remembers the hit TV series “The Beachcombers” from the 1970s and 80s? It was filmed in Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast. Molly’s Reach is once again a restaurant.

The Persephone is on display near the harbour.

Mid March we put the RV into storage and hoped we would find warmer, sunnier weather in Las Vegas.

We had great driving weather and stopped to enjoy Mount Shasta.

The Cascades mountain range is a chain of spectacular volcanoes. Mount Shasta is composed of four volcanic cones.

As we drove through northern California the hills were showing spring green.

The sun set over the desert as we approached Nevada.

Dave and his girlfriend, Melissa joined us for a week in Las Vegas.

 

We celebrated Dave’s birthday at Nacho Daddy.

Dave accepted our challenge to down a Scorpion Shooter.

He did it – and yes it was a real scorpion!

The Strip and nearby streets are always bursting with energy and excitement. We enjoyed getting to know Melissa as we experienced Vegas together.

Opened in 2012, The Mob Museum conveys the history of The Mob in Las Vegas and its origins in the East.

We experienced a Police Line-up.

We sat in a courtroom where mobsters were tried and more often that not declared “not guilty”.

 

This is the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Wall against which Bugs Moran’s men were ambushed and shot on February 14, 1929.

We learned that much of the lore about The Mob was true. The quest for power and money continues today but in a much less obvious manner.

We enjoyed the incredible acrobatic performances in Cirque Du Soleil's "Ka".

"Vegas the Show" provided a great review of the evolving entertainment in Vegas.

We rode the High Roller for a spectacular view of Vegas and the nearby mountains.

The Freemont Street Experience highlights the Viva Vision light show on the 1,500 foot long overhead projection surface.

Look for the person ziplining over the crowd.

The Golden Nugget is part of Old Las Vegas on Freemont Street.

These are some highlights of Vegas but there is so much more to see and experience on day trips from the city.