Zion and Cedar Breaks

There must be a law in Utah that says you are required to go 5 to 15 miles an hour below the speed limit, especially in the hills. The number of cars behind you doesn't matter. If they want to go faster (like maybe the speed limit), they have to pass, but only in the very short passing zones, if there is no traffic. And rule number one, you must NEVER pull over to let anyone pass.

Or, you go 5 to 15 miles per hour faster than the posted limit and force others to pull over to let you by before you ram their back bumper.

End of rant.

Tuesday, I went to Zion National Park, Kolob Canyons. I did the short hike at the end of the road to the overlook. Looking at the canyon from that level was overwhelming. The beauty was breathtaking and not just because of the altitude.

I spent an hour getting to the top and back (I walk very slowly) and then drove to Cedar Breaks National Monument. Zion Kolob Canyon is 20 miles south of Cedar City (where I am right now) and Cedar Breaks is 25 miles northwest.

A year ago (right after I got my camera), I had made plans to visit Colorado in time for the color changes in the aspen trees. I cancelled that trip because of the flooding in Colorado at that time. I guess I wasn't looking in the right place.

The altitude at the visitor center at Cedar Breaks is 10,500 feet above sea level. Talk about breathtaking. This time is was the altitude.

But a big part of it was looking over the railing at the visitor center and seeing the surrounding area. OMG, it was scary looking over, but the view was even more taking-away-my-breath and it wasn't just the altitude.

But back to the aspens. At the altitude of Cedar Breaks and the pass leading up to it, I was at the "subalpine" tree level, which includes aspens. 

The green, reddish, orangish and golden colors of the aspens at this altitude were absolutely incredible. I couldn't take enough pictures. But I did take enough to realize I don't need to go to Colorado to see the trees.

I had to leave Cedar Breaks fairly quickly because I couldn't breath at that altitude. But it was a great side trip, nonetheless.

Moving Day

This is going to be short and with no pictures. Those will come tomorrow.

I left Boulder City, NV at around 8:30 am. Less than 200 miles later, I arrived in Cedar City, UT at around 12:30 pm. It was an easy drive, all up hill, but gently up, nothing horrendous.

It was one of those times when I wished I wasn't driving. The change in environment from Nevada to Arizona to Utah is truly amazing. Nevada is desert - flat, no trees, nothing more than 1 foot tall, the hills were rocky with nothing growing. As we got close to the Arizona border, the landscape became more hilly, more rocky and even the desert part was different.

Different kind of brush (taller), hills had more colors, the hills were buttes, bluffs, and table mesas with differing colors of rocks. There were places where you could see the various levels at which the colored layers changed. Mostly they were straight and level, but every once in a while you would see a section that was slanted or distorted into almost a loop.

I studied basic geography and oceanography and understand the tectonic plate theory. The idea that the Sierras are growing taller because the Pacific Plate is diving under the North American plate and forcing the left coast higher is fascinating.

Having watch Discovery about how the earth was made drove my thought during this drive. What kind of forces are underneath a particular place that make it change from straight and level to slanted and looped?

So, just a "short" drive and cooler temperatures. And I can't seem to get the trailer perfectly level. It is close enough to keep everything operating, but I don't have the energy or strength to make the jacks any more level. Maybe tomorrow.

Saturday Night in Vegas

Saturday night was a loud night. No partying but the lightning, thunder and rain (yes, rain) pounding on the top of my aluminum home were all loud. Nice light show, but the rain was unexpected.

It started out as a little pitter patter on the roof. Then the hammer of Thor started pounding the roof. Then pitter patter for a while, no noise for a while and then Thor came back to pick up the beat.

It lasted for quite a few hours, but was something to keep me awake for a while.

Today is Sunday and tomorrow morning I will be hitching up and heading out to Cedar City Utah. It is cooler there than in Vegas, so it should be a good, easy trip.

Picture that didn't want to be in yesterday's blog.

This is the Bellagio water works when it is not working. They don't run it during the day. Too bad. Even in the daylight it would have been beautiful.

I noticed these two wings on one hotel (didn't get the name) and the buildings are slanted in different directions. Neither building appears straight, but from looking at the glass panes, they are obviously built straight but the walls on the outside slant.

The Vegas Strip

I went to the Las Vegas Strip Thursday. I'm still trying to digest how I really feel about the area.

My first thought is: This is awful. Why is this so popular?

(BTW, I'm having trouble right now uploading pictures. When I get a stronger signal, I'll edit this with pictures).

I parked at the Paris Hotel and then walked up to New York New York.

The best thing about the Strip is that at most intersections, there is a walkway across the street so you don't have to be at street level and wait for the lights. You do have to go upstairs (or upelevator or upescalator) to get to the walkway, but it is accessible.

I saw the Bellagio waters without the show. I guess it is only done at night. I saw a bunch of other hotels and their huge overly bright neon signs. I walked south on one side of the street, then crossed over the street and walked south back to my car.

It was hot and crowded. Among the non-hotel sites were the characters in costume. Most of them were in full costume, but the costumes were old, poorly maintained and obviously a costume. I still felt sorry for those that were fully dressed in the heat and sun on that day. The ones I didn't feel sorry for were the few girls I saw wearing as little as legally possible and the "gentlemen" wearing even less. There was no shrinkage visible, in fact, it seems, the opposite.

Today, I went to the Railroad Museum and rode the train. It was interesting looking at the old cars and looking inside an old Post Office car and a caboose. It wasn't as hot as the previous days, so the breeze created by the train ride felt good.

The day started out cloudy and has continued to get cloudier. The temperature is cooler, by a few degrees.

I'm going to be leaving Vegas and Nevada on Monday and heading into Utah. I'm planning on visiting Zion and Bryce National Parks. From there, maybe off to Moab or maybe farther north. I'll see how I feel.

Vegas, Again

I wasn't going to do much today, but I ended up going to Hoover Dam. I had been there when I was young and only remember the horrendous elevator ride to the bottom. Didn't do it this time.

Looking at Lake Mead on the way, you can see the "bathtub ring", the highest level of water (and usual level). The lake level is so low, islands that were originally covered up have surfaced.

I drove to the dam, and they have security checking vehicles on the way to the dam, assuming that you are going to cross it. Since I wasn't interesting in driving across (bridges are bad enough, doing the dam would have been too much), I didn't mind showing what was in my truck. Lots of junk.

First thing I saw as I drove down the road to the dam was this tower that carried wires from the base of the dam up and over the hills surrounding the dam.

No, they aren't broken, they were installed in this angled way. Looks weird, like they are in the process of falling over.

I walked along the dam and had to take my cap off so it wouldn't disappear into the water below. It was an OMG moment looking over the side at the dam. It is a long way down.

I walked to Arizona and then walked back to Nevada. Not so long a trip, since the Nevada/Arizona line is in the middle of the dam.

Walking back on the other side of the road, I saw this little memorial. It might be difficult to read, but it was for the mascot of the builders of the dam. He apparently had been killed when a construction truck hit him. This was very sweet of the men who spent so much time and energy on this project.

BTW, it was very hot. Did I mention it was HOT??? It started clouding up when I got home, and around 7:30 pm I went outside to watch the lighting. It was only in the clouds (didn't seem to be hitting the ground), and I didn't hear any thunder. It was also very windy (rocking the trailer). Maybe we'll get a little rain. It is supposed to be a tad (a degree or two) cooler tomorrow. Maybe not even hitting 100!

Vegas Baby!

Sunday morning I went from Fresno to Barstow. The pass was horrible - it was hot and long. My truck got very warm so I turned on the heater (!) on to help reduce the engine heat. I gave the cats a bottle of ice each (I had frozen water in used water bottles). They finally shutup after that.

I spent the night in a little park that I saw reviewed. The owners were very helpful and friendly. I didn't even unhitch or do much of anything. I couldn't get on the internet, so I couldn't do anything on my computer.

So I left Barstow very early this morning and it was already warm. Coming out of Mojave, it was a long (16-20 MILES) of uphill climb. It was also very straight and very up. I went slowly, trying to keep the engine temperature down. It got warm, but didn't overheat. Of course, I didn't have the air conditioner on until we finally started heading down.

At the border between California and Nevada is a huge solar array with a reflector to focus sun on the array. It was very bright with lots of "silver" surrounding the reflector. There was also a lake around the reflectors, maybe from the last storm that came through.

You can sure tell the difference between California and Nevada. The first exit in Nevada had a full-on casino, hotel, and amusement park going on. In the middle of the desert. The next exit (14 I believe) had the same and a huge sign saying "Come in here. Spend your money here!"

I arrived in Boulder City around 11:30. First thing I did was plug the power in and turn on the air conditioner. I put the awning out and it is rocking the trailer now because the wind has picked up. I will probably have to pull it down.

Time to rest and stop sweating. I'm drinking lots of water and it all seems to come out as sweat.

Hitched up and ready to go

I hitched up the trailer to my truck and just need to remove the electric and the water and put the antenna in the trailer and then I am off. My plan is to leave very early on Sunday morning to avoid the heat going through the desert.

I'm going to stop overnight in Barstow, because it is a long haul to Las Vegas and I really don't want to be doing that with the potential heat out there.

It is a little cooler and windier today than it has been, but still warm. The place I will be going may not have internet, so this may be my last posting until I hit Vegas. I'm actually going to be staying a week in Boulder City, which is close to Hoover Dam.

I'll probably visit there and make a day trip into Vegas, but beyond that, I haven't decided what I will be doing once I get there.