A day in the life of Vegas ...

Well, as we reported, we made it to Nevada safely. We checked into the Riviera and found our room to be Great!!! (Here is one of them...). We got settled in and realized the local economy needed a little "SC Stimulus Package" so we visited the "gaming facilities". (Some of you may have seen the totally fabricated video Sherwood put on Facebook.)







After a good night's rest we headed out to explore. Without too much narrative, here are some scenes from the Vegas strip... First, some views of Caesar's Palace ...

... And at the "Venetian" we ran into a couple of old friends ...















... After some quality time with Harrison and Whoopie we headed on over to "Treasure Island" for the "Pirate Ship Battle" but we found that we were too early. First battle starts at 7:30 PM, just 30 minutes before the eruption of the volcano at "The Mirage" casino. We'll try to get good pics of those epic events.

We also have some good pictures of the amazing Manhatten skyline at "New York - New York" and the Eiffel Tower at "Paris By Night". They are on 'real' cameras so when we figure out how to hook everything together, we'll share them with you.

We'll close for now so we can go meet two friends of our son who live out here. We have lots more to show from Vegas but we're really looking forward to getting on the road to the Sierra Nevadas to see all the magnificent sights out there waiting for us. See ya soon ...

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Evening with friends ....

A quick note about the evening ... We went to dinner with friends of our son - Joe and Anna Gobel and Joe's sister Molly. We had a great time and wanted to add a photo of the event to the blog.




Tomorrow we head into Death Valley to find the place near Badwater that is (... At 282 feet below sea level) the lowest point in North America. Be sure to drink lots of water, the temp will be in the 110 - 115 range.

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Hello from Mammoth Lake, CA

Hi Gang,

A stunningly great trip from Vegas To Mammoth Lake!!! We headed North on U.S. 95 and made our way to Yucca Mountain! (Sound familiar?) Then on to Death Valley, Furnace Creek and other arid points! We visited the lowest point in North America, saw temps of 113+ degrees and saw some of the most incredible sights you could imagine. Now we're resting up before dinner, surrounded by snow covered peaks and temps dropping to low 30s later on. We'll be back shortly with lots of pics and more info. Stay tuned ...


Talkin about a firecracker ..... Eat your heart out "Black Cat."







.... Yep, it's legal in Nevada!!! You should see the size of the interviewing team when they have the "help wanted" sign out!!



Yucca Mountain is, of course, where the US spent billions developing a nuclear storage site to replace our own Savannah River site but then halted work. The reason, hmmmmm ... Harry Reid, Area 51, The Cherry Patch??? Lots of possibilities.



Then on to that forbidding but, in reality, astonishingly beautiful (albeit a tad warm) place of legend, Death Valley.



.... It's getting warm out here, Lucy!!!! ......


... The lowest point in North America .... Badwater Basin.






..... Salt coats the basin - residue from the ancient inland sea. The water you see here can scald your skin if you step into it.






At Furnace Creek, home of the highest temperature ever recorded, we arrived to a balmy 113 degrees!!! Notwithstanding the heat that singed our skin we had a great lunch at the Furnace Creek Ranch.




Then on through a series of beautiful California villages (Panamint Springs, Lone Pines, Independence, Big Pines, Bishop) to our destination, Mammoth Lake).




More later. Now, we're loading up to head for beautiful Yosemite. Stay with us.

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Amazing Yosemite ...

Mammoth Lakes is a "ski village" even in the summertime. It has that hard-to-define quality that conveys the idea that folks are simply biding their time until the slopes are returned to their proper state - snow-covered. Waking up surrounded by mountains with heavy coatings of snow on their shaded, Eastern sides you start getting it .... Still, to compare this setting to the ones we were in such a short time ago kindles a kind of wonder that is nothing short of awe and leaves us anxious to see what miracles nature could conjure up to match those of yesterday. So, we hastily prepare to get back on the road, grab a quick bite of breakfast and head north to the pretty town of Lee Vining on the edge of Mono Lake National Forest. There we turn West and enter Yosemite National park. Quick note - if you are one of the "ancient ones" and haven't gotten a " National Parks Senior Pass" -DO IT!! It's worth its' weight in platinum!!




I'll try to get in as many Yosemite pics as I can ...



Right from the entrance gate the sights are awesome ...




...soaring peaks and rushing streams by the thousands ...



..... The magnificent "El Capitan" wathces over the floor of the valley ...





..... While from across the valley floor "Bridal Veil Falls" sends down her cooling spray only to see it scattered by the winds before it reaches earth in some months of the year ...

... And across the valley, mighty Yosemite Falls let's visitors know that the forces of nature are alive and powerful here in this enchanted site ...





... But they are only a few of the countless falls that send their life-giving moisture to this dynamic and incredible ecosystem ...












... Our visit took us to all corners of this magnificent treasure and although we hated to go, we were already looking forward to the next adventure. Leaving Yosemite we headed West to Fresno and then South toward Visalia. Along the way we traveled through the most awesome agricultural regions on earth. Passing mile after mile of Orange, Lemon, Lime, Peach, Cherry and Olive trees, grapes, corn, sorghum, peas and a zillion other crops we were again reminded of the bounty with which God has blessed our nation. Gradually turning East we headed for Three Rivers, CA and our home-away-from-home, The Sierra Lodge. Remind me to tell you about the decor in the lobby. (For now I'll just note that it included Sable Antelope, Wild Turkey, Greater Kudu, a collection of cigar bands from 1890's Alaska and much, much more.)

A fabulous place to have as our headquarters while we explore Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks.)

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Sequoia, the nation's second oldest national park ...

"FLASH" ... For all of you who thought the sixties and seventies ended decades ago ..... Wrong!!!!! They live and rule in Three Rivers, CA - at the "River View Restaurant and Lounge. Decompressing after a fabulous day of sightseeing and traveling, we were fortunate enough to uncover this well-kept secret and had a great meal beside the Kaweah River with the cool rhythms of a great band keeping us energized. Then, off to bed after a round of heavy duty philosophical conversation.

In the morning we got up a bit later than usual and got packed for our next adventure. With some outstanding advice from our newest buds at the Sierra Lodge (Mr. & Mrs. Paradis and their great staff) we had terrific breakfast at a dynamite, quaint place called "We Three" (more refugees from the sixties) and then headed for Sequoia NP. The road alone is worth experiencing but for powerful panoramas and unbelievable natural phenomena, ya gotta be there for the whole thing. Our "magic key" to the park was again our "Senior Pass"' one of the best things I've ever gotten!!!

Despite some heavy duty construction on the roads, our travels were smooth and we started out in search of the most massive living things on earth and ... We found them!!!!!




... Tunnel Rock ...






... Melting snow and the grinding power of glacial flow make for rushing streams with a magical blue color ...






... In some places the road was very challenging but with three qualifiedl drivers on duty simultaneously, advice was not in short supply!!!  (Look at this road, guys ... it's less than one lane wide!!!)













..... Soon we found those sites that propelled John Muir on his life-long quest to protect our natural wonders. Our debt of gratitude to him and all those with the farsightedness to see how important these lands are can never be fully repaid. ...


... The area we entered is appropriately named "The Giant Forest". The awe one feels in the presence of these magnificent "beings" is impossible to describe. Let me just say that on our hikes through the Sequoia groves we were surrounded by people from every corner of the planet and there were more than just a few misty eyes. We were so impressed by the reverence and appreciation demonstrated by those visitors to our country.








... And, yes, there are times ya just gotta hug one!!!!









 











... General Sherman, the largest tree on planet Earth. (We liked this one much better than the one who visited Columbia a while back.

.... And, at over 7,000 feet altitude, hiking here is not "...a walk in the park".



















... Traveling on to King's Canyon we neared "Grant's Grove" (no subtlety here!) and stopped to observe one of the massive "prescribed burns" the Forest Service conducts to maintain the health of the forest. This was a small one encompassing only 686 acres!!!













... Still more to come but I'll try to get these posted and update them later. Hang in there troops, we've still got some miles to go.

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Nevada bound ...

Well, we regret having to leave the beautiful Sierra Nevada range but it's time to begin preparing for our return to reality. This morning we head West to Visalia and turn South toward Bakersfield. There we'll turn back East and travel toward Barstow. When we get there we hope to find a section of "Route 66" we can travel for 'nostalgia's sake.'. This is our first "mobile" post and we're on CA-99 as we speak. And .... I'm going to try taking a picture as we travel. Here goes.......






...whoa ... I got it!!!! (not without a lot of whining from the "photo subjects".) We'll be back soon.....


The drive down from Three Rivers to Bakersfield is a vivid reminder that not only the topography and altitude but also the temperature can change dramatically in a very short time. Stopping for breakfast at "Apple Annie's" we find vivid reminders of the "Space Legacy" of this area. Right outside of town we turned to the Southeast on CA 58 toward Edwards Air force Base, landing site for the Space Shuttles. The community prides itself on being the "Home of Space Ship #1". Surrounded by he Mojave Desert, Edwards projects an almost "lunar" quality that is somehow very fitting.





Nearby, on "Twenty Mule Team Road" a massive Borax mine reminds us of the early days here and the tough, creative people who settled and developed the country.






Mile after mile of vast spaces roll by and we see continuous reminders of the dynamic nature of California and the never-ending changes taking place. We saw one of the enormous "wind farms" harnessing the energy of the wind for power generation.

...... We're still truckin' down the road to Nevada ...



























Our journey is winding down but before we pitch the tent for the night we have one more obligation to fulfill. We feel compelled to pay a visit to the bridge that memorializes Pat Tillman, the former NFL star who gave his life for his country in Afghanistan. The bridge is a true miracle of engineering and overlooks the mighty Hoover Dam.























...... So as the sun slowly descends in the Western sky, we prepare to head for Vegas and our last night in the West.


..... But, we've still got lots of traveling to do so, come on back now, y'hear...

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Oh yeah ..... if the posts stop here ... don't forget to check "Older Posts".  (There's some more stuff there.)