Las Vegas to Lake Mead, Monday 27th July
It had to be said. Before we did, we spent a lot of time in the playground, shot around a few more rides in the Circus Circus pleasure dome, and watched the “Incomparable Irinia” strut her Russian gymnastic stuff in the casino’s high-wire theatre. Tom was open mouthed. Then jubilant as he ‘beat’ Richard at a few more rounds of air hockey.
We had fun in Vegas, but when all’s said and done, we were staying in a big tin can in a car park, so it was great to hit the road and head out east towards Lake Mead. Now this was a spectacular drive.
As we bought our annual National Parks Pass from the friendly park ranger, she advised us to make a detour south around the lake to see the Hoover Dam. We were suitably awed, and surprised at the huge new bridge being constructed above it – another engineering feat eighty years after the original.
Best of all was the last stretch of the day as we tacked back on the North Shore road. We had it to ourselves, and couldn’t believe how gorgeous it was – huge horizons of jagged rock, browns and greys offset by outcrops of brilliant red. Some of the outcrops had a Monument Valley feel, but the sheer scale of it was more like Ayers Rock or the Olgas. Really stunning. One of those scenes that’s humbling – massive, solid, silent. It was there before us; it’ll be there when we’re all gone.
So here we are in the back of beyond. A little campground called the Echo Bay Resort. We cooked for ourselves for the first time – rice and stirfried veg and prawns – all nice and homely. Richard had a mad housekeeping session scrubbing the RV superclean this morning, while I was on playground duty supervising Tom and his temporary best friend Maya. At last we’re all organized and sorted and refreshed.
We’ve had an evening walk in the hot still air with the sunlight fading. Now it’s nine pm and pitch black outside except for a crescent moon. Goodnight all. P x
It had to be said. Before we did, we spent a lot of time in the playground, shot around a few more rides in the Circus Circus pleasure dome, and watched the “Incomparable Irinia” strut her Russian gymnastic stuff in the casino’s high-wire theatre. Tom was open mouthed. Then jubilant as he ‘beat’ Richard at a few more rounds of air hockey.
We had fun in Vegas, but when all’s said and done, we were staying in a big tin can in a car park, so it was great to hit the road and head out east towards Lake Mead. Now this was a spectacular drive.
As we bought our annual National Parks Pass from the friendly park ranger, she advised us to make a detour south around the lake to see the Hoover Dam. We were suitably awed, and surprised at the huge new bridge being constructed above it – another engineering feat eighty years after the original.
Best of all was the last stretch of the day as we tacked back on the North Shore road. We had it to ourselves, and couldn’t believe how gorgeous it was – huge horizons of jagged rock, browns and greys offset by outcrops of brilliant red. Some of the outcrops had a Monument Valley feel, but the sheer scale of it was more like Ayers Rock or the Olgas. Really stunning. One of those scenes that’s humbling – massive, solid, silent. It was there before us; it’ll be there when we’re all gone.
So here we are in the back of beyond. A little campground called the Echo Bay Resort. We cooked for ourselves for the first time – rice and stirfried veg and prawns – all nice and homely. Richard had a mad housekeeping session scrubbing the RV superclean this morning, while I was on playground duty supervising Tom and his temporary best friend Maya. At last we’re all organized and sorted and refreshed.
We’ve had an evening walk in the hot still air with the sunlight fading. Now it’s nine pm and pitch black outside except for a crescent moon. Goodnight all. P x
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