Thursday, October 31, 2013

Las Vegas NV to Tucson AZ

Most of the next few days were traveling so not very many photos were taken.

October 27th Las Vegas NV to Prescott AZ
We camped in Prescott for 2 evenings. We went there to look at RV Storage facilities, and the possibility of storing our truck and trailer there for the summer. We also visited a friend who lives in Camp Verda which is about 30 miles from Prescott. The 2nd evening that we were there was a major wind storm, gusts were shaking our trailer all evening, kind of scary.

October 28th Prescott AZ to Tucson AZ
We were very fortunate driving thru Phoenix that we had the radio on and heard that a dust storm had caused a major accident on I-10 east of Phoenix and that was the road we had planned on taking and now it was closed. Holly punched into the GPS an alternate routing thru Florence, which meant we avoided I-10 and the road closure (closed for a least 5 hours with 3 fatalities).

We came into Tucson from the NE and the road was near Catalina State Park Campground where we had planned at staying at for our 1st few nights in Tucson. This camp is a large camp with lots of space between sites and lots of trees. The facility is keep extremely clean. There are some very nice hikes in Catalina State Park starting very near the camp. The temperatures in Tucson are 9 degrees below normal for this time of the year.
Canyon Loop Trail Catalina State Park Tucson

Canyon Loop Trail Catalina State Park Tucson

Canyon Loop Trail Catalina State Park Tucson

Canyon Loop Trail Catalina State Park Tucson

Reading Tree Library Tucson

Campground Catalina State Park Tucson

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Pahrumb NV to Furnace Creek Death Valley CA

I have not posted my blog for about a week now, as the Wi-Fi access in Furnace Creek is very limited.

October 20th to 26th Pahrumb NV to Furnace Creek Death Valley CA
We drove about 80 miles to Texas Springs Campground across the road from Furnace Creek. We camp here for 4 nights and had a fire each evening it was wonderful. Then the next 2 nights we camped at Sunset Campground where there are no fire pits or picnic tables. What's special here at this time of the year is live music every evening for next couple of weeks. There is an organization called the Death Valley 49ers and they meet at Furnace Creek each year for a Jamboree. The Death Valley 49ers is and organization that seeks to expand public awareness of Death Valley. 
Furnace Creek Ranch has a warm mineral swimming pool which is available for public use, so we enjoyed a swim one afternoon.
Many of the roads in Death Valley are closed due to damage caused by floods in the spring, so access to many parts of the Valley was cut off. During the day we drove to different parts of Death Valley to do some hiking and enjoying the spectacular scenery and soak in some of the history. We did our hiking in the morning and in the afternoon, never in the midday sun as it gets too hot and there is little shade if any. Our 1st evening here we went up to Zabriskie Point to watch the sunset, on our way back to the car we observed a Kit Fox. Other hikes included Golden Canyon, Artist Palette, Mosaic Canyon. We also viewed the remains of the Harmony Borax works. Twenty Mule Team Borax was the brand name of the Borax that was mined here.
20 Mule Wagon





 Zabriskie Point


Furnace Creek Inn

 Zabriskie Point

Kit Fox

Golden Canyon

Artist Pallette

Death Valley

Golden Canyon

Death Valley

Borax Museum at Furnace Creek

Mosaic Canyon

Mosaic Canyon

Sand Dunes



Furnace Ranch Pool





October 26th Furnace Creek Death Valley CA to Las Vegas NV

We drove the 125 miles back to Duck Creek Campground in Las Vegas 

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Lakeside Casino & RV Park Pahrumb NV

October 17th Near Bullhead City AZ to Pahrumb NV
Well today we turned left instead of right and finished up at Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrumb NV. Well what actually happened we look at the weather on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and they are having freezing temperatures. We didn't leave Alaska to spent time in freezing temperatures so we decided that Death Valley would be a nice place to set as a destination, so we drove back 100 miles to Las Vegas crossing the Colorado River on the Tillman Bridge just downstream of the Hoover Dam, then another 50 miles onto Pahrumb.


Decoy on Motor home 


October 18th & 19th Lakeside Casino & RV Park Pahrumb NV
Well we decided to stay here 3 nights and pretty much relax. This campground is a desert Oasis. Lots of lovely shade trees which are greatly appreciated. There is a decent size man made lake which is stocked with fish and there is always people fishing. Paddle boats for use on the lake, a nice swimming pool and jacuzzi spa pool which we have enjoyed. A very pleasant and clean campground. 




Lakeside Casino & RV Park Pahrumb NV


Ready for Halloween  


Lakeside Casino & RV Park Pahrumb NV

Lakeside Casino & RV Park Pahrumb NV

House on the Lake

Locals 

Lakeside Casino & RV Park Pahrumb NV

Lakeside Casino & RV Park Pahrumb NV

ave enjoyed. A very pleasant and clean campground. 

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Valley of Fire NV to Golden Valley AZ

October 15th Valley of Fire State Park
We got an early start this morning as there were several short trails we wanted to hike before the sun got real hot. The 1st trail we hike was a half mile to Mouse's Tank a natural basin in the rock where rain water collects. The next hike of the day was a mile scenic trail at White Domes sandstone formation. The 3rd hike of the day was also about a mile to Wave Rock Formation. It was starting to get a little hot in the day so we drove back to the Casita for lunch and a bit of lay back time. Latter in the afternoon we drove to a red rock formation called Seven Sisters where we saw a wedding ceremony. Then onto the historical stone cabins built with sandstone by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's.


October 16th Valley of Fire State Park NV  to near Bullhead City AZ
We had nice day of driving, went back thru Las Vegas to Golden Valley near Bullhead City AZ. We crossed the Colorado River just below the Davis Dam. We went from 3000ft elevation to 500ft then back up again to 3000ft after crossing the river, extremely steep bit of highway both going up and down.

Since the Federal Government have finally come to an agreement we plan on heading to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon tomorrow. So it may be a few days before I get to an internet connection

Valley of Fire

Remains of Movie Set White Dome Hike Valley of Fire

The Wave Hike Valley of Fire

The Wave  Valley of Fire

The Wave Hike Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire

One of the Seven Sisters Valley of Fire

Wedding Valley of Fire

Mouse's Tank Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire

White Dome Hike Valley of Fire

White Dome Hike Valley of Fire

The Narrows Wash White Dome Hike

Valley of Fire

The Cabins Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire
 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Las Vegas



October 13th Duck Creek RV Park Las Vegas
Well we decided to stay another day at Duck Creek as the next campground we would like to stay in is The Valley of Fire State Park, and we had some concerns about been able to find a camp site on a long weekend. So we decided to ride the bus down to the strip, $5 for a 24 hour pass. Not that I ride many buses, this was the 1st Bus I have ever ridden on that had a armed security guard working on it.
We wander in and out of Casino's on the strip and we didn't leave them a dime as neither of us gamble. The crowds seem to get larger as the day wore on, so we caught another bus back to the camp in the early afternoon. The Spa pool was reopened today so we happen to enjoy a lovely soak this evening.


The Strip Vegas

The Strip Vegas

The Strip Vegas

The Strip Vegas

The Strip Vegas

The Strip Vegas

The Strip Vegas

The Strip Vegas

The Strip Vegas