Alaska Kiwi

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Valley of Fire NV to Golden Valley AZ

October 15^th 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 1^st 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 3^rd 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 16^th 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

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 13^th 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 1^st 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

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Cave Lake to Las Vegas

October 9^th Cave Lake State Park to Las Vegas

I have been having some problems posting photos on this blog, I think I have got the problem sorted out. So hopefully you will not be seeing duplicate posting with different headings come and go on the blog from here on out.

We had a long drive today 250 miles to Vegas, lots more stretches of miles of straight roads. Our 1^st stop today was at Ward about 20 miles from Cave Lake. In Ward there are furnaces that were built in the mid 1870's and are 27ft in diameter and 30ft high and were use to make charcoal for the smelting of Ore at the nearby mines.

We arrived in Vegas about 4:30 right in time for the peak traffic driving, fortunately it went without any problems due to the good directions we got from the GPS taking us to Duck Creek RV Park in southeast Vegas.

Moose at Ely

Charcoal Ovens Built 1870

Inside Oven

Kiln for making Lime for Furnace Construction

Ovens used for making Charcoal

Charcoal Ovens Built 1870

October 10^th to October 13^th Duck Creek RV Park Las Vegas.

We are staying at Duck Creek RV Park a well maintain clean camp and it is in the Passport America network, which offers 50% discount for members. We have really done nothing special in Vegas, did a bit of minor work on the Casita, a bit of shopping for things we couldn’t find so they probably don’t exist. We have not been down to the famous strip, went there many years ago and didn't really enjoy the masses of people there.

RV Park Vegas

Duck Creek Flower

Another Casita Duck Creek RV Park

U of Las Vegas football Statuim

Sunset at Vegas

Boise Idaho to Cave Lake State Park

October 7^th Boise Idaho to Wells Nevada

We had a leisurely get up this morning and left the campground about 11:30 for our days traveling. We drove south on from Boise to Twin Falls were we turned south west and onto Wells Nevada. It was nice to get away from freeway driving and onto a regular 2 lane Highway. We drove about 250 miles today and camped at “Welcome Station Campground,” 8 miles west of Wells. The camp is basically in the middle of nowhere next to a Interstate Highway. It is a small clean well maintained campground and is a nice spot for an evening stop.

On our evening walk to a small stream that borders the camp, we saw a 15” trout in the stream. Then notice an Owl sitting on the hand rail of the bridge, what a treat to see these 2 critters in the camp.

Welcome Station RV Park

Puppy

Owl at Welcome Station

Welcome Station

October 8^th Wells Nevada to Cave Lake State Park

When we left the camp we drove through the town of Wells, a town of many boarded up dilapidated buildings. There are some business still surviving gas stations and Casinos. We drove about 150 miles today on some very long stretches of straight roads. We camp this evening at Cave Lake State Park about 15 miles south of Ely. We are about 8 miles of the highway in a remote campground. There were severally people fishing the lake and catching pan size rainbow trout.

We had a camp fire this evening and enjoyed our meal sitting by the fire.

Typical Highway Scene

Cave Lake State Campground

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Boise Idaho

October 1^st Anchorage

Today was our last day in Anchorage before our trip to the Lower 48. We did our usual neighborhood walk in the afternoon and the fall colors were just beautiful. Our friend Betty gave us an lift to the airport to catch a red eye flight to Boise Idaho via Portland.

Pop Carr Park Anchorage

Pop Carr Anchorage

October 2^nd to October 6^th Boise

We were pretty tired when we arrived here in Boise at about 9.00am this morning. We picked up our rental car from the airport and drove the 25 miles to All Season Storage in Nampa where our truck and trailer have been in storage for the last 6 months. We were pleasantly surprised to find the vehicles exactly as we left them the covers were in fine shape. We were fortunate that the weather was dry when we took the covers off. I reconnect the battery and the truck started up instantly. Our next move was to drive to our favorite campground in Garden City a suburb of Boise. This campground is beside the Boise River bike trail, a real beautiful spot.

After disconnecting the trailer at the campground we started making it ready for living in once again. Had to empty the anti-freeze and flush the water lines.

We made a big mistake by not making a list of what we had left in the Casita and truck in March when we stored them, consequently we duplicate a lot of stuff and it will come back with us to Anchorage at Christmas.

We then return the rental car to the airport which went without a hitch. Then come back to the campground via Costco and a bunch of shopping. After unloading the shopping and finding a place either in the refrigerator, cupboard or a tote we have in the truck we refer to as a pantry. It was bedtime after an extremely long and busy day.

Every day we are here we made use of the bike trail either for a evening walk or a bike ride. It really is nice to have the folding bikes with us as they fit nicely in the back of the truck. One day we rode 18 miles on the trail and that is pretty much the maximum distance for us as they as adequate and convenient but not the most comfortable bikes to ride long distances. The bike trail in Boise is smoke free which I found to be interesting for an open space area.

Boise Bike Trail

When we left Anchorage we really had no idea where we were going to travel to from Boise, and with the

Government shutdown and National Parks closed that restricted our choices of areas we would like to visit. About 8pm on the 6^th we looked at Google Maps and decided to head towards Las Vegas Nevada.

With Folding Bikes Boise

Interesting Camper

Boise October Fest

October Fest Crew

Big Swan & Chicks

Boise Bike Trail Trail