Sunday, April 16, 2017

Back in the Fire

April 11-12, 2017
Las Vegas, Nevada

It is very likely that little of what I post about this stop will look like the Las Vegas you know. We're not here for The Strip - although we did see part of it, from the Jeep.

Our Tuesday morning drive north on I-15 is surprising because I don't remember so many hills to climb, steep hills. My memories of miles of flat desert must be from some other route. A few strong gusts of "where-did-that-come-from" wind break up the otherwise uneventful trip.

Signs of continued, seemingly out-of-control, growth start well before what used to be the beginning of Las Vegas, Nevada. Drought is clearly not the only reason for the lack of water in Lake Mead and the Colorado River. 

The Las Vegas KOA at Sam's Town is on the southeast side of the city, not a great area, but fine for our needs. Access is easy with little driving on city streets. Clean, quiet, safe, and level!! FHUs with 50 amp and good water pressure. No space between sites, you couldn't walk around a chair if you put one out. Gravel sites and asphalt roads. There is a little green space on the perimeter, enough for Tessa to do her business. If we were gamblers we'd appreciate the large casino next door. Our weekly rate combined with our KOA membership give us a reasonable cost of $33/night including taxes.

Our plan was to stay at our very favorite place for the week before our annual reunion in Laughlin, Nevada. However, the dreaded Spring Break is this week and the spaces are first-come-first-serve. At 40 miles to another option I didn't figure it was worth taking the chance. Thus our stay here, which is closer than last year's in Boulder City. Having now done both, I'll take the longer drives with much nicer views over the big city option.

Our first morning we head out for that very favorite place - Valley of Fire State Park. As Sue pointed out, it's nearly impossible to have a single favorite place with everything we see in this life. So maybe it is the most beautiful place we've seen so far, or the most beautiful place in the desert, or the most beautiful natural colors. It's definitely high up on many lists!

A quick drive up the Interstate takes us to the 15 mile, two-lane Valley of Fire Road. It isn't until you're almost to the entrance kiosk that you see the fire. And the Wows continue for the whole visit.

As expected there is a line of cars, and signs tell us the campground is full. A very friendly ranger takes our $10 fee and then we're here - yay! Looking across the valley at the rich red hills I feel like I do when I see Mickey's face of flowers at the entrance to Disneyland! 

Spring Break reality.

The very first glimpse confirms why we've returned.
There's so much "going on" everywhere we look.
Nobody home.
We could spend the whole day exploring just the first stop.
Red dirt make flowers we've seen elsewhere look completely different.
Unique erosion patterns

look like miniature cliff dwellings.
Rock with legs....so cool.
There is a stop called Petrified Logs. Having been to the Petrified Forest in northern Arizona, the few pieces surrounded by chain link fence are, well, not very impressive :-) Still, for those who have never seen it in it's natural state, I'm grateful that these examples are being preserved. I didn't even get a photo here. Except for our single wildlife sighting inside the park......

This guy insisted that if he posed for a photo I had to make him look big and menacing (in real life he's maybe six inches long). 
Mouse's Tank Road
Lunch stop at Rainbow Vista
The red rock is beyond known adjectives (note, we have not been to Utah yet), and if the park was only red rock we'd still love it. However, for me, it is the variety of color at Rainbow Vista that fills my head when I think of this beautiful place. The day is hazy so the colors aren't as intense as last year - but I'm not disappointed as we crest the small hill.



"Layers carved from sand deposited when dinosaurs walked the earth."
The White Domes area is at the very "back" of the park and today the parking lot is overflowing, the rocks covered with families enjoying the unique beauty. We drive through slowly without attempting to squeeze ourselves in. 

Domes of silica tower over the red valley.
Baby dome

My reminder that the king size bed won't fit makes Bill reconsider his suggestion that we change rigs.
Even spending hours driving and walking around this park it is impossible to see everything we want to in one trip. That's why we still want to bring our home and stay for awhile. It will have to be a non-holiday week, but we are definitely going to do it!

From this....

...to this, in less than a mile.
The Fire Canyon area gets you above the red rock and provides yet another incredible perspective. There are very few people here and we take advantage of the quiet to wander and enjoy the views.

Fire Canyon

Hanging out for millions of years, and still looks like it's going to slide "off" at any minute.
Prickly Pear cactus offer bursts of vivid color among the rocks.
When you know Mother Nature is just messin' with you :-)
By the time we move on to Seven Sisters formation, the temps are nearing 90 and we're less enthusiastic about walking around. I take some pics of the gorgeous spot (the rock is more orange than red here), Tessa climbs a couple outcroppings, and we move on to The Cabins. Built by the CCC for visitors to enjoy, these rock cabins look like part of the landscape. The parking lot is full, we spent a lot of time here last trip, and it's hot - so we don't stop this time.

A couple of the 'sisters' just hanging out.
A red island in the dark sea of surrounding desert.

Fluffy dog
What a gift......
The Cabins
Bright yellow Brittle Bush tucks in among the boulders.

Hard to believe, but none of what we've seen all day is the highlight of the trip! Leaving the park through the gray and rocky canyon we pass by a single parked car. I just happen to glance to the right, across from the vehicle, and they catch my eye - I can't believe it! We have looked and looked for these nearly invisible beauties and given up ever actually seeing any in the wild. 

I stop at the next turnout and turn around, trying to hold the wheel with all my fingers crossed that they will still be there. I needn't have worried as once I get pulled over and find them again (no easy task as they blend in perfectly) they move only a couple steps while I take several pics. We are beyond excited!!!!

Our first Big Horn Sheep!!

Even with the zoom he looks like part of the rock.

Hey there handsome.
There are so many wonderful things that make this lifestyle perfect for us. Certainly seeing things we've never seen before is a big part of it. But being able to revisit places that we've fallen in love with is just as wonderful.

Also high on the list is being able to visit great friends we haven't seen in decades, and those we've yet to meet in person, but feel like we've known a long time. 

Both of those happen over the remainder of our visit :-)))).





26 comments:

  1. Despite the geology you show off so nicely, I'd agree the Big Horn sheep have to be a special treat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We were like little kids getting to see those beauties!!

      Delete
  2. It would indeed be amazing to stay right at Valley of Fire! I haven't visited that park in decades and we aren't planning to do so this time...perhaps this fall when we come back through. Since you love this you definitely need to visit Utah!

    Aren't the sheep awesome!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think late Fall would be wonderful here - and much better chance of snagging a spot in the campground!!

      Love the sheep :-))

      Delete
  3. That's one place I want to visit when we get on the road more frequently. The big horn sheep certainly were a treat-lucky you noticed the stopped car. When we first saw bison in person, in Yellowstone NP, we were ecstatic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's just nothing like seeing the big ones in the wild. So many cars went by while I was getting those pics and they never saw the sheep.

      Delete
  4. I'm jealous! We still haven't seen Bighorned Sheep! We visited Valley of Fire several years ago...absolutely beautiful. Can't wait for you to see Utah!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are really looking forward to Utah this Fall. We went through Monument Valley to Farmington in the car once but had no time really see much. I know we'll love it.

      Delete
  5. Gorgeous photos guys--we stayed one night at Valley of Fire--one of our first boondocking experiences when we were still traveling with truck and fifth wheel. So exciting to see wildlife when you least expect it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Janna, I probably took a hundred pics!

      Delete
  6. To see Big Horn Sheep bring your binoculars to BLM land north of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Across AZ 95 from the Walmart north of town is a small airport. The north boundary of the airport has a road you will probably miss the first time. Head down that road to a free boondocking area. Once parked face back towards the city and watch the top of the mountains for movement. Zoom in on the rocks there and discover a whole herd of sheep. My friend Doug did the watching so we only had to do the looking. Thanks, Doug.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How cool!! We will definitely check that out next time we're in LHC :-))) They are amazing creatures.

      Delete
  7. So glad you enjoyed this place as much as we both did. We have stayed in the park twice. Just being surrounded so closely by the red rocks is so relaxing. The Big Horn were definitely a huge treat!! I really enjoyed revisiting Valley of Fire through your beautiful photos:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not going to feel like we've really experienced it until we've been able to stay there for a few days. Good to have you along :-))

      Delete
  8. WOW!! What gorgeous big horn sheep. Beautiful pictures Jodee.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well you sure kept your promise. He looks HUGE! What a magnificent place. Your pictures are stunning and the Big Horns are the perfect ending. They are spectacular. Now, when to visit? Not during spring break month(s) and not when high temps will be in excess of 85. So does that mean winter and we'll freeze at night? What a place. Great Post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, indeed a harsh weather place. I'm thinking late November would be the best time, maybe we'll be able to check it out this year!

      Delete
  10. I so agree that VOF is high on my list of favorite places. Seems spring break has lasted for months. Yet the Fire Canyon area is always the least crowded and just as spectacular as anywhere else in the park. Glad I wasn't there in 90°. So glad you got to see the sheep. They are hard to spot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I note we've all experienced the lengthening of spring break each year :-) Even with the zoom I kept losing them in the gray rock.

      Delete
  11. What a gorgeous place! And you saw bighorn sheep! Definitely a thrill, and your photos are wonderful. Valley of Fire SP is high on our list—I can't believe we've not yet been there. I feel the same as you do, that it's exciting to visit new places, but that it's equally wonderful to revisit places that we fall in love with in our travels. p.s. Adorable portrait of the always adorable Tessa. :-))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Laurel. You will most definitely love it - it's a must-see for sure.

      Delete
  12. The colors are amazing, Jodee! Love those bighorns. Wildlife sightings are always a bonus!

    ReplyDelete
  13. You have some great photos of the Long Horn Sheep!! I thought spring break was over. Guess that's not the case. Enjoy the reunion and hopefully Laughlin isn't too packed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm hoping that now Spring Break is finally over! We loved the sheep :-)))

      Delete