Large Dream Catchers, Tiny Hummers, Baby Elephants and Old Tires - Playing Near Boulder City

March 24-28, 2018
Boulder City, Nevada

After our fantastic Friday I need to get caught up on blog posts so I spend much of Saturday at Starbucks where the WiFi makes this possible. We like our RV park, but the park Internet is frustrating at best. Tessa comes with me and in between snoozes she enjoys the variety of dog TV out the windows.

Getting it done at Starbucks in Boulder City.

Sunday we hang out at home then join John and Pam for dinner at the brewery. They're back for a week to wrap up their home purchase, and we agree we'll get together again before we head out on Thursday. 

Over the next few days we get out to see more of the beauty and fun of this area. 

Above our park is an interesting communications center, at the top of Bootleg Canyon. Pretty views in all directions.

It sort of looks like a big dream catcher keeping watch over the little town.

Las Vegas on one side

Boulder City on the other.

The last times we were here we missed our chance to drive Crane's Nest (NP 61) off Hwy 93 in Arizona, so we take an afternoon and fix that oversight. Another beautiful drive that drops down next to the Colorado River. For the first time, we start to see Spring blooms along the washes.

The tufted ridges are majestic.

A single flower gives one a whole new look.

Sometimes what looks like a big wall of mud,

gives us these interesting art pieces. The joy of slowing down.

The Brittlebush fills this section with bright color.

Not much Lupine this year, these purple pretties soften this rocky ridge.

We enter a small canyon of dark, tall walls.

Tessa loves to get up on the higher rocks.

A narrow path meanders to the water. We've heard it's a beautiful spot.

The deeper sand fills Bill's sandals so we turn back. Next time to the water!

A pocket of green in the shade of the canyon walls.

The wind comes up a bit.....

With full zoom I pull in this little hummer that Bill spots far up the hill. Cataract surgery success!

A couple spots get a bit snug.

Prickly Pear

Greasewood and Brittlebush showing off their yellow.

Desert Mallow - my favorite.

The first time we drove to Valley of Fire State Park we made a short stop at Redstone Day Use Area which we agree should be its own destination. With spring break filling up the more popular places, we opt to return to the bright red rock for some exploring.

The road hints of what's to come.

Deep red cathedral across the valley.

Caves to peak into and large boulders to scramble on.

Shelves to the top.

Don't you want to see what's in there?

Tiny slots change with the direction of the sun.

The brush looks blue among the red rock.

Sometimes that face in the rock is really easy to see!

I take over a hundred photos in this gorgeous place, and we head back on Highway 167. There's another Jeep road marked on the off-road map Sue left with us along this route that we want to check out. Caulville Wash wraps around, and turns back north through another unique area. 

Not far in we come across this large "spill" of bright blue.

This baby elephant catches my eye on the ridge.

We spend a long time walking along this layered wall, exploring the confusing story it's telling.

The bright blue shows up again in between layers of chocolate brown, cream quartz, red rock, and "strings" of  white plaster-like stone.

Unusual stacks overhead.

A blue and red pour at the end of the wall.

I love this rock tornado!

What is going on here?

Studying.....

Paper thin fins.

Clearly the end of the trail.

Fluffy explorer (we check for snakes).

Pretty slot trail.

I wouldn't want to meet the owner of these large feet in this tight space.

Standing water where the canyon climbs up the rock.

Beautiful.....I turn around.

Signs of high water flow.

Enjoying what we missed on the way in.

A quick side trip to the Anderson Mine rounds out another wonderful day playing in the desert. I never seem to remember that mines usually mean steep shelf roads, but as always, the views are worth the temporary rapid heart rate.

Anderson Mine site.

Fascinating geology.

Long vistas.

Not much left of the operation, but lots of old tires are everywhere.

As planned, we meet John and Pam for a final dinner until we're back in the same area next winter. We get caught up on their home-buying adventure, and what we're all doing over the summer and fall. We forget a photo - again :-)

Thursday we head out after two greats weeks in Boulder City. There's so much to see and do, and we'll definitely be back - especially now that we have friends who have a home here!!

The end....