Tuesday, November 6/2012

It is NOT chilly in the bus this morning.  OMG!!!  I think we have finally hit the warm weather.  It will only get better from here!!
I am up early (hell, the sun hasn't even made it over the hills yet) and eager to greet the day.  Hogan went out to pee and I noticed that he used the closest bush to the bus (Ya, that's right, he lifted his leg!!).  I think he remembers the thorns from yesterday!!
There are several birds out and about and their chirping sound incredibly happy.  It is nice to hear happy chirpy birds again.  I even saw a chipmunk scurrying across the road.  Life in the desert!!
The sun has finally come over the hill and now it is almost too warm in the bus (did I just say that!!).  It looks like it is going to be another awesome weather day.
We headed down the road, determined to get to the other side of Lake Mead and into Arizona.  Finally!!   We will be in Arizona now until we head home.  We won't make it to Wickenburg for a few days yet as John wants to stop around Parker for a few days.  Jesus - can he not hear that bathtub calling me?!!!
We stopped in Overton, Nevada at the local grocery store for a few supplies then headed into The Lake Mead Recreation Area.  There was a $10.00 entrance fee we had to purchase (good for 7 days though).  Despite the fact that we were heading straight through the area, we were still required to pay the fee.
We travelled through some pretty awesome looking country and passed several bicyclists so I imagine that this narrow twisty road, is one of the "must do" roads in this area.  The whole  road is rather narrow and many of the riders did not mind taking up most of their lane (and ours) so that when we passed them, we were so far into the oncoming lane that I was pleased that oncoming traffic was minimal.  They really should have made a designated bicycle lane for theses enthusiasts.
We travelled past the Hoover Dam today.   The Hoover Dam, also known as The Boulder Dam lies on the border between Nevada and Arizona.  Named after the 31st President of the United States, Herbert Hoover, it is the highest concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere at 725 feet above the Colorado River.  Construction started in 1930 and finished two years ahead of schedule in 1936.  It cost over 100 lives and is deemed one of the 7 Wonders of the Industrialized World.  It truly is massive.  With over a million tourists travelling to the Dam per year, the heavily travelled Highway 93 ran along the crest of the dam until in October of 2010, the Hoover Dam Bypass was opened and through traffic over the dam was closed.  John and I did not stop for "the tour" - not really that interested!!
We continued down the road, pulling onto Willow Beach Road, looking for a camping spot for the night.  Of course there are no signs on the big road telling us we had to travel about three miles of narrow winding road to get to the Colorado River and hopefully some place to park for the night.
We found a wonderful little campground and settled in.  Neither John nor I saw any registration booth so assumed that the campground host would be around tomorrow to collect their fee (whatever that may be!!)  The sites were large, lost of pull thru sites and spaced a good distance apart.  There were not many campers here tonight so we are all pretty isolated form each other.
John got out the campfire in a can and we sat outside (it was 21C) in our T-shirts and shorts.  Awesome.  We enjoyed several refreshments while our supper was cooking.
The bats were flying around catching little insects (there are mosquitoes here!!) and Hogan chased a few grasshoppers and a couple of little lizards.
We had no cell service but since I had downloaded Tango onto that fancy phone, we were  able to talk to my sister Jan and to Kimmy.  Awesome.  I guess that is courtesy of our WiFi system on the motor home.  Life is good.

Heading out

I -15 S.   The Virgin River flowing along side the highway

Lake Mead, NV (one of the many bays)

Going through the park

Again, one of the many bays of Lake Mead.

Hoover Dam Bypass

Heading into Willow Beach

Colorado River

Up to the camp ground

Our spot for the night

I am trying out the "panorama" feature on the camera.
Not too bad!!

the blue glow from our satellite dish.

It was still quite warm when we went to bed and being that we had power, I enjoyed the sweet breeze of my fan blowing all night!!  What more could a girl want!!