Moving on, Vegas Style: January 2015

Death Valley

First of all I will say I was a bit nervous about going to Death Valley but it was spectacular. It's about 2 hours to Death Valley from Las Vegas, a very doable trip.

Always a good idea to top off before you head into Death Valley.

Death Valley got its name from a group of European-Americans prospectors that became stuck in the valley in 1849. They were looking for a shortcut to the gold fields in California. Only one person in the group died but it wasn't a trip they wanted to repeat.

When we arrived at the Furnace Creek Visitors Center it was 80 degrees, 20 degrees warmer than Vegas.

We used our National Park Pass to cover the $20 entrance fee. There were park rangers in the visitors center answering questions and giving advice. We watched a short video (well worth it) to get acclimated. We learned that Death Valley is still home to the Timbisha Shoshone Native Americans. "The TImbisha Shoshone Indians were devastated to learn that pioneers misunderstood their homeland enough to name it "Death Valley". To the people who lived in the area for more that a millemmium, the valley's resources offered everything necessary for comfort and contentment." The federal government considers the Timbisha homelands as a reservation but the Timbisha were not relocated to the area. Death Valley has always been their homeland.

Furnace Creek Inn

There are places to stay in the valley. Furnace Creek inn is high end and there are several RV Parks.

Salt Flats

This is not SNOW!

Cork Screw Mountain near Hell's Gate

In the past there was industry other than tourism. There was a borax mine.

The National Park Service provided this awesome map. We took the short route there and returned by the Ghost Town Route.

Can you guess where the California/Nevada state line is?

Just before the town of Beatty, Nevada is Rhyolite, a ghost town now. There was some interesting sculpture as you entered the town!

"Lady Desert: The Venus of Nevada" created in 1992 by Dr. Hugo Heyrman

The Bottle House

There were 3 bottle houses in Rhyolite. Click here for more information.

School for 250 children!

General Store

Casino - of course

Looks like an Egyptian Step Pyramid. (We think it was created by mining. Humm.)

Before we left home our neighbor said, "Why are you going to Death Valley today? You should go when the flowers are in bloom." We loved Death Valley in the winter. Can't wait to return in the spring and see the flowers. Could be any time now!! Showers in the forecast this week.

On Saturday we went down to South Point to a high school basketball game. Pretty much a different animal from those in Vermont! It was actually a 4 game event with the main attraction a game between private school rivals: Bishop Gorman and Findlay Prep. Findlay prep is ranked number one in the Nation and Gorman has won the state championship three times. It was a great game with Findley squeaking out a win in the last seconds, 50 to 49, thanks to a blocked shot at the final buzzer. Both teams had players that were 7 feet tall. (High school kids ... remember!) And several players each in the 6'5" to 6'11" range.

Team introductions

Tip off - these guys are 6'11" each!

Pep band and cheerleaders

Not a sell out but it is a big place!

Notice all of the people at the officials sideline tables ... scouters!

We sat next to a 5th generation southern Nevadan. Quite proud. He was just a bit older than us. He remembers Las Vegas when it had a population of 50 thousand. (Nearly 3 million now.) He gave us advice on attending a UNLV basketball game. Quite the show he said if we were impressed by the games we were watching. It is on our to do list.

I left Dan during the first game to check out Divas Day Out also being held at South Point. It was a one day event with vendors from all over the Vegas area sharing their wares. I went over to see Thunder From Down Under. Lol. A free peek at their Las Vegas show. Oh my!

Our neighbor finally finished up her projects next door. Her flooring is in, a much quieter event than the prep work was. She finished up by having a roof installed over her patio. I almost had a heart attach when I looked out my window. Glad he didn't fall into my yard.

An update on our cats. They are quite content here.

Watching the weather news from the upper east coast today. Winter storm Juno looks like a nasty one. Be careful everyone! Glad it doesn't appear to be heading full force into Vermont.

It's all about the journey!

Nancy and Dan

Well sanitizing the house did not work! I ended up with a cold after all. Poor Dan is still a bit sick. He has headed off to the walk-in clinic this morning. Dr. Nan thinks he has a sinus infection. We didn't do very much this week. Napping is a good thing.

We did manage a quick trip on Saturday to Mesquite, Nevada about 90 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The Mesquite Motor Mania Classic Car Show was very cool. Parking was pretty tight so it was hard to get great shots of the cars.