Hoover Dam and The Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge

Took a short drive to see the Hoover Dam and the new Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.  The Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge was the first concrete-steel composite arch bridge built in the United States, and it incorporates the longest concrete arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere. It was completed in 2010 and is really great as it gives you some fantastic views of Hoover Dam. You are 900 feet above the Colorado River and another neat thing as you walk the bridge is you go from Neveda to Arizona. Pretty cool!!

Hoover Dam attracts more than a million visitors a year. In 1930, construction began on the Hoover Dam, the largest of its kind at the time. Despite the remote location and harsh working conditions, it was completed in less than five years -- two years ahead of schedule -- and well under budget.
The dam is named after America's 31st president, Herbert Hoover and is a National Historic Landmark.  Hoover Dam is the highest concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere, standing at more than 725 feet above the Colorado River. With 17 generators producing 4 billion kilowatts of electricity a year, it also is one of the country's largest hydroelectric power facilities. We took a tour into the dam and the size of it really will amaze you. When visiting Las Vegas be sure to take in the Hoover Dam. It is worth the short trip.

More pictures of the STRIP!!

Fashion Show

Treasure Island

The Bellagio Light Show

Las Vegas Strip on Tuesday 9/27/2011

We decided to spend the day on the strip and check out all the Hotels and Casinos.  We parked at the MGM, that in itself is a chore. You better remember where you park as you are at the back of the Hotel. It is a block walk just to get back to the strip. We walked out on to Las Vegas Blvd. and just said "WOW"  The strip is really a cool place to see and visit. If you haven't seen the Las Vegas strip, make sure you do!! There are so many places to shop and see that you are looking all over the place. We got down to the Paris Casino and went in and checked out the shops. The have built a little town inside the hotel and it it even has a blue sky, to make you feel like you are outside. Really a cool place to visit and there are several other Hotel/casinos that have the same type of theme. We wanted to stay till dark so we could see the light show at the Bellagio. It was worth the wait as the light show is really neat. We ended up eating at New York, New York, just pizza, but it was good and the prices aren't bad at all. What a great day we had.
Again, make sure you get to Las Vegas!!

New York, New York

Crystals

Venetian

Las Vegas 9/25 and 9/26

We made the short 150 mile trip to Las Vegas on Sunday 9/25. The traffic wasn't to bad being a Sunday. The scenery is limited to miles and miles of nothing but the desert and then in the middle of nowhere is a Casino. One that stood out was a casino with a roller coaster around the motel. We are staying at the Oasis RV Resort just 5 miles from the strip. It is a big resort with almost 700 sites, but it is nice and they have 2 pools. the temperature has been close to 100 each day and our AC has been working double time.
We took a drive down the strip and the views are really cool. There are lots of tourists walking around and there is so much to see. We need to get busy! It is going to take some time to really see the cool casinos.
We had a nice dinner with Toby and Steve, Joe's parents Monday night. It was the first time we had met them and we really enjoyed talking to them about the kids, Nicole and Joe.
Tuesday we will spend most of the day and night looking at the different casinos and walking and walking!

Heading to Las Vegas 9/23

It is time to head toward Las Vegas. We are stopping off at the Barstow Calico Koa in Yermo. The drive over took us over some very long steep grades. It was the first time that the duramax started to get hot. Could it have been the temperature for the day? it reached 104.  But the cooling fans kicked in and all was fine. We saw hundreds of windmills and lots of fruit trees. A lot of oranges must come from this area. Almost forgot that the borax for "20 Mule Borax" also comes from this part of the country.

We arrived at the KOA, got settled in and made it to the pool. This is a very nice campground with full hookps and fast wifi. Went to the Peggy Sue's Diner, a tourist spot along Hwy 15, for dinner. It has been in operation since the 50's and has lots of movie memorabilia. It was a fun spot to eat!!

One of the major tourist attractions in the area is Ghost Town in Calico.  So we decided to go and see this Old West Mining town, started in 1881. When Ghost Town was in full operation in 1887 it had a population of 1200 people and 22 saloons. Between the years 1881 and 1907 it produced 86 million dollars in silver, 45 million in dollars in borax and had 500 mines in the area.  This restored town is a neat little attraction for people to see if in the area.

Leaving Sunday for Las Vegas and some fun!! We also are planning to meet our daughter's fiance's parents who live in Vegas. Should be a great week!!

Going back to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park 9/21/2011

We decided to drive back to Sequoia National Park and see a couple of things we missed the previous day.
I wanted to stop off for a photo-op at the Tunnel Log, where you drive your truck through this big Sequoia. The Sequoia fell in 1937 and is 275 feet long, is 8 ft high and 17 ft wide, much bigger than the redwood we drove thru earlier this month. There is also another tree where you used to drive out on and take pictures but that was stopped a few years ago. That tree fell in 1917, hard to believe that was 94 years ago!
We even got to see them fall a tree. Boy when it hit the ground it made a very big thud!! I even yelled "Timber"
Then it was on to Kings Canyon National Park which is connected by the same road. To do both parks it takes 8 hours of which alot of the time is driving. But we wanted to see our 6th National Park in 5 weeks. Mt Rainier, Redwoods, Crater Lake, Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon. To say we have been busy is an understatement:)
We saw General Grant Tree, one of the world's largest living trees. President Coolidge proclaimed it the Nation's Christmas Tree in 1926 and it is a National Shrine. The only living memorial to those who died in war. This is one big tree!! Since time was running out, it takes a long time to get anywhere since the roads are very curvy, we went to Junction View. Junction View gives you a beautiful look into Kings Canyon and the surrounding areas.
Our last day in the area was spent relaxing and going to Reimer's. A store that has been making chocolate candy for over 50 years. They now make ice cream and I had to have a scoop of Peach and one of Strawberry. Boy was it good!! So if you in the area of Three Rivers, make sure you stop by for some delicious treats.
Well Friday came and it was time to move on towards LAS VEGAS! We will be there Sunday and hope to win enough $$$ to pay for Nicole's wedding!!

Pictures of the Bears and the Largest Tree in Sequoia National Park