So… Bill dragged me kicking and screaming to our next stop…Vegas. Wow!! We were both amazed at the absolute beauty surrounding Las Vegas. We were fortunate to be staying about 30 minutes outside of the city at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. We stayed right in the park, which is hard to believe that there is a bonafide RV park within an area run by the National Park Service. There was a stunning view of Lake Mead and the mountains that encompass the lake. What a find! We only had a couple of days before we were heading back east to visit the kids and grandkids, but did get in a bike ride on a portion of the 31 mile path that encircles the lake. So spectacular …the deep, deep, brilliant blue of the lake contrasts with the multi-colored red rocks and hills around it.
After the ride, it became clear to me that something was wrong with the hardware in my foot and that one of the screws was backing out. We flew into DC and had a great weekend with Jess, Damon, and the kids, celebrating Quinn’s birthday and made some last minute changes to our plans to allow for a stop in Rochester to see my orthopedist. We just made it in time to see him in clinic, confirmed my own diagnosis (I like being right!) and had surgery the next day. We then drove to CT the day following my surgery to spend 5 days with the Johnson and Rosnick crews. We then flew back to Vegas and Lake Mead for another week exploring the area.
I was in a boot but totally weight bearing and other than not doing anything too strenuous, we had a wonderful time touring the area. Our trips included discovering the Lake Mead area which is fairly large-1.5 million acres to be more precise, dinner in Vegas and a visit to the strip and the Bellagio, a tour of the Hoover Dam (cross that one off Bill’s bucket list) and fabulous hike and scenic drive through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, just west of Las Vegas. While the Hoover Dam and power plant tour was not on my bucket list, I have to say that it was very impressive… and fascinating, realizing that this engineering feat was created nearly 80 years ago. Bill ate it all up! Once an engineer always an engineer. The Vegas dinner of a lifetime is described in a separate blog entry (The Dinner of a Lifetime: ‘e) as I took almost a hundred pics of the 23 courses alone. What a night!
Our tours of the Lake Mead area and Red Rock Canyon included some awe-inspiring and striking scenery and as usual the photos do not really do it justice. The weather cooperated with mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures, perfect for any outdoor activities. We enjoyed a few happy hours with our neighbors, a couple of fellow retirees from California. Denise, ironically shares my April 1st birthday and also broke her foot within the past year. Go figure, but it made for a conversation starter when she saw my boot. Unfortunately, we could not totally take advantage of all of the activities that Lake Mead had to offer in the way of biking, hiking, kayaking, and boating. All the more reason to schedule a return visit to this beautiful area! We’re looking forward to a return in ’21.
SEB
