Fierce wind from a gathering storm made                         Trendy architecture and natural landscaping blend
            driving through the Mojave a challenge.                            together in this homey desert hideaway.
                                                            Next  Stop Hoover Dam
     A six year drought at Lake Mead has caused the water level to drop more than 87 feet in the
        last six years.   As the water level decreases so does the power output.  Notice the white line
        on the rocks.   During construction of the dam 1930-1935, the "Hard Hat" made its debut as
        mandatory equipment.  "High Scalers" (below right) drilled holes, loaded dynamite, or stripped
        loose rock from the canyon walls.  Only 7 men lost their lives in this dangerous undertaking.
        The dam was finished on time and under budget.

              
                             Intake Towers                                                                          High Scaler
                                                                          In Route to Utah
         Heading north to Utah and wishing to avoid the maddening crowd on Hwy 15, I took a less
         traveled route - Hwy 169 which goes 65 miles to 15.  The day before I had nearly become a
        statistic when a speeding auto decided to pass without changing lanes.  7:00 a.m.  It was
        scorching.  Lake Mead was a wet blot to the east.  Alone in the middle of nowhere, enjoying
        every moment, and hoping to see something interesting like a roadrunner or a camel, when
        around a bend in the road palm trees appeared, a sign read "Roger Spring."  - A paradise in
        the middle of nowhere with palms, reeds, desert willow in full blossom, birds & a precious
        cottontail.  Good place to have a coffee break.  I was just about to have a sip of tepid coffee
        when a beat up truck with two men, straight out of the movie, "Deliverance" pulled up. 
        I changed my mind about the coffee.

                        
                                Roger Spring                                                                             Peter Rabbit

                                         Next  Stop Snow Canyon State Park, Utah         
                  

    Snow Canyon - Soaring sandstone cliffs - Time, water and wind have shaped the remnants of an
    ancient desert sea into majestic formations.  Navajo sandstone is the predominant rock in the
    park.  As recently as 10,000 years ago cinder cones erupted causing lava to flow down canyons
    filling them with basalt.   I was overwhelmed by the colors, the plants, & the birds. The haunting
    song of the Cyn. Wren was my constant companion as I meandered through this wonderful park.
                (Early morning is the best time to explore Snow Canyon State Park - take water and a snack)
          
                        
         Petrified Dunes   Streambed Basalt   Spring Blossoms      Sand Sage           Roadrunner        Desert Varnish

                                       (total mileage 1,255)                                                   Next Adventure - North Coast Ca.