Lake Mead Recreation Area

Short road trip today.  We took the road through the Lake Mead Recreation Area to get to our eventual destination of Valley of Fire State Park.  I should have bought the National Park Pass earlier this year as then we could have taken the drive for free.  Instead we had to pay $25.00 for a 7 day pass.  No one day passes for some reason.

We were on the road by 7:30 and the temperature was already 65F.  The forecast was for highs in the 90's so an early start allowed us to get part of the sight seeing done before the heat of the day hit.

Not a lot of shots of Lake Mead but plenty of other beautiful scenery.  We were going to head down to the lake on our way home but we were both plum tuckered out.

The line of white rock around the lake is where the water used to be about 10 years ago before the drought started.  Water is a serious issue down here. 

A little oasis in the middle of shades of browns.

Lots of colours and textures.  A 1 hour drive took 3 and we hadn't even hit our destination yet.  

Stay turned for the pictures from Valley of Fire State Park.  

 

Day 1 Trip Home - GC to Henderson

 Got the PM summerized and left GC at 10:00.  Haven't taken a long road trip for a while and combined with the start of one of those air conditioning colds and cold meds I wasn't feeling the greatest.  Its rather a long and boring drive until we got close to Boulder City when the scenery started to perk up.  

A few miles south of Hoover Dam there was a pullout with a great view.  That's the Colorado river a few miles after it exits Hoover Dam.  In the foreground Lori is trying her Damdest to keep her eyes open for a picture.  

A shot of Lake Mead just outside Boulder City

We are planning to head to Valley of Fire State Park in the morning and will probably stop at Lake Mead along the way.  Beautiful scenery guaranteed.  Back in Henderson tomorrow night and then off to Death Valley Tuesday followed by a couple of nights in Lone Pine, CA.  

Last Owl Pics

Last owl pictures of the year and last blog from GC.  More to follow during our protracted trip home. 

I finally got to get some good shots of all 3 owlets.  Mother was off hunting or perhaps just taking a well deserved break.  Given the size of the little ones I'm not sure how they could all fit in the nest.  I'm sure the biggest one will be flying off on her own shortly while the runt, who is considerably smaller, still has a ways to go.  

Below practising her screech although I couldn't hear anything so perhaps just a yawn. 

The above pictures were from April 14.  

The pictures below were from April 15.  These were shot earlier in the day when the nest was still in the shade.  Much better exposure without the glaring sun washing out the colours. 

The maintenance crew was driving around in their noisy ATV spraying for weeds and it sure got their attention.

Leaning on big brother. 

Not sure what got him so upset but he looks right pissed off. 

Finally got all 3 in one shot.  Not much room for mom and dad.  While they were moving around the one on the left almost fell out of the nest.  

The middle one turned around and all you can see is his back between his two siblings.  

The middle one turned around and you can just see his eyes at the bottom between his 2 siblings.  I didn't even notice his eyes until I was editing the pictures on the computer.  

That's it for the owls for another year.  Would like to be here when they take flight as I am sure that would be good for a chuckle.  Perhaps someone else will get some shots and post them on the "Friends" page.  

Hopefully we have a nesting pair in the park next year.  They sure provide some good entertainment.