Las Vegas, NV

Death Valley is the biggest (3.4 million acres), driest (less than 2" of rainfall a year), hottest (134 degrees in 1913), lowest (-282 feet) and loneliest (the only inhabitants are the Timbisha Shoshone) of our National Parks.

We leave the Valley through Grapevine Canyon and have breakfast in the Beatly Casino.  It's 9:00 in the morning and there are several people at the gaming machines.  I'm always amazed at the stress in their faces.

We cruise into Las Vegas for an oil change and then south into Arizona.  The new bridge over the Colorado river has concrete sides too tall to see the Hoover Dam.  We drop down to the river at Willow Beach and let the dogs run free.  We take a campsite along the Jumbo Wash Road.

Viva Las Vegas

Lake Meade