Back to the Dam

Las Vegas Nevada

April 30, 2010

Day 35

The winds calmed, it was sunny and not too cool, finally.  Had a lazy morning here, then drove over to Hoover Dam and the town of Boulder.

 We've been to the dam many times and were not going there this visit but felt like it just wouldn't be a trip to Vegas without going to the Hoover Dam.  And we were also curious to see the progress of  the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge under construction.  Plans were started in August 2001, and the bridge is due to open in November of this year. 

Next trip...OVER it!

Pictures just do NOT give a proper perspective of this project.  The bridge is next to the dam and will take the flow of traffic off of it and eliminate the winding, cliff hugging, bumper to bumper, two-lane road that now exsists.    The span is 1080 feet across, but the stunning fact is that it is amost 900 feet above the Colorado River.  What a view bridge traffic will have of the Hoover Dam!  It's going to be difficult for the drivers to focus on traffic and NOT the view!  

Later we drove through the older section of Boulder and stopped at a litte restaurant for a sandwich .  We sat outside and watched classic, hot rods and antique autos pass by on the way to a park down the street, where a festival is being held this weekend.  The lunch was great, both of our sandwiches were excellent and NO TWIGS were discovered in the food!

A neighborhood overlooking Lake Mead in Boulder.  Not too shabby, eh?

We stopped to restock our food on the way back to the RV.  Had coffee, talked to the kids on the phone and checked emails.  Later we went back to the 'land of many crazies' or 'The Strip'.  We did a great deal of walking tonight, from the way my legs/knees/back feels...at least 4 miles, maybe more. 

Jim almost got his gelato, almost.  Walked up to one is Caesars Palace, they were giving a 1/2 teaspoon samples, and almost ordered some.  Then I looked up at the price, and the guy kept telling us that our BEST choice would be the *VIP* size.  The smallest size (seriously, about 1/4 cup) was $7.99 and the 'great deal' VIP size was a mere $17.99, and that was about one cup!  We're not cheap, but we have limits and that was just stupid...and it wasn't THAT good!  I think that VIP stood for very ignorant patsy!  All the rest of the way through Caesars and Paris Jim kept muttering, "$17.99 for that little cup...are they freakin' NUTS?"

And we did NOT, repeat...NOT put any money into any machines in the casino tonight!

Tomorrow we leave fairly early, turning the rig back toward Utah and some canyons.