Sunday, September 6, 2015

0902, Sun, 090615. Back to Rocklin, CA.

We headed on towards Vegas with a stop at the Hoover Dam. A new bridge has been built since the last time I was there which is a real shame since the sides of the bridge are solid concrete so you can't see the dam as you pass by. Once over the bridge there is a turnout for the dam where they run you through a check point before crossing the dam itself. On the far side of the dam is some parking at all levels, one at dam height and several others higher. We got some great pics then moved on to see Lake Mead. Water levels are down quite a bit. I would say about half the dam is exposed. We need rain.
On to Las Vegas. We thought we were going to stay in the outskirts of town at a KOA, but when we tried to check in the lady said we weren't wanted since our vehicle didn't have some official sticker on it saying we were an RV. I asked what this sticker was and where one goes to get one. She didn't really know but thought DMV gave them out. I doubt they give anything out. So we turned our nose up to KOA and headed to the Strip. After wandering around for a bit looking at the sights and trying not to get stuck in a lane that lead us into a parking structure (vehicle too tall) we found a great big "free" lot and parked right behind the casinos next to the new, huge, ferris wheel. We even had our own little walk between the casinos with little restaurants, ice cream parlors, and misters along the way to help cool us, it was hot. We toured the casinos for a bit sitting in lobbies watching the crazy people and then trying to figure out how the new machines work. No more three wheels with a handle. In fact we watched one lady as she sat there staring, the machine was on auto and doing all the work for her. She may as well not been there. What a way to watch your money go away.
As we headed back to Tess there was a street show just getting started. A half dozen guys were putting on their own show, break dancing, hand stands, some awesome stuff. The finale went on for some time with a line up of about five people that one of the guys was going to jump over, backwards. Well I was one of the five people. Lots of laughs, some fun, and oh yeah, the guy did clear us all.
That night we closed up the van so not to be seen as we snuck into our bedroom for the night. Everything was OK except the heat. We about died. We finally got up around four or five and hit the road just to cool off.
Yosemite was our next stop. We were able to reserve a spot in Tuolomne Meadows the night before, awesome. Only problem there, the night was freezing cold. At 8000 feet it got down to freezing. Whew, early rise and turn on the heater.
But I am getting ahead of myself. We came in through Lee Vining which brings you into the park via Tioga Pass. This is the highest road in the States at just below 10,000 feet. The road has been straightened out over the years and the newer cars adjust their carburation to accept the thin air at that altitude. Tess was a champ.
We set up camp, parked the Van, then decided to make a run down to the valley, about a two hour drive through the forest. Simply awesome. It was clear that the fires last year got real close to the valley. Even some evidence of burnt trees in the valley itself. Thank those fire fighters for a job well done. We walked through Curry Village, saw a bear in a tree, and several deer, some having fuzzy antlers. The meadows are a sort of golden color and the waterfalls are simply a wisp but it is so beautiful.
Next morning we headed over to the other rim for the sights from Glacier Point. The mountain tops all felt like old friends, Half Dome, Cloud's Rest, Sentinel Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls. Wow, such memories....
We headed home via Highway 49 which wanders through the foothills of the Sierra Mountains and arrived home late afternoon while Max was finishing up his watering chores. We unpacked the van in the morning then spent a great few hours with Michelle and family with a BBQ lunch. So nice to adventure but still nice to come home.....more later..