We stopped in Las Vegas on our way
north – just long enough to visit the Hoover Dam and take a ride
down the strip after dark. Our RV park was an odd place – a mix of
overnighters and short term folks tucked between semi-permanent
residents. It was well-maintained and clean with good wi-fi, so we
were satisfied.
I have to admit I wasn't really looking
forward to the dam – I don't like elevated areas and how
interesting can it be? Add to that the terrible crosswind as we drove
across the bridge over the whole thing and I was not enthusiastic.
Boy, was I wrong! The size alone is staggering and then thinking
about the engineering and subsequent construction? Whew!
The work on the dam began in 1931 and
opened in 1936. The construction cost was $49 million, which at
today's prices would be $833 million and annually produces k4.2
billion kWh. There are lots more statistics on the website for the
dam if you're interested.
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| On our way to Vegas - high desert country |
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| On our way to Vegas |
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| On our way to Vegas |
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| On our way to Vegas |
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| On our way to Vegas - big rock up high, little houses below. I'd be intimidated... |
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| On our way to Vegas - big cholla cactus |
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| On our way to Vegas |
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| On our way to Vegas |
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| On our way to Vegas |
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| On our way to Vegas |
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| On our way to Vegas - bridge over Hoover Dam |
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| On our way to Vegas - Hoover Dam parking lots |
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| On our way to Vegas |
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| On our way to Vegas - mountain goats hang out in these mountains, but in spite of searching, we didn't spot any |
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| On our way to Vegas - Lake Mead |
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| On our way to Vegas - Boulder City |
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| Add caption - Boulder City and Lake Mead |
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| On our way to Vegas - run-down casinos at the edge of town |
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| On our way to Vegas - run-down casinos at the edge of town |
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| On our way to Vegas - run-down casinos at the edge of town |
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| Outskirts of Vegas - huge, new houses with no personalities |
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| On our way to Vegas |
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| The security point entering the dam area. They were very business-like and checked out the back of the truck. |
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| Hoover Dam - from one of the upper parking lots |
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Hoover Dam - nice wheels - Lotus |
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| Hoover Dam - nice wheels - Lotus |
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| Hoover Dam - Flowers growing in the rock |
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| Hoover Dam - Huge pipe - Rich is on the walkway directly above it, to give you an idea of proportions |
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Las Vegas |
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| Duck Creek RV Park - office plants |
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| Leaving Vegas |
