Valley of Fire! Fire! Fire! (heh-heh-uhuh-heh)

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Thirty-four degrees in Las Vegas that morning with winds gusting to over 40 mph. Vacation FAIL.

Ventured out for a coffee before Barb and I leave town for a day trip to Valley of Fire State Park.

I returned to The Beat Coffeehouse for java, chatted with the friendly staff, and made the dive for a croissant. Dough imported from France, then proofed, shaped and baked here. Crispy, chewy, slightly sweet. NOM.

Sated I waited for Barb to pick me up and off we went. Valley of Fire, located about an hour northeast of Las Vegas, gets its moniker from red sandstone formations, which often appear to be afire when illuminated by the sun.

At Atlatl Rock, where petroglyphs are easily accessible via a metal staircase ascending several stories, Barb and I nearly froze to death from the wind chill. Fortunately other opportunities to stretch our legs at the Visitor’s Center, the White Domes and Elephant Rock were less chilling. Valley of Fire rates a return visit to peruse its many hiking trails, but only if the weather is a little more temperate, such as in early spring or late fall.

Leaving the park we drove down Northshore Road (Nevada State Route 169), traveling through some of the most scenic areas of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Words cannot describe the ever changing colors, geology, and sweeping vistas. A great place to drive or bike for the sake of enjoyment alone. Be sure to have a full tank of gas before leaving Vegas.

Coming down to Hoover Dam, both Barb and I sought the excitement of traveling across the recently completed Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, 840 feet above the Colorado River and 1,600 feet south of the Dam. What you don’t know is that once on the bridge you can’t see squat for anything below eye-level. A smart move to keep traffic flowing, but still disappointing.

Happily there is a walkway along the southern side of the bridge facing Lake Mead and Hoover Dam, but that is only accessible from the highway that veers off to take you to the Dam.

Interstate commerce is served well by the Hoover Dam Bypass, but the traffic on the Dam road is still daunting now that the trucks have been replaced by more tourist traffic.

After that let down we made a bee-line for downtown Boulder City for some well-needed grub. After finding one cafe closing down after lunch, we settled into Tony's Pizza where Barb and I both quaffed a draft and packed away plates of rigatoni. Service was a little spotty and more geared to observe the locals over one-stop tourists, but we managed out well enough.

The sauce for the rigatoni was bright, flavorful and well-laced with chunks of tomato, but alas the pasta wasn't drained well enough so the sauce broke. Parmesan cheese from the shaker rectified the soupiness.

The garlic bread did not shy away from heavy garlic flavor. But the lone meatball was the star of the show: fork tender, moist and delicious.

After the day's 200 mile road trip, Barb and I went camera shopping.

Later, upon hearing the news about bus cancellations between Vegas and points north and east, I worried my head off trying to reach a human at Greyhound, at either their 800 number and the local station.

Resolved to an unknown fate, I accompanied Barb and Al to a local favorite, Beanos on W. Lake Mead, for dinner where I opted for a chorizo-laden breakfast burrito and home fries. It's not just for breakfast anymore.

My last night in bed at the Gold Spike was spent anxious to know if my morning bus to Salt Lake City would be running.

Photos from the Picasa Web Album: Holiday trip 2010 and Valley of Fire