Saturday, April 20, 2013

April 10, 2013 Rovers Roost

Drove to Casa Grande to stay a couple days at Rovers Roost before heading north.  Francis needed some blood work and he was having trouble with one foot that was swollen and red.  After getting the lab done we went to an Urgent Care center.  After having an xray to be sure there was no damage to the bones she diagnosed a skin infection.  Prescribed two antibiotics, the doctor said to stay off it with the foot elevated and soak in hot epson salts several times a day.  No departure tomorrow since we have to go back on Friday for a follow-up visit.  The foot is not improving as fast as we or they would like so they gave him a shot (another antibiotic) and if all goes well we can leave on Sunday. 

After visiting with our friends at Rovers Roost we departed on April 14 to start north watching the weather as we went.  This was the sunset on April 12.

IMG_4749-trim Casa Grande Sunset

Came upon a nice rest area just in time for lunch.

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Walking near the leaning tree saw movement on each end and this  was the lizard.20130414_113228- trimmed Lizard

Continuing on Hwy 93 we took the by-pass route over the Colorado River.  Hoover Dam is visible but no place to stop so the picture was taken “on the fly”

IMG_4756-Hoover dam

and then we got a good view of Lake Mead.  Don’t think it is as low as when we were working in the area in 2010.  At that time many of the footings and stairs for houses flooded when the dam was closed were above water level.

 Lake Mead - merged

Drove into Las Vegas and stopped at Sam’s Club to put on fuel and buy some groceries.  Ended up spending the night.  The weather around Ely, NV was not cooperating so we moved the next morning to The Cannery Casino to wait out the snow predicted.

Left on April 16 and did not drive far (88 miles).  The head winds on the 16 and 17 were terrible as indicated when we put on fuel the next time and realized we had only gotten 7.5 miles to a gallon.

Stopped at Pahranagat NWR on Hwy. 93 to spend the night.

IMG_4765-Pahranagat  NWF upper lake

Was lucky to find a nice site even though the guy next door ran his generator which was very noisy and the signs read NO GENERATORS.

The lake was covered in white caps from the high winds

IMG_4771

This area like most where there is water has huge cottonwood

trees

IMG_4769-Large cotton wood trees in area

Later in the evening the birds, water fowl even few mallards came out to enjoy the calm.

IMG_4777-Misc. ducks incl. 2 wood mallards

The next morning the wind was down and looking across the lake was beautiful

IMG_4780

After we moved the motorhome in preparation to depart there was a good view of the lake.

IMG_4781-Our vacated camping spot

Drove out on April 17 and saw our first mountains with snow

IMG_4783-first sighting of snow in mountains

Then near the road and in the trees

IMG_4788- Snow in pinon pines along highway

but the roads were clear.

Stopped at the Shell Pony Express Station rest area.

IMG_4790-Shell Pony Express station sign

Very pretty area with sculptures and picnic areas honoring the pony express riders.

IMG_4793-sculpture of pony express rider

IMG_4794-picnic area at rest area

As we continued north on Hwy. 93 saw more snow covered mountains.

IMG_4802-mountains covered in snow 

Never knew that deer migrated.

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More large rock outcroppings and snow.IMG_4805-Rock formation in front of snow covered mountain

Spent the night at the Cactus Pete Casino.  Was really colder than we expected with the temperature reading of 18 degrees when we got up.  Put on the furnace and everything quickly warmed up.

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