DAY 2: Barstow to Vegas > Grand Canyon

The day started off as any other day should with a run to the nearby Walmart Supercenter for some forgotten supplies: pillows (duh!), 2-1 shampoo/conditioner, scissors for Adler’s crafts, matches and a Frisbee. Then it was off to Las Vegas along highway 15 through Death Valley.

Shortly around the Nevada state line we came across massive towers glowing in the distance. I estimate they were sixty to seventy feet tall and appeared to have a sea of solar panels surrounding them that were reflecting the sun on to the concentrated towers. It was blinding, mesmerizing and someone alien. I come to find out it’s called the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility. Photos don’t do the site justice:

Then we arrived in Las Vegas. Not to gamble but because one of Adler’s friends had been here last year and, well, envy was at play. We stopped by the infamous sign for a photo and drove down the Strip once to point out the hotels. Adler was most interested in the Luxor however I found myself having to explain the Egyptians too much and came to realize that he hadn’t learned about them yet in school. He saw the Statue of Liberty at the New York hotel and then asked me if that was the real Eiffel Tower at the hotel Paris. We finished the Strip in about fifteen minutes then it was a short drive to the Hoover Dam.

The best $10 I will probably spend the entire trip was to park in the Hoover Dam COVERED garage. When it’s 90+ outside this provided us some much needed relief from the blazing sun to have a tailgating lunch of salami and Swiss sandwiches and relax a bit under cover. After lunch as we walked down toward the dam Adler announced that “This trip was a lot of fun.” I guess we could go home now and I would carry that memory with me knowing that I’d done the right thing.

Unfortunately the elevators were broken so all tours were cancelled that day. We did walk across the dam and get pictures of Adler on both the NV and AZ sides. I also learned that the bridge that crosses the Colorado river for road traffic has been renamed the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. While we don’t have any personal connection with the former Arizona governor Pat grew up in our neighborhood and was in my sister’s class in high school so this had special meaning.

Then it was off to see the Grand Canyon and test Adler’s patience for tent camping. After a solid four hour drive we arrived in the Grand Canyon and found our location, pitched the tent, and blew up air mattresses. Adler then wanted to see the Grand Canyon so we drove from the campsite to a parking lot closer to the south rim. We walked about ¼ mile before emerging from the trees to the canyon below. Words cannot describe that experience of seeing the canyon for the first time. It is majestic, awe-inspiring, humbling, and makes you feel a little less important in the grand scheme of things.

We traversed the geological time trail that takes you back one billion years with each step equivalent to one million years. Adler faithfully counted all one thousand steps on the way back much to the amazement of others on the same trail.

Then it was back to camp to cook and eat some hot dogs, play catch with the baseball and finally get ready for bed. Adler had learned about the constellations at school so I’d promised him that we were going to see some amazing stars on our trip. So he looked up to the sky and said, “That looks like the Big Dipper.” I told him that it was and that he’d correctly identified it. To which he asked, “You mean, it’s the real big dipper?” The purity and innocence of his mind is still so amazing to observe.

Eventually we retired a little too late to the tent and went to sleep. An early morning was in store for tomorrow...

Today's Miles: 433
Total Miles: 844