Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Well, it's just the two of us again - actually three if you count the cat.  Brandon has arrived back home safely, and Brad and I are left to recover from a whirlwind 10 days.  The campground in Callville Bay at the Lake Mead NRA is actually really nice, reminding us of our trip to Florida a couple of years ago as it is lush with palm trees and oleander bushes, so we decide to stay for a couple of more days.  It's quiet too, until the weekend when groups of boy/girl scouts arrive, shattering our silence!  It's also really warm here, mid-70s (low 20s celcius) during the day and about 60F (15C?) at night.

We find a slot canyon to hike near the Anniversary Mine, but don't expect too much after what we've seen in southern Utah which is the slot canyon capital of the southwest.  However, we are very pleasantly surprised by the colour and texture, although the slot is fairly short, perhaps a 1/4 mile.  Evidence of mining is all around us too, which excites Brad.  The shafts have been fenced but not filled in or collapsed shut.  We're not sure what they used to mine here, but we find what we think are selenite crystals which are formed from gypsum, and there is an active gypsum operation several miles away - so it's probably a good guess.

After our one day of hiking, we decide to head a bit further north since the weather will still be warm enough for the next week or so.  This might be a mistake - Nevada gets a bit mountainous as you head north and elevation equals cold temperatures.

	Marilyn in the slot canyon or "Anniversary Narrows".
	Brad in the wash where the rock layers have been pushed up almost vertical.

Las Vegas, NV

Brandon's trip begins and ends at the Las Vegas airport.  We have only a couple of days left and he's interested in seeing either the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas.  Well, it's snowing at the Grand Canyon - or at least it's supposed to, so that leaves the crazy city of Lost Wages!

We camp at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, but with the Colorado River reservoirs over 100 feet below "full", we can't see the lake from the campground, which is beautiful anyway with palm trees and oleander bushes!  We take Brandon to the Hoover Dam and the new Memorial Bridge, and then head into Las Vegas.  We have a fabulous buffet lunch/dinner, walk The Strip and do a bit of gambling, err, losing!  By 6pm, it's dark and the city lights up - it's garishly beautiful.  So much neon!  It's not for Brad and me, but Brandon enjoys it, scouting out which hotel he wants to stay at when he returns WITHOUT mom and dad. (no photos in Vegas as we didn't carry our camera around, so Brandon has the few photos we took on his phone)

We also take him to Valley of Fire State Park, less than one hour north of Las Vegas.  We hike the Fire Wave trail (which was a big secret three years ago when Brad and I were first here, but is now the most popular hike in the park!) and drive around the red rock formations.  We're all very tired, having been going full out for the past ten days.  We return to Vegas for dinner and to take Brandon back to the airport.  We're sad to see him leave, but we've had fabulous family time together.  Merry Christmas Brandon!

	A treat for Brandon - exotic cars people have rented and they tour around Lake Mead in a convoy with a pilot car. I wish we had known about this, but it's not cheap! The next day, we also spot a Bughatti (most expensive production car?) "in the wild" on our way to Valley of Fire State Park.
	Brandon and Marilyn at the Fire Wave in Valley of Fire State Park.
	The brilliant colours on the rocks at Valley of Fire State Park - orange, red, yellow, purple. It's like a rainbow!