Hoover Dam

Excellent weather was on Friday morning, June 12, 2015.
We slept very well, so we had a great mood.
Oh, how was nice to get out of the motel on the street in the morning, take a cup of coffee and look at Las Vegas.
We have been at home here.

But we don't need to waste time, because in America, so many interesting things.
So, not far from Las Vegas, there is a Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, which we have not seen in our first trip.
*Плотина Гувера*

Putting our bags in the car, we drove to the dam by the highway 93.
The ride was only 40 minutes.
The road climbed up and we have seen the bridge ahead over the Colorado River.
The Colorado River divides the two States: on the right - Nevada, left - Arizona. And next - View Point ...and the dam.
GPS-coordinates: 36°00'56.1"N, 114°44'49.4"W

Hoover Dam - is a hydraulic structure (a concrete dam + hydro power plant) on the Colorado River.
It is located in the Black Canyon, on the border of Arizona and Nevada, 48 km south-east of Las Vegas.

The height of the dam - 221 meters.
The dam was commissioned in 1936.

The Colorado River is narrow and bustling from one side of the dam...

And wide and quiet on the other side of the dam...

A lot of tourists were here, because Las Vegas is near.
You can take a walk on the dam, near the technical buildings...

You can visit a local museum with a guide and see the technical facilities.

So, the inspection of Hoover Dam does not take a lot of time.
This is a place "must be", so that later you can tell: "I was in Las Vegas, and I saw Hoover Dam".

We looked at the blue waters of the Colorado River, then we sat in the car and went to Utah, to the Calf Creek Falls on HWY 12".
The way should take about 5 hours.
The road 167 ran through the desert, the scorched land was next to the road.
There were no cars on the road, we were alone...
The eyes were very tired from the monotonous landscape and from the molten asphalt of road.
But we saw a green area ahead.

What is that?
Perhaps a mirage...
We came closer and saw ...the palm trees.

Yes, it's Rest Area!
Rogers Spring Parking Lot...
GPS-coordinates: 36°22'39.0"N, 114°26'28.8"W

We were alone here...
We decided to walk along the path.

Garbage containers, a restroom, a clean and quiet area.

We went across the bridge and saw the pond...

The beautiful oasis in the desert...

Green trees, shrubs, pond and creek...

The water was cold and very clean.
We rested, washed our face and hands, and ... a life has become merrier.

And then we drove on with a pleasure...
The car was fueled on the truck stop "Pilot - Flying J", in the city of St. George, on HWY 15.
GPS-coordinates: 37°03'36.2"N, 113°34'56.1"W
This city is located near the "border"...
Utah starts here...

The smooth desert has long been over.
The hills and cliffs of "rusty" color were around the road.
We drove along the highways 15, 20, 89 and 12 and we were looking for a place to sleep.
Well, our familiar "Chevron gas station" on HWY 12, the camping was near.

Yes, yes ...
Bryce Canyon Pines Campground, where we were so cold at night in the last trip.
GPS-coordinates: 37°42'40.8"N, 112°13'03.8"W
*Bryce Canyon Pines Campground*

But at this time, we were well-prepared.
The tent, warm sleeping bags and pads, flashlights - we all brought with them.

The same lady at the cash register, as in the last year...
Maybe she remembers us? No, hardly.
Because there were a lot of tourists, Bryce Canyon was next...

We took a site for a tent.
We drove past the tents and looked for an our site.

WOW! It is here!
We put the tent quickly.

We took the food and had the lunch, enjoying the beauty and tranquility...