Forgot to share a photo of the RV park where we are staying. Last night, it cooled to the mid-70's... but by 9AM today, it was warming fast. That dry heat quickly registered 102 before 12 noon! The forecast is calling for temps in the hundreds for the next week. Tomorrow, we are headed for Utah...hoping for cooler temps!
Our treat for today was to visit the Hoover Dam, located about 15-20 minutes from where we are staying. The Black Canyon is where the Dam was constructed. The descending approach was spectacular!
The newly opened Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge actually bypasses the Hoover Dam and has become a major connector between Arizona and Nevada. We traveled on the bridge yesterday as we entered Nevada and were disappointed we could not see the Dam from the bridge. Today, the view of the bridge was amazing as we descended into the Black Canyon.
The entrance onto the grounds of the Hoover Dam is very controlled and security is tight. There were security checkpoints at the entrance of the grounds, and 'airport-type' screening as we entered the Visitor's Center. Dick had to make a quick trip back to the car to leave his pocket knife and 'leatherman'....or, risk confiscation. I ended up losing my 'critter-repellent' I routinely carry in my waist pack when biking....it never occurred to me to remove it before entering.
Anyhow....once we finally got inside, the tour was well worth the price of admission. Everything was tightly was tightly controlled and managed from viewing the informational movie to entering the exhibit area. This is a shot of the generator facility very deep underground; on the Nevada side...there are 8 generators; on the Arizona side, there are 11. I forget the specs, but this is a BIG room and my photo does not even come close to capturing the actual size and scope.
I tried to capture some other shots inside the tunnels, but I could not get the proper lighting. This is an 'out the window' snap of the lower part of the Dam. At this point, we were about to enter the exhibits following the tour.
The exhibit area was wonderful and provided information about why the Dam was needed, how it was constructed, how it generates electricity and manages water flow, and how it serves the diverse needs of the surrounding 7 states. I never knew much about the Dam, so this was super-interesting.
Especially intriguing was the history of the people involved with authorizing the Dam's construction, along with the workers who came from all over the country to find work as a result of the Great Depression. Tent cities popped up everywhere, and men and families flocked to the area. I cannot imagine living in tents in the desert!
A few more shots....this one from the observation deck, where the heat was intense.
Did I mention it was HOT??
From the top looking down.
The Colorado River south of the Dam, with the bypass bridge in view. Nevada is to the right; Arizona is to the left.
Driving across the 'old' bridge, now closed to thru-traffic.
And finally, a shot of the 'dedication' section recognizing the many accomplishments of those involved....this shot only captures a small portion of the entire display. Pretty impressive!
So...tomorrow we leave Nevada and head into Utah for Zion River RV Resort. I am hoping the temperatures will be more moderate :-)
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