A Dam Fine Time for a Trip

Posted on: 2022-06-18 /
Categories: Uncategorized

After a forced travel hiatus, it’s time to see the world again, but, a bit more local than our usual trips on here. We’ve set out on a good ol’ summer road trip, on a tour of some our National Parks. We’ll be trekking from the Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Arches. We’ll finally end in a modified trip to Yellowstone (flooding has left the park closed, and after it reopens in a few days, the northern part of the park will be closed still).

We started our trip off in Vegas, which got started off in car rental hell (seriously, nothing about renting cars is pleasant). I must say that I am loving the Prius we have…having a backup camera, automatic lane keeping, cruise control that can adapt to what’s in front of you, and great mileage…*chef’s kiss*.

We had a tasty breakfast at Crepe Expectations, which was a hopping busy crepe place, offering both sweet and savory crepes. This morning we opted for heartier and more savory fare. We ordered up Big Lou’s BBQ and The Sonora. The noodle soup that came with the BBQ crepe was OK, not great, but not bad…I do like my noodles less soggy and with more bite. The crepe on the other hand, magnificent! It was absolutely loaded with smoked pork and BBQ saucy goodness. The granny smith blue cheese coleslaw that came with it was quite tasty too. The Sonora my friend had was equally good, filled with carne asada with a spicy attitude! Also, apparently this place was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, so it’s a first for us eating at a place featured on the show.

After our meal, we hit the road on our relatively quick drive to Hoover Dam. I unfortunately being unaccustomed to this car and with some confusion in Waze missed the exit, then missed the turn to get to the dam. Navigation issues aside (thanks to my friend for calling out the turns), we made it to the parking structure, and after some banter with the parking agent, walked into the hair dryer that is the area around Hoover Dam. Nearly 100 degrees (~38C) and blustery made for many fights with the hat and general energy zapping.

We proceeded inside to look at the exhibits before embarking on our tour. Short version, it truly is an engineering marvel, and pictures don’t do this massive structure justice. You really don’t appreciate how big this dam is, and what it entailed to build it until you are not only standing on the dam, but are deep inside it.

Monument for Hoover Dam built by Oskar Hansen, being renovated
Model of the construction of the dam
Inside the Nevada power plant
A rotor reing overhauled (from the N3 turbine)
Inside one of the tunnels
View from the air vent in the dam
It was HOT, as this is one of 8 vents that supply fresh air to the interior corridors of the dam (air that is needed for people to be inside and to help the concrete cure.
I’m straddling the Nevada/Arizona border, and my friends are in two states.
The water can’t flow over the dam, as it goes out spillways on the side of the dam. The white is the high water mark from a big snowmelt in the 80s, just 7 feet below the top of the dam.
One of the towers, showing the time.
One of the towers, showing the time in Arizona.

After our dam tour, we started the 3 hour drive over to Tusayan, and are calling it a night, as tomorrow, we have a canyon to hike! Great to be back, and see you tomorrow!