Boulder City, NV

Just 8 miles from Boulder Dam and 25 miles from Las Vegas lies the city designed to house those who would build the monstrosity on the Colorado River. It was during the Great Depression and many unemployed came to find work on the dam construction in the 1930s. Boulder City was designed to accommodate the workers and their families in 1931. So as to not distract the workers there was no drinking, gambling or prostitution within the city limits. It would also sustain a workforce that would be needed to operate the dam afterwards. It just happened that we had breakfast in the oldest business in town built in 1931.

The historic downtown is charming and all about town are statues. There are also bighorn sheep in the area but these are the only ones we saw.

The Boulder Hotel was built in 1933 to accommodate visiting dignitaries overseeing the construction of the dam. We enjoyed wandering through a small art gallery, one of the shops that is housed on the second floor.

And if the town isn’t charming enough, just four miles north is Lake Mead, our home for a few days. Lake Mead was formed when Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s. Lake Mead National Recreation Area covers 1.5 million acres and we settled into the Boulder Campground on the shores of Lake Mead for a few days.

There were plenty of sites available at Boulder Campground and we were delighted to be parked under the giant eucalyptus trees.

Before leaving on the 4th day we rode the railroad trail from the campground to the dam. Actually, we drove the bikes up to the trailhead so we would not have to pedal so far uphill! And away we went.

Much of the work done on the dam began in the area that is now under the lake. They built concrete factories; as well as others, and a major railway system to haul materials to the dam. This is where they dumped the concrete that came out of the holes for the turbines. Much remains 500 feet under the lake still.

A few stops were made for small wildflowers blooming along the edge as we passed through the five tunnels on the trail.

At the end I spotted the first cactus I have seen blooming this year. They are full of buds which will burst open quite soon.

Apache Trail cont.

But it is a scenic route!!

At Fish Creek Canyon we looked out a massive, vividly colored walls that were as steep as 2,000 feet above the highway.

That is our road at the bottom of the hill. Now to just get there!!

The 10% descent down the side of the mountain was like few other roads I have traveled. It reminded me of the Moki Dugway and a canyon road in Colorado. Fish Creek in the bottom of the canyon provided the area with cottonwood trees and other flora not seen at the drier, higher elevations. We stopped several times admiring the scenery and the wildflowers. The cacti may not be blooming yet but the wildflowers were putting on a show.

Maybe this is why it took us 3 ½ hours to go 38 miles.

Apache Lake is the second lake in the string of three lakes we passed.

We eventually came to the largest masonry dam in the world, the Roosevelt Dam, built on the Salt River.

The bridge is the longest two lane, single span, steel arch bridge which crossed above the dam. There was also a nice spot for our picnic lunch at the overlook. The lake supplies the water for the Phoenix area. 1,321,000 people would require a lot of water in the desert!

Just four miles past the dam we came to the Tonto National Monument. About 1250 A.D. some of the Tonto Basin people began building in the caves.

The Lower Cliff Dwelling we visited, where the Salado Indians looked out upon the Salt River, was a steep ½ mile hike up the hillside for us.

We stopped often to admire the hillside! This cholla cactus is also known as the jumping cactus but it really does not jump out and grab you.

Much of the dwelling was two story and they believe as many as 70 people lived in this dwelling. The beams in the room Leon is standing in front of would have been the floor for the top level.

Roof poles were laid across a main beam and a layer of saguaro ribs and clay mortar provided a roof. A family would have lived in one of the small rooms.

The blackened walls were evidence of the smoke-filled house from the fires that kept them warm during the winter months. The adults were less the 5’6” and had to stoop to go through the doorways but there was less heat loss in the winter.

Then we saw the Africanized bees living high above. The park may have to be closed if they can’t find a way to get rid of them. Later on the new we heard about 3 people in Phoenix that were attacked and hospitalized from bee stings. The dark black area above the brush are the bees!


At the end of the Apache Trail we passed through Globe and Superior, a couple of copper mining towns that began as silver mining towns.

Near Superior we stopped for a visit at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Here we took a leisurely walk on the 1 ½ mile main trail through the cacti, wildflowers, and various trees.


There were side trails throughout the park. One could easily spend the better part of a day here. This was Leon's favorite part of the park. We had put in a 9 - 5 day. But it was one that we won’t forget!

There are 300 acres of plants collected from all over the world. 50 acres are in the viewing area.  We were led past mountain cliffs, a streamside forest, a desert lake, and plenty of cacti. Here I am observing the wash.

I am happy any time we pass flowers in bloom! And that we did!

Quartzsite, Az

The first night in Quartzsite we stopped on BLM land for the night at Hi Jolly. A storm moved through the area but we were glad Monday was clear. The desert appears flat until you get out and notice the washes and ridges. The desert was just beautiful and greener than usual due to a higher than usual amount of rain in the winter.

The camping areas were not nearly so busy as they had been a few weeks ago when the crowds poured into the area.

Near Quartzsite is the location where Jefferson Davis, then the secretary of war, decided to experiment with using camels in the arid southwest. 33 camels were unloaded in Texas in 1856 and later 41 were added to the group. Their caretaker who came along was Haiji Ali, who was renamed Hi Jolly by the soldiers. The experiment was abandoned in 1861 and the camels were left in the desert to fend for themselves.

In the Quartzsite cemetery is his grave.

Tombstones in this cemetery definitely have a different look and reflect the area.

Some of the graves reflect the name of the town also as does this one covered with quartz!

We did stop for one geocache in Quartzsite. It was well placed under a tree with thorns! I saw them, forgot, and then grabbed the branch to get up. I let go quickly and toppled right over!!

Solar Bill installed some solar panels for us and we were good to go back to the desert. No electricity needed!! What an exciting day! A lot of work happens from this little building in the desert.

We returned to BLM land, this time on Plumosa Rd. Leon tinkered with the tripod and satellite dish.

I explored the wash. This is what I consider wash day!

I really like a good desert wash.

You never know what you might find looking outside the box! I came across this cactus just almost ready to burst into color. They should be blooming in a couple of weeks according to the locals.

We left the solitude of the desert and headed to Apache Junction. But we will be back another time!!!!