Pahrump, NV

We stayed in Pahrump a few days due to the proximity to Death Valley National Park. The Moose was the spot we chose but we were hardly there except to sleep. The camping options are several: Moose, Elks, Escapees, Walmart, and Terrible’s Casino, all for free or a small donation, all in a town of less than 25,000.

Pahrump has a strange feel to it. To me, it seemed to be a cross between the Slabs in southern California and Las Vegas. There appear to be many retirees; as well as ragamuffins. I wonder if many aren’t those who can’t really afford to live in Vegas or don’t want the hustle and bustle of a big city.

In the beginning the ‘49ers passed through as this was a watering hole on the Old Spanish Trail that led to Los Angeles. Perhaps some just broke down and got stranded in the town.

But we did find everything we needed: wifi at the Elks’ Lodge, hot fudge sundaes, a Walmart, a nice library, a Dollar Store, and a $10 T-bone steak at the casino.

We even found a winery, the Pahrump Valley Winery, and took a tour of the small operation. They get their grapes from California and “bottle the best California wine in Nevada.”

This looked like a school field trip to me? Maybe so in Nevada.

The view of the snow on Mt. Charleston in the Spring Mountains was quite nice and could be viewed throughout the town.

Death Valley Day

It was cool and windy when we descended from the mountains and our temporary home in Pahrump, Nevada. In fact, it was downright chilly but soon warmed as we drove to Scotty’s Castle in the northern portion of Death Valley National Park.

We enjoyed a most informative tour of the house that has drawn tourists for many years. I just can’t imagine staying in the house in the hot summertime. The average temperature in July is 115 and 113 in August. The high snow capped mountains in California receive the rainfall before it reaches Death Valley. Then the high mountains surrounding the valley keep the hot air trapped inside.

A prospector called “Death Valley Scotty” claimed that he built this castle with his gold earnings from a fictitious mine. It actually was built by a wealthy friend of his in the 1920s as a vacation home. And what a vacation it must have been. Music played for the guests from this music tower.

We returned about forty miles south and walked on the boardwalk that follows alongside Salt Creek through the pickleweed. Yes, there is water in the valley!

And the little pupfish were swimming like crazy! This is the only place this species of pupfish can be found! They are very small.

This lizard thought he was hidden. Pretty good camouflage I think.

I am intrigued by the 20 mule team wagons that used to haul borax out of Death Valley. We stopped at the old Harmony Borax Works built in 1882.

Here a settlement existed that included mostly Chinese laborers from San Francisco. They scraped the minerals, more commonly known as borax sal,t from the surface of the land and refined it before loading it into these wagons.

The borax was hauled out of Death Valley through the desert to the railroad 165 miles away by teams of twenty mules until 1889. The large wagon at the rear is the water wagon.

Yes, there are even flowers in the park although they are quite small.

At Zabriskie Point a short climb to the top of the hill provided a spectacular view of the badlands surrounding us.

 On Artists Drive we took a nine mile drive winding among the canyons that provided an array of colors as one might find on an artist’s palette. Here I hiked my last hill for the day. We had fun visiting with these folks from Taiwan, Ecuador, California, and Switzerland. This is where I wish I had a filter for the camera! We could not capture the brilliant color in the hot sun.

Our last stop was the low point of the day. Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. The vast salt flats glow in the distance as if it were a lake.

As the sun started to set in the west we headed east after driving about 200 miles in the national park. It made for a long but rewarding day. There is much more to see and experience in the area but we accomplished our fair share!

Hoover Dam

The countryside through the mountains, colorful hillsides, and deep canyons is just awe inspiring. There is a lot of construction going on widening the roads and building the new connections for the new bridge. They are moving mountains a few boulders at a time.

We stopped for our inspection before nearing Hoover Dam. No explosives found  - we continued.

It is always an impressive site.

I just don’t believe I ever want to cross this bridge. It will replace the drive across the top of Hoover Dam.

The Colorado River, aka Lake Mead,  above the dam.

More photos of the new bridge being constructed.

Apache Junction, AZ

Twelve days in Apache Junction wasn't enough! The weather was fantastic. There are more trails to be hiked, more adventures to be had, more restaurants to try, more shops to be shopped, and cacti to bloom. But the best part of the visit was visiting with friends and making new ones.

Leon's best friend growing up, Greg, and his wife Elaine winter in Apache Junction which is the reason we stopped. Just like old times they worked on the truck when some Freon needed to be added to the a/c.

We made several trips to the swap meet and visited over meals more often than we needed to.

The Moose Lodge was the ideal place for us to enjoy the new solar panels. Several WINs rolled through while we were there, some we knew and some we met. One morning ten of us gathered for an impromptu hugs 'n mugs.

We were delighted to get to tour Barbara and Ron's new home after keeping up with the progress on her blog. They are fun people who we always enjoy being around.

Not all the time was spent playing. Leon did a little work on the motorcycle/bike rack.

He even got in a ride, but only one.

Apache Junction is a different kind of place to be so close to Phoenix. This is the horse parking section of the parking lot at the Elks Lodge.

We could stay and play and visit more but new adventures await. On to Nevada.

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!