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Monday, January 17, 2011

Antique Arms Gun Show

Every year in Jan. we trek over to Las Vegas for this gun show.....I have posted about it before but this time was a different experience. You see they started working on the bridge that would bypass going down into Bolder Dam around 2005  This is a aerial view of the proposed area to bridge. Looks pretty impossible right?

Year after year we watched the progress
and low and behold this trip we drove on the completed project  for the first time! It is 900 feet height and 2000 feet across.

The weired thing is that you couldn't tell you were on it because they have the sides all built up so you can't see down but guess what? It took off at least 40 minutes travel time and a huge headache of avoiding tourist. It also allows trucks to not have to take a 100 mile detour because of safety issues with the  damn.  

The other different thing this trip was our night out to dinner at the Rio Casino where we had never been
You know the old saying...if you have seen one casino you have seen them all and that is pretty much the truth however, this was a nice view. This was from a second floor area that had a variety of  shops


and dinner was on the 51st floor with a city view and  great food! My theory is that even if you go to the same place over and over you should try find ways to make it new and fun!


 
I thought I would take a few pictures of what most visitors are impressed with here in Arizona the first of January
The desert and cactus

Since we travel this route fairly often I have a favorite rock
Now wouldn't this be a great place to build a house....high up to oversee the valley and protection from the hot west sun to your back.
I took all these pictures out of the car window and hubby was doing about 80 so I was very impressed they came out! Up in the sky I saw these at a distance.....Know what they are?

 The weather must have been perfect for the hot air balloons in the mid 60's


this one was right next to the road

The Saguaro Cactus provides our state flower...this was taken at a stop light right in town. This plant grows approx. 1" a year and can reach anywhere from 15 to 50 feet high. A cactus that has more than five arms such as this one,  is at least 200 years old.


11 comments:

Rae said...

Your photos are gorgeous. They make me want to hop in the car for a trip out there to see it all. I've been to Vegas, but never ventured out to see the desert scenery. It is really beautiful.

Knitty said...

My husband worked a convention every fall in Vegas for over 20 years. I've been to the area a number of times and while the strip is great for people watching, it doesn't compare (for me) with getting out to see nature and the marvel of the dam.

Watching construction of that bridge would have been interesting. I wonder if anyone televised parts of it for a cable show documentary. Boy, the things that interest me now compared to when I was a kid! LOL!

Nancy said...

The ground is covered with snow here, so it was a treat to see your photos.

Glad that you had a good time on your trip.

Chatty Crone said...

Thanks for sharing your photos! sandie

Michelle said...

I love the cactus. We are cold and rainy here. Wishing I was there with the cactus. I always love seeing the photos from your trips.

Nancy said...

How beautiful -- love the cactus and balloon photos. :)

JeanMac said...

great post - I love your pictures.

Lady Di Tn said...

Once again thanks for taking us along with you and sharing your great state with us. The Saguaro cactus are grand things to see. Peace

Inger said...

I loved the balloons, there is something special about them. You wondered what happened to me, but I have been posting regularly and will post another one right after this. Are my posts not showing up for you? Please let me know.--Inger

TexWisGirl said...

Hi there! Thanks for finding my blog today! I see you follow several of my favorites (Nancy at A Rural Journal and Canyon Girl!) Will look forward to getting to know you more!

Far Side of Fifty said...

Thanks for the bridge info..a young couple in the neighborhood were at Hoover Dam and the bridge was in the background..I looked at her photos and thought who would drive over that big bridge..probably not me! It looks warm there:)