Sittin' on the deck
o' the bay
Of course everyone knows there's only one way to control a grue. Got a light, Bud.
We drove from the dam to Echo Echo Echo Bay Bay Bay where there is, as you may guess, no echo. There is however a bay. The scenery on the way was phenomenal with lots of different rock formations, hills and valleys in multicolor hues. Upon checking in we found that our room, on the second of the two floors, was much bigger and more modern than our last quarters behind the gazebo further down the lakeside. It had a sliding glass door opening onto a patio with deck chairs and a beautiful view of the bay on the lake through a couple of palm trees. This place looks like a tropical paradise. Apparently people dine early in paradise as the restaurant closes at 4:00 PM. The lounge however serves sandwiches and such until 7 so it looks like the lounge for us as we are relaxing now. It's 3:30. Looks like no hockey today. They only have about 5 channels.
After an hour or so we went to the lounge. Had a couple of bad beers and mediocre sandwiches, french dip, if I remember correctly. Checking out the lobby we discovered a computer with paid internet access. A buck a minute! Man, I don't need to surf that bad. We walked around a bit checking out the lake. Went back to our room and hung out with drinks on the patio enjoying the ambiance. Then a little reading and bed. The next morning we got up packed and went to go to breakfast at the restaurant. OK, these people here must have some kinda serious eating disorders. The restaurant doesn't serve breakfast until 10:00. We are definitely not waiting for 10 so we check out and head for Overton, the closest thing to a town near here. We will have to pass our turn to the Valley of Fire but it's only a couple of miles out of our way.
As we leave the "Lake Mead Natural Area" and enter private land the road suddenly changes color from black to red. I guess they use some of the local rocks in it as red is the predominant color everywhere. We got Moby on the CD today telling us that Everything is wrong. As we enter Overton I'm impressed by what appears to be a quaint little town. Was that a restaurant? You bet, Sugar's Home Plate. And what a welcome sight it is. I had an Ortega chile omelet, Marylou two eggs over easy. The food was great. Cost $14. The place was neat as in cool, neat. It was like a sports bar with pennants and sports memorabilia all over the joint, but it was a diner. I highly recommend this place if you're ever in Overton, Fat chance huh? Well you never know. After breakfast we decided to buy some food to carry around in the car so we wouldn't be at the mercy of fickle restaurant scheduling. There was a market just across the street, Lynn's Deli, Bakery, Pharmacy and Videos. Got us some 2 for the price of 1 brownies, canned fruit, apples, drinks and other sundries. Packed it all away and headed for the Valley of Fire State Park.
Talk about your weird rock formations. This place is like Mars or something. It certainly is red enough. Check out that Elephant Rock, whoa! We talked to a couple of rangers. It always seems that no matter where you go Park Rangers are always the nicest people. They bend over backwards to make you visit to their little domain as pleasant and informed as they can. Good job, guys. These fellows explained to us how to use the honorary use tag system where you fill out the form, put it with your money (five bucks for day use) into the mailbox like container, and paste the tag to your windshield with the day it's good displayed. It's just nuts. The trust. Wow! Wonder what happens if you fail to comply. Those Rangers were armed, weren't they?
We spent most of the day driving to the different points of interest like Mouse's tank and then walking the half mile or so from the parking area to the actual site. It was hot and dusty but there ain't no place in Pennsylvania like this place. I could imagine myself 100 years ago searching for the Mouse after he pulled another raid but without the little signs pointing the way I doubt I would have found his hideout, next to a natural cistern, providing fresh water for weeks after a rain. It was very different, different, different from these parts. Cool, as in hot, cool. We bumped into other visitors from time to time in our travels. One fellow, seeing my Temple Owls T-shirt, asked me if I thought they would go all the way this year, since it was the time of March Madness. I told him I thought that Saint Joe's was going to be the one this year. This is why I don't gamble.
Next up Rainbow Canyon Vista or some such. Whoa, was that it. Scrreeeeeech! Tumble. Splaaassh! Whoooops. Made a quick stop for the turn and did it just a little too quick. The cooler, sitting on the back seat, 'cause it wouldn't fit on de flo' of the back seat did it's impression of Nadia Comaneci with a quick 180 inversion, spewing ice, ice water, puddings, V-8's and the rest of the food in it all over. Thank God it's a rental car. A while later having replaced all the foodstuffs and ice in the cooler. Repositioning it back where it belongs. And sopping up what moisture we can with a couple of towels we were back on our way. Stopped and had lunch with the Seven Sisters while airing out the back seat and sun drying the floor mat. They have some picnic tables set out for the company. Nice hospitality but not much conversation. They're stony, but warm. Saw a few lizards running around who make their homes in the sister's skirts. They don't seem to mind. After lunch we make our way through the remainder of the park and finally when we reach Route 15 we bid adieu to the Ring, er Valley of Fire. A true desert gem.
Next Up - Red Rock Canyon
Sittin' on the deck
o' the bay
Petroglyphs
Surreal Skulls