March 2004, January 2007, November 2008, March 2009, November 2010 ...........

Lake Meade/ Hoover Dam: On either side of the Grand Canyon, the Colorado river is dammed forming two huge lakes; Lake Powell in Utah and Lake Meade on the Colorado/Nevada border. The roads on both sides of the river are very steep, narrow and winding. Lake Meade began filling in 1935 following the completion of Boulder Dam, later named Hoover Dam. It covers many canyons, several small villages and relics of ancient settlements. It was the construction of the dam and the arrival of thousands of workers which prompted the legalization of gambling in Nevada. Hoover Dam was for many years the largest dam in the world. It is now one of the most interesting attractions of the West. Tours inside the dam are available. The water is so far down one can get a good view of the back side of the dam and it's intake towers. Cars and RV's can cross the dam, however all RV's are searched. Semi's are not allowed on the dam. They are building a new road and when finished no traffic will cross the dam. They had started the road when we crossed the dam in 2004, In 2007 there didn't seem like there was a whole lot of progress. There was a windstorm and the crane's blew down, causing at least a two year delay.
November 2008: The bridge looks like they are finally making headway, they said completion date is now mid 2010. It is really interesting to Google the Hoover Dam Bridge and read about it, it's amazing they can even build the bridge, I had no idea the problems the heat and wind cause with the construction,
March 2009: On a trip back to Vegas in March we stopped and took more photos. The bridge is really coming along, still amazing to see what they are doing.
November 2010:The bridge is complete and we finally got to drive over it. In photos below, top left is water lever 2010, top right water lever 2004. Bottom Photo is driving across the bridge. You can't even tell you're on the bridge and can't see the dam. There are places to stop on the ends of the bridge and you can walk across.
We made so many trips over the dam because Laurel's mother lived in Las Vegas for many years. We would make at least two trips a year to Vegas from Arizona, where we spent the last several winters, to see her. Now that she is deceased we probably will never return to Vegas. There are, however, many other parts of Nevada we would like to visit.

January 2005 ...........

Nevada Desert: When leaving Vegas we encountered a desert storm. In 2005 Nevada had above average rainfall and in some places the desert looked like a lake. Photo at bottom right is water, not sand.

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