Las Vegas to Valley of Fire, NV, to Fillmore, UT, to home

April 2017

We spent two nights at the Oasis Campground at the south end of Las Vegas.  It was the largest campground we've ever stayed at -- nearly 1,000 spaces with an 18-hole "putting green" golf course in the middle and a check-in office that looked like a casino.  A freaking big place with plenty of space to walk the dogs. 

I asked Jim wha he remembered about Vegas. First he said "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."  Then he said "I don't like Vegas."  So much for asking him.  But it was a good stop.

Instead of gambling or going to shows, we drove up and down the strip and old town Vegas, took the dogs to a couple of dog parks -- Vegas has some nice ones -- and then did maintenance chores: cleaned the rig, got groceries, did the laundry. 

Then we drove 50 miles to one of our favorite places:  Valley of Fire State Park near Overton, Nevada. It's breathtakingly beautiful. We camped there once before and wanted to go back, and in fact had tried to return several times. But camping spots are first come, first served and often full.  So we left as early in the morning and got a great spot nestled up against red rocks. 

We hiked, and hiked, and hiked some more, and then we drove all over the park. One night Jim took off walking with Arlo near sunset. I don't think Jim could ever get fully lost out of doors, but he was gone a long time. There's no cell phone service in the park and I'd kill myself wandering around the cliffs by the light of my iPhone, so instead of looking for him I sat tight. Turns out he took a wrong turn, but all crises were averted.

Then it was one more night at the Wagon's West RV Park in Fillmore, Utah, the original state capital of Utah.  We leveled the rig, walked the dogs, ate, watched some TV (Jim) and read (Bev), and went to bed. And then the next day we drove home to Salt Lake City.  And were glad to be there.

Our clean cement spot at Oasis RV Park in south Las Vegas.  They have a concierge service that helps you get show tickets, swimming pool, fitness center, "sanctioned" horse shoe pits, and a lot of other stuff we didn't use.  It's not cheap (we paid about $50 a night) but we were almost home and just wanted a nice, safe place to stay.

Bev and Maddie at Valley of Fire State Park. The rocks are so red that it does sometimes glow like the place is on fire.

Just one of many rock formations at Valley of Fire.

Jim and Arlo hiking.   The Civilian Conservation Corps built the first facilities at Valley of Fire in 1933, and in 1934 it became Nevada's first state park.  Well worth a visit.

The Anasazi farmed the nearby Moapa Valley from about 300 BC to 1150 AD and left petroglyphs like the ones seen here.

Our rig and camping spot at Valley of Fire State Park near Overton, Nevada. The red rocks were created by shifting sand dunes 150 million years ago.

Another view of our rig and the campground.  We had neighbors, but they were a lot more dispersed than most campground.  And the sites are roomy.

Obviously my bangs have finally grown out.  Also obviously, it was very windy when we visited Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada.