Great Basin National Park & Roadside Gems in Nevada

 

Road to Great Basin National Park

These beautiful flowers just pop along the roadside. 

Have you noticed that there are not too many

 National Parks that have straight roads?

The snowcapped mountains are stunning

to view in the distance. We passed up the caves

here because we have been in several over the years.

We promised you more roadside gems!

Folks you can only see this kind of stuff 

when you travel the back roads of America. 

Nevada Fence Art 

Too Tall Tony 

Barb Wire who is needing a new wardrobe.

And her husband a little worst for the wear, Bob Wire.

Some things you just don't have words for.

As we left the park, we also saw a picnic shelter 

with informational signs.

What you don't notice from the road

 is the intricate iron work along the top. 

A talented artist has taken a lot of time to make this

 so we wanted to share it with everyone.

There must be a lot of artists in this area because,

 just down the road we find another roadside gem.

 Wheeler Peak is 13,063 feet.

Could be a monument to bikers

 who lost their lives along this road. 

A very creative recycling artist. 

Nevada Rocks!

Red Rock Canyon is just west of Las Vegas. 

You must get your timed entry ticket

 to enter this 13 mile one-way loop. 

Click on the link above to learn more. 

We haven't traveled this early in the year

so, it is amazing to see all the flowers blooming.

The timing was just right to capture 

the bee, cactus and shadows.

Amazing Petroglyph!

Another cool/hot place to see the red, gray, 

and sand colored limestone.

Yes, we climbed all those stairs to see the petroglyphs. 

We rounded a corner just in time

 to catch this mama and baby. 

And this dude just chilling in the shade. 

Wouldn't you like to know what he is thinking?

What do you see in this photo? 

We call it a Rockcasso (Picasso). 

A man and women kissing.

Okay, maybe we have been out in the dessert too long. 

Balanced Rock.

 I think there is one of these in every state. 

Behind the visitor's center there were several 

mountain goats on top of the hill. 

This photo is zoomed way in to get the Alpha

on the top rock. He stayed there for quite a while.

Elephant Rock

You know we love our lizards!

They are easy to spot but hard to photograph.

Our Adventures Continue

     Blessed to be on the road again! 

We spent the weekend with our son before

 heading west to Oatman, Arizona.

 Oatman was an old mining town, but it is best

 known for its burrows which out number 

the people. They are direct descendants 

of the beasts of burden used by the gold 

miners in the late 1800’s. 

If you like old west history, this would be one to research. 

          You can tell who's the boss.

Leaving town, we headed north on route 66.

This is part of the 8-mile-long 

Arizona Sidewinder with 191 curves. 

Fish Bowl Spring is a secret fresh water spring 

for animals and humans. Can you see it? 

A man named Shaffer created this in the 1930’s

 when he noticed water cascading down the cliff walls 

so he built a basin of stones to make a pool. 

Locals put goldfish in it which leads to the name Fish Bowl. 

You can find it between mile marker 31 & 32.

How is that for quirky roadside facts?

Seven Magic Mountains was created by internationally 

renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. 

Colorful stacked boulders which stand more

 than thirty feet high can be seen

 about ten miles south of Las Vegas.  

Joshus trees

 

Dantes View at Death Valley National Park

Interesting formation created by mother nature. 

101 degrees!

Zabriske Point

We were surprised to see

 so many flowers blooming. 

Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America 

at 282 feet below sea level. 

Artist Pallette Loop

Can you believe all the colors?

We believe this is a Western whiptail that lost its tail. 

 We haven't had time to research this so if anyone

 has more information we would appreciate it!

Very unusual.

Devils Hole, which is part of Death Valley 

on the Nevada side, is where they found pup fish. 

They are not found anywhere else in the world 

and divers still do not know the depth. 

Pretty amazing!

Just over the border into Nevada at 

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
you can see the pup fish. The blue ones are the males. 

       Wow, how times flies!

 We can't believe it is our 40th Wedding Anniversary!

We decided to go to Las Vegas and see 

the Beatles Love Criqui de Soliel show.  

While in Las Vegas we also stopped at the 

 Clark County Museum, Pinball Hall of Fame,

Fremont Street, Worlds Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop,

Vamp’s, Counts Kustoms, Water Fountains at Bellagio,

Volcano at the Mirage, gambled $40.00 

and surprisingly walked out with more money than we started.

 More quirky roadside attractions to come!