Typist: Bethany
Tent camping at Lake Mead National Recreation Area was an adventure in itself. The campsites at the campground we stayed at the first night, Las Vegas Bay, all have massive asphalt pads with very little room for a tent let alone one that will fit three dogs and a cockatoo. After hours of plotting, the only place I could fit my tent without having it on the asphalt was, according to the camp host and a ranger the following morning "out of bounds." The invisible boundary they both saw was unclear to me but I am all for vegetation and land restoration so I followed the rangers advice and moved to another campground. The ranger indicated the Bolder Beach campsites tended to be larger. Most of the campsites there were larger and, thankfully, the boundaries of each site were clearly defined by rocks, tent pads and even surveyors flags. However, completely dismantling, packing and resetting up camp all in one day was exhausting, to say the least. Fortunately my amazing traveling companions were just that, amazing. Plus the pets kept my spirits high.
Tent camping at Lake Mead National Recreation Area was an adventure in itself. The campsites at the campground we stayed at the first night, Las Vegas Bay, all have massive asphalt pads with very little room for a tent let alone one that will fit three dogs and a cockatoo. After hours of plotting, the only place I could fit my tent without having it on the asphalt was, according to the camp host and a ranger the following morning "out of bounds." The invisible boundary they both saw was unclear to me but I am all for vegetation and land restoration so I followed the rangers advice and moved to another campground. The ranger indicated the Bolder Beach campsites tended to be larger. Most of the campsites there were larger and, thankfully, the boundaries of each site were clearly defined by rocks, tent pads and even surveyors flags. However, completely dismantling, packing and resetting up camp all in one day was exhausting, to say the least. Fortunately my amazing traveling companions were just that, amazing. Plus the pets kept my spirits high.
 Lake Mead Campsite 1 at Las Vegas Bay |  Lake Mead Campsite 2 at Boulder Beach |
Then came the wind storm. As I reflect on some of the great conversations I had with locals and regular campers at Lake Mead, the one that stands out the most was the couple who told me that the only problem they have ever had camping there is the wind. Such foreshadowing! Long story short, the dogs crates held the tent up until I moved the van to tie guy lines to it. We slept in the van. Well, the pets did. Wilhelm locked me out of the van so I slept in the tent until the locksmith arrived at 2:30AM. Needless to say that was our last night of camping on this trip. As soon as the wind died down I packed up and we spent our last night in Nevada in a motel. We first enjoyed one last romp on the beach and a final, spectacular Lake Mead sunset.
 Leo surveys Lake Mead. |  Huxley sniffs the shore. |  Wilhelm wading in Lake Mead. |
Brychwyn on Boulder Beach at Lake Mead, Nevada.
Sunset from Sunset Point, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada.
 Day two drive from Lake Mead, Nevada to South Lake Tahoe, California. | The second day of driving on our return to Seattle from Phoenix was the longest drive I had planned for our entire three week road trip. I was originally going to break up the drive into two days but a one day long drive through the desert and more time at South Lake Tahoe had a lot of appeal. And most of this drive was enjoyable. The desert had all the colors of Death Valley National Park and even some sand dunes. It wasn't too hot to leave the air conditioning off and the windows open so the dogs could enjoy the smells of the passing scenery. Long drives are hardest for Leo but he busily played in his Popemobile. |
We took our only drive break of the day at Walker Lake. However, we didn't stay long. The first reason being that I chose a closed state park fr our stop. The second reason being the massive amount of bugs. I don't think the bugs were the reason that the park was closed but either way, getting out of there quickly seemed wise.
 Leo gazes out on Walker Lake, Nevada. |  Brychwyn, Wilhelm and Huxley at Walker Lake, Nevada. |
Last moonrise and sunset as we leave Nevada for California.
Had it not been for a closed road, we might have made it to South Lake Tahoe in time to enjoy the sunset. I did get a glimpse of the lovely blue lake in the twilight driving down towards town from the mountain pass. After the day (and weeks) of desert driving, the biggest thrill of this drive was seeing trees. Not bushes, shrubs, cacti or landscape but real, native, forest. I almost jumped from the car to hug the first conifer I saw. And if I hadn't been toting bags of poop when walking the dogs around our South Lake Tahoe motel that evening, I would have collected a mass of giant pine cones. Obviously, our time in South Lake Tahoe is going to be fantastic!
Please forgive any & all rough spots in this post as it has been done on mobile from the road! We will be reading and enjoying your comments but, due to being on the road, it will be difficult for us to respond right away. Thanks for understanding and for coming along on our adventure.
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