So much excitement around here lately...before all that, though, we took off for a few days in the desert. Lit out on a Wednesday after work with Jesse, Evs and a ridiculously red rental car. Baby Blue would've been beautiful, but probably not so good for an 11 hour drive in the heat. Been a little while since we were on a proper road trip and this one didn't let us down. So we begin...
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Day 1
Taking off after work means driving mostly in the nighttime, but I don't mind. There's something so magical about driving through the desert at night, especially when its still 73 degrees at 11 o'clock and everything smells like warm earth and sage brush.
Made it to Railroad Pass by 5 a.m. and checked in for a few hours of shuteye.
I like it when you can open the door between rooms. Makes watching the sun come up so much more social.
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Day 2
Woke up to the bright sun coming through the crack in the curtains and headed into Boulder City to meet my Pops. Breakfasted at the Coffee Cup then wandered the antique shops til it was time for some teeth cleaning (which isn't generally something I include in vacations, but when your father's a dentist and your friends have little or no insurance, why not?) For a mere $15 we could've taken this lawn donkey home with us and I'm still not quite sure why we didn't.
Lots of great old stuff, but a little too California-priced for my taste. I've picked up quite a few treasures there in visits past though, and the town itself is pretty neat, having been built mostly during the 30's as the Hoover Dam was being constructed. Lots of nice stucco-and-Spanish-tile bungalows and narrow small-town streets.
Passed over the Hoover Dam on the way from Boulder City to the ranch and saw the new bridge that's going up. When the dam was built in 1936 there wasn't nearly as much traffic crossing it as there is now, both sightseers and people traveling the highway from Nevada to Arizona. It was pretty amazing to round the mountain and see these huge arcs coming out over the valley so far below.
The dam itself is no small feat of engineering and quite beautiful as well.
Stopped to check out an old car graveyard by the side of the highway. Couldn't have been a car in there newer than 1977.
Hit the dirt roads just as the sun began to set. Glad I remembered the way, it all starts looking the same if you can't find your landmarks (as Jesse was later to find out).
Grilled ourselves some dinner and sat around the firepit drinking cocktails. Sometimes ranch life agrees with me greatly.
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Day 3
Rolled out of bed and started exploring. Followed a cat into the garage and found a bunch of great old photos and trophies from when my Pops used to off-road race.
Spent a lot of time being dragged around the desert as a kid. Its funny to think how I hated being taken out of school to go to races and things when I'd give anything to do that stuff now. The priorities of childhood crack me up.
Found artichokes blooming in the garden before wandering down to the lake.
Took some target practice on floating pine cones until Jesse started trying to shoot the little fish.
Hiked around looking for caves and things til it got too hot. Time for a tequila and grapefruit juice by the pool.
The equestrians opted for a short ride while Frankie and I meandered about.
My folks bought the Burbo the year I was born. Such a huge part of my growing up, I used to think the Stones were singing "I'll never be your big Suburban".
Watched Frankie get roped (a precursor of things to come?) while my Pops and Tina grilled up some steak and potatoes. More food, drink and early birthday well-wishing than a girl could ask for.
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The half of it? Part 2 coming in a minute.