HOT

Just made it to Vegas. Our plans to see the Hoover Dam and camp changed when we felt how HOT it is in Vegas. The Canyon was cool enough at night to sleep but here it is not. We booked a room on Hotwire at a McDonalds we had not idea wheres we would end up. The hotel is on the outskirts of the city but very nice! And a good neighborhood too dad ; )
Here is an update for the past few days...

Boulder Day 2

This morning we woke up early, the time change is helping us get up early so we can be productive. Today we had a better plan of what we would be doing. We set out to see gemstones at the Colorado Mine and Geology College Museum, in Golden. The museum was free, yay! We were there a good hour, there are so many gemstones and minerals to see. They have an area with meteorites that have landed. I learned about some very beautiful stones that I don’t see used in jewelry, many prettier then diamonds. But it’s the diamonds that are a girls best friend. At the museum there are also displays of the tools of the trade miners used in the past.

After the museum we took a quick look in the park we were parked at, the river was raging. We saw a kayaker down a little way getting stuck in a rapid, he seemed to be doing this on purpose to practice getting out. Interesting. From the museum we headed to a place called Dinosaur Ridge. We took a tour bus because the walking tour was about 2 hours verses 45min. The tour guide was worth the few bucks it cost, he was very entertaining and knowledgeable about the dinosaurs. It was basically an outdoor museum located in an old excavation site where many dinosaur bones were found. There are some that are left because either they can’t be dug out without damaging the bones or they are located in an undiscovered area. They also have an area with dinosaur tracks and you can put your hand or feet in a track and see how bit they are. I highly recommend the Dinosaur Ridge if you are in Boulder/Denver and are looking for activities.

After the dinosaur park we went to the Red Rock Amphitheater and drove around to see the Red Rocks. It is very beautiful.

We tried to visit Denver but without any plans, and dinner plans with Steve, we didn’t really know where to go. After driving around about 15 minutes we decided to leave and head back to Boulder via Hammonds Candy Factory. We were trying for a tour, and samples, but the tours were over by the time we got there so we just purchased a few things and left.

Billy went to Estes Park to visit his friend. They we to see the Stanley Hotel, which the Shining is based off.

Arches

We got up early and headed on our way to the next adventure. We had an idea of a few camping options when we got to Moab so we just decided to see what they looked like when we got there. I picked a nice sounding campground to check out first. Kane Springs, some of the sites were along the Colorado River. After driving out of Moab and towards the back canyon land we found the campsite. Half of the location was flooded from the Colorado River and the other half had spots lined up next to each other too close for comfort. At $22/night the location wasn’t even pretty, or comfortable. The road turned to a dirt road and we kept driving. It ended up we drove onto the National Park land which had many areas for camping, $8/night. Sweet! These sites were backcountry sites, no water or electric. It was fine with us. Kind of like camping in the Gorge but in the middle of the desert, down in the canyon, it was beautiful. We found a spot, after figuring out how to pay and claim your area, and began setting up shop. We were meant to camp where we did because upon unloading we ran into another couple our age, who were just as confused about paying and getting a spot as we were, whom we struck up a conversation. They ended up being our camping neighbors, along with their gigantic lab Blue, and we became fast friends. It was nice to have some company in the evenings, they cooked us dinner and breakfast , and I cooked them dinner night two.  We did have a little tent trouble, the wind began blowing through the canyon and blew our tent down! After some grumbling Billy finally figured out how to rig the tent up  and I am happy to say we had a standing tent the whole time.  While in Arches we found an area with Indian marking, and we drove through Arches National Park. Everywhere you turned the scenery became more beautiful. I am amazed about how many different characteristics God created in this land of ours. It is constantly changing and shaping and there is such a variety He gave us.  Its been too hot for hiking but the drive is just as beautiful.