8/30-31 Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Friday, August 30, 2019

I left my brother and sister-in-law's house in Henderson, Nevada, just south of Las Vegas, and drove north to Ash Meadows today. The drive took me about two hours. The distance was about 125 miles. I took U.S. 15 to U.S. 95 to NV 373 to the turnoff to Ash Meadows.

This sign marks the entrance to Ash Meadows. 

My campsite at Ash Meadows. it has electricity, water, and sewer. Behind the tree is the "Bunkhouse" where the volunteer coordination lives. It has several other rooms where volunteers could stay, a communal kitchen with two refrigerators, a stove, and a microwave. It also has two bathrooms with showers, and a laundry room with a washer and dryer. These are all good things, but the BEST thing is that it is AIR CONDITIONED! Yesterday, when I arrived it was 105 degrees! (My trailer doesn't have air conditioning. The temperature in my trailer yesterday afternoon was 115!)

Swimming and boating are allowed on Crystal Reservoir. The reservoir is only about 70 acres in size, but the water is clear and cool. This is the reason that I brought my kayak along and I'm not disappointed! This view is looking west.

This is the view looking east just as sunset is beginning.

Looking west a few minute later.

Looking east a few minutes later.


Saturday, August 31, 2019

Crystal Reservoir exists because a spring releases water from underground a short distance away. This underground water could be several hundred years old, so it is called "fossil water." The fossil water is channeled into concrete canals that flow into Crystal Reservoir. The reservoir has an earthen dam at one end. On the sides of the reservoir are marshy areas that are popular with ducks.

As you can see in this photo, the water is crystal clear! 

Looking east just before sunset.

Looking west at sunset. See the flock of birds?

Looking west a few minutes later.

Now you see the sliver of a crescent moon!

Tuesday, August 27, 2019, Springs Preserve, Nevada

The Rotunda at Springs Preserve.

Springs Preserve is in Las Vegas. It's about a half-hour drive from where my brother and his wife live. Springs Preserve is 180 acres of desert plants and animals. It also includes two museums. You can find out more about it at 

https://www.springspreserve.org

This beautiful flower is called the "Baja Fairy Duster."

This plant is called Lantana. At the preserve, and in Las Vegas, Lantana grows as a perennial shrub. 

These dinosaurs are life-sized! Watch the video to see them move and roar!

This beautiful tree is a Desert Willow.

I found this very interesting. It was installed on a passive solar house at the preserve.

The view from the top of the stairways.

This plant is an "Octopus Agave."

This variety of prickly pear is called the "Brown Spine Prickly Pear."

Friday, August 23, 2019 Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

It seemed like I went around a curve and was transported into this orange rock world!

Not soon after I entered this world, I saw this sign and stopped at this trail. 

Along the trail was this stream. Watch a short video of it below.

Someone made a rock "hoodoo" along the river and then other people added theirs.

The sign said "Mossy Cave," but there was this beautiful waterfall along the way!

This was the 'Mossy Cave'.

Here is the moss.

I was driving through Bryce Canyon country!

When I passed the sign, I was officially in Bryce Canyon Country. 

I didn't have a reservation at the Bryce Canyon National Park campground, and it was late in the afternoon when I arrived there so I didn't think there would be a campsite left, but there was! This was my campsite at Bryce Canyon. It didn't have electricity, but water was close by and there was a nice bathroom! Showers and a laundromat were a short drive away!

 Since it was late when I got there, I decided to drive along the scenic roads in the park instead of hike a trail.

There was a forest fire burning just outside the park. The brown cloud is actually a plume of smoke. I could see the fire burning, and smell the smoke!

See the plumes of smoke?

There's a natural bridge at Bryce Canyon National Park!

I'll let the rest of the photographs speak for themselves.