TeamThornhill News: Las Vegas

Can we fit anything else in the van? What did we forget?

Our neighbor was riding by (at 5:00am!) and took our picture! LOL

On the road at a decent hour!

Having breakfast at Starbucks!

Going through "the Virgin River Gorge"...just breathtaking!

Cope sleeping and Tierney picking on him....

Heading up to Zion....
So our travels for Day 1 were from Palm Springs to Zion, with a stop in Las Vegas for lunch with Jeff's parents, sister and his nephew Jack. Great time and it was good to see them!
Now we are relaxing at a local hotel in Hurricane , Utah and ready for hiking and playing in the water tomorrow! Sadly we did not get a campsite, but this is summer time after all!
Excited to see what Zion has to offer! With any luck we will be able to take the Zion Scenic Tour and then play in water! Whew.....I'm pooped.

First, pack up your vehicle with clothes, extras, snacks, water, and if small kids, a portable toilet with extra bags.

Second, gas up vehicle

Third, bring your map/GPS/laptop, whatever devices you have

Ready?! All packed up and have your seat belts on? Okay-here we go!

First- you need MapQuest directions...

mine are:

    5. Merge onto I-10 E toward INDIO.  (go 64.6 miles)
6. Take the DESERT CENTER RICE ROAD/CA-177 exit, EXIT 192.  (go 0.2 miles)
7. Turn LEFT onto CA-177/DESERT CENTER RICE RD. Continue to follow DESERT CENTER RICE RD.  (go 40.3 miles)
8. DESERT CENTER RICE RD becomes CA-62/AQUEDUCT RD.  (go 27.4 miles)
9. Turn LEFT onto US-95.  (go 47.7 miles)
10. Merge onto I-40 W/US-95 N via the ramp on the LEFT.  (go 10.7 miles)
11. Merge onto US-95 N toward SEARCHLIGHT/LAS VEGAS (Crossing into NEVADA).  (go 79.7 miles)
12. Merge onto US-93 N/US-95 N via the exit on the LEFT toward HENDERSON/LAS VEGAS.  (go 21.9 miles)
13. Take the LAS VEGAS BLVD exit, EXIT 75, toward DOWNTOWN LV.  (go 0.3 miles)
14. Turn RIGHT onto N LAS VEGAS BLVD/NV-604.  (go 0.1 miles)
15. Turn RIGHT onto E BONANZA RD.  (go 0.0 miles)
16. End at  Las Vegas, NV
---------------------------------
Approx. 4 hours and 43 minutes-

So, here we are on I-10 E
(click to enlarge if you can't see)

Here you notice how bumpy and old the road feels for the next 64.6 miles

Here is another view out the passenger side window, in case you couldn't see well enough out the front windshield

Okay, next leg of trip...this is where we are on the map

(Gasp!) Oh look at how beautiful the road is! It is soooooooooo smooth! Good thing because we have 40.3 miles on this beauty!

Oh L-O-O-K!!!! A car! Hurry and wave to them!!! "HI!!!!!"

Here is the surrounding countryside...all along here are train tracks, and a berm...somehow, some time, people come out here, collect the surrounding rocks and with those rocks, create messages and initials. I'm not sure what this means, but someone took a long time to make it!

There used to be a "Shoe Tree" out in the middle of nowhere. Someone burned it down and now people have started a "Shoe Fence"...don't know why, don't know how...but it sure breaks up the monotony.
(Click to enlarge)

Ahhhh...finally at Vidal Junction! (27.4 more miles until US 95!)
At this literal crossroads is this country store/gas station on one side, and...

The California Agricultural Inspection Station across the street.
Oh yeah, there used to be an old antique outdoor flea market on the opposite corner....

But as you can see...it is now empty.

I see rain clouds ahead. This can be very dangerous as this road has many whoop-de-doos in it that can flash flood very quickly.
The rain does smell good though!

This is when you start saying, "When in the *@&^ are we going to get there?!"

I begged for a potty break and something to drink....when I saw these 2 sad houses...I sure hope no one is living in them!
(you gotta see these! Click on photo)