From Land to water and back again

The next day we rented a fishing  boat on the Colorado River for the  day, what a day it was! Drove it all the way up to the base of the hoover dam, stopping along the way at the hot springs and beaches.

co river

We drove the boat to see the base of the hoover dam bridge, unbelieveable site!



The following day, a day of relaxation at DayDreamers Island on Calville Bay, a little hike, a little tubing and lots of sun!

Daydreaming on daydream island, obviously I was happy day dreaming!

Cut to next day: Pool hopping today! Flamingo and The M resort

Headed into the Flamingo Beach Club Pool..this is a part of the wildlife habitat, pretty cool. Flamingo and im sure all pools are packed, so locals: best go there super early to get a spot, or just go to the M Resort like I did:

100 Degrees, Finally got my spot in the pool at the M Resort in Henderson. Not crowded and kid friendly. Food/menu is ridiculously expensive though, so eat ahead of time!

Finishing off a day with a hike on the wetlands trail

HIked the Wetlands hike, lake mead

And look what I found! in the middle of the desert !

Lake Las Vegas Paddle Boats and beach

Had an awesome day today at Lake Las Vegas !

Beach side, smores, sun and paddleboarding

resident roxie at lake las vegas having breakfast

Poolside waterfalls, absolutley beautiful here, a must see and worth a 20$ day pass, I will be back :)

fun with the family off for a morning paddleboard, so hard! I don't reccommend this, I was breaking a sweat within 5 min, it is nice on the water, but what a hard workout! I'd stick to the kayak for this one..but great fun still.

Drop a coin, make a wish!

Red Rock Canyon Rock Climbing

Early morning drive up to red rock, about 35 minutes from las vegas. Beautiful Views as usual, and perfect weather..

Rock climbed with no ropes or equiptment to earn this amazing view..just past calico peak mountain. took about an hour or so getting up and a little longer going down, as we did get a little turned around!



CLIFFHANGER!!!




Time for a much needed water break!!



Literally made it to the top of this mountain, free climbing, who do we think we are?! Amazing, amazing day.

Unbelievably strenuous and not expected but free climbing gives you such an adrenaline rush. climbing between canyons just feet apart, sliding down bearclawing it up and down, finding sturdy rocks and a good landing site (when you rock jump) all while watching for rattlesnakes! (we saw none, thank god) 

 After a long rock climb finally lunch next to ancient petroglyphs

Hands of time, Willow Springs, near Lost Creek Hike..these hands may signal dierction, some type of communication, no one is too sure, but kinda cool!

Waterfall climbing

Rough day..

Tommorrows Kayak..hidden cove

This is my plan..to hit up this little cove/beach between two islands on Lake Mead..not seen from shore, only from hellicopter or if you hike the mountains surrounding it, as I did today, hence-thats how I "discovered it, exsisted"...

Old Railroad Hike today

Let the hike begin, Old Railroad tracks towards hoover Dam, balmy 90 degrees out, scenic views and some wildlife, almost posing for pictures on the side of the trail..

Continued to go through the historic trail and tunnels. These railroads were built soley for transporting materials to build the Hoover dam years ago

Not the  best picture but I climbed this mountain for a fabulous view of Lake mead

Valley of Fire Hike today

So just getting home from my worldwind of a day! woke up, packed up and was off for a hike to the valley of fire, about 49 min from me, 35 minutes from las vegas strip

The ride wasn't really too bad on the 15 north, until you get to the turn off "into valley" it seems like forever to actually see the beautiful colors..but I made it finally

This is the "arch" , soon it will lose its natural support and arch no more :( this is a natural formation of red the rocks through the years, amazing..I hiked for a bit, and found red sand, yes red sand, almost looked like curry or cayenne pepper! was so soft, and almost "quick sand like" but dry...

"Jess was here valley of fire" I wrote in the red sand . Then I hiked to see this :

Hieroglyphics from years and years ago, so amazing..

worth a trip for sure to check out, but plan on being there 5 hrs, to enjoy everything to its fullest, you feel like you are driving thru a postcard when you venture up to "mouse trap", bring water, and lunches, there are many bbq's and picnic spots :)

Searchlight, Population:2

 Driving towards Searchlight, cotton wood cove, neavada, a bout a 40 minutes drive through nothingness but butterflies and crickets that love to play chicken with your windshield ! whats up witht that?!

Cotton wood cove : Highly recommend you never visit here! It is junky, bad vibe to it, run down "cafe" Wouldnt eat the food if you paid me, it was just not a welcoming feeling..just saying!

After an unfortunate find, I reluctantly turned back towards the Lake Mead Area. Here it was just beaifutful sun shinning, warmer and less windy but still bit of a surf out there! So I managed to have my first kayaking accident-and i WASNT EVEN IN THE WATER YET! I slipped while carrying my boat into the lake on some mud/quick sand, lost a flipflop, sunglasses and butt planted into mud, while the kayak took a nice fall on top of me! Akward ;-/ and ya there were people around to see this disater unfold, oy..A muddy mess, I get into my kayak and quickly paddle away in hopes "no one saw that" but they did, and asked if I was okay. ya ya im fine. Enjoyed the weather and views again, but wasn't so much fun being a hot muddy mess :( tommorrow a new day.

What a crazy day!

So, it all began last night, getting home from work late, putting my kayak away, locking up for the evening. 20 minutes later I get a knock on the door, then another, then another, getting louder at each knock. I dont answer. I never do at night. Knocking stops, 30 minutes later, banging banging banging on my door yet again, now Im freaking out, cause I catch a glimpse of a man staring back at me thru peephole. I grab a knife and wait. Nothing, 20 min later, bang bang bang on my door again, at this point I have 911 on my cell screen ready to push send, then suddenly knocking stops. I text some friends letting them know what just happend and what I should do. I relaxed finally and no more knocking. I wake up early for a kayak trip this morning, wondering what that was all about last night..Mom comes over she was worried sick..so we plan to head out for the day...I cant find my keys, ANYWHERE, so Im stressing out saying forget kayaking now we have to go to the dealership! I call into work and let them know I can't come in, I lost everything..they say okay. My mother makes me retrack my steps from last night. I came home, with kayak on shoulder, put it outside then shut my door and locked it. The minute I did that reenactment, it dawned on me. I call my management office, and ask if they have  a set of keys, THEY DO!! they said the Security guy was knocking on my door all night b/c I had left them in the door key lock..OMG!!! all that freaking out for nothing, he was trying to help! LOL 

So now I have my keys, we are calming down, and head out to hoover damn and willow beach. Well we made it to the damn dam, but the road was closed to continued to Arizona :( so turning around yet again we venture out to lake mead to have lunch on the marina, after a hike..marina on lake mead has Wonderful food there FYI, finishing up lunch the winds are picking up we are getting cold so head back towards the car. But I then stop in my footsteps. "mom, why is the cororners /Medical examiners truck here?" then a police car, then an undercover car, csi, park rangers. A body was found that had gone missing a year ago. Wow. We sat there and watched the authorities do what they do,  and called the news. No more info as of yet, but how surreal to be there and see that, felt like a csi episode.

You never know, or do I, ever know where my day will take me, or what I will see..now that was an adventure today!

 After the whole crime scene deal, we get lost trying to get home, and stubble upon beautiful houses, and end up just looking thru the fences of houses near shendoa and snap some pics, this is a lake in someones backyard with a gorgeous bridge and fake aligators...I left my house at 11am , I didnt get home till 8 pm- There is ALOT to do and see here and sometimes it helps to get lost! find hidden gems:)

Heart goes out to Boston today.

My heart goes out to all my friends and family in Boston today, tragic day for Boston. sending Prayers, will blog tomorrow..signing off..

Decided to camp out on a random tuesday night at Boulder Beach, Lake Mead

Ice Skate on top of the Cosmopolitan Hotel Vegas Strip!

Amazing Views, ice skating overlooking the vegas strip, while having a hot cocoa by the bonfire! hidden gem, and mind you there is a hot tub and pool as well up there!

White Rock Canyon Hike

So I hiked White Rock Canyon towards the Colorado River last week, in hopes to hit the Arizona Hot Springs, yet I was alone, and there is a turn through the mountains, that freaked me out, three times I tried to get passed it, but couldn't do it, I probably was 10 min away from the arizona hot springs, kicking myself but I plan on doing it again in two weeks..this time I WILL get to the hot springs!! Photos of my hike, its about a 5 mile hike round trip from 93south nevada towards Arizona, little parking lot on left off highway, then you park, and walk under bridge to begin your adventure hike thru gorgeous mountains, yes I did the "hello, helloo" echoing thru the canyon!