Camping on The Strip

About an hour out of Wickenburg, the road passed through a range of low mountains whose dry slopes were studded with Saquaro cacti, the only large concentration of them we have seen so far.

Approaching Kingman, Arizona, we came out of the mountains and were hit by crosswinds so strong that even the semis were being blown around.

The new road that bypasses Hoover Dam is undoubtedly a huge improvement over the old one that ran right across the top of it--wider, faster, straighter, and with some jaw-dropping scenery--but the new bridge across the Colorado River was a big disappointment.  For security reasons, the side towards the dam is lined with a high concrete barrier that eliminates the view so completely that it's hard to tell you're even on a bridge.

Las Vegas has been touted for years as one of the fastest growing cities in the US, but I was still unprepared for the reality.  Nancy and I first saw Vegas in 1986 when we won a weekend here in a raffle.  I returned in 1997 for a convention.  Even though a lot had changed in those 11 years, I still recognized the place.

Not so this time.  It hasn't just grown, it has exploded.  Where in the world did all these people come from?

For our stay tonight, we have chosen the KOA Kampground at Circus Circus.  We haven't actually ventured outside the RV park yet, but we do have a great view of the Stratosphere.

Day 63
Wickenburg, AZ to Las Vegas, NV

Daily Mileage:  237.4
Total Mileage:  10,846.6