Leaving Lake Mead, Cathedral Gorge overflow, Cave Lake State Park and home again!

 We left Lake Mead Campground about 1130 last Monday.  Cathedral Gorge State Park was our destination.  Had a nice drive and pulled into the park to find EVERY site full! We've never seen it that way and a lot of the campers were out of state! 

Our campsite at Lake Mead..

As we got to the exit we noticed to the left there were several more campers parked off to the side of the road. We headed there and this was overflow camping.  We were able to go around the circle and find a spot to park. Actually, a man from Washington (George) was outside his little Sunseeker and motioned us behind him to park.  

Caliente, NV is a Main Street City so a lot of the homes are along their main drag

I love all these little houses 

Busy one here..

Spring!

Here's overflow camping! 

It is a beautiful park..like a mini Bryce Canyon..

The next morning right before we left..

Couple of tenters too..these girls positioned the car because of the wind..

Because this is a state park in NV and Ken has the Senior Pass we pay nothing. Even the people who parked here had to pay $15.00 if you're a NV resident and $20.00 if you're not. 

The wind was howling and temps were chilly so we just sat inside the Mansion and enjoyed people watching and Happy Hour. We certainly didn't have to worry about a/c there. 

Ken spoke with George the next morning who told him that in Washington, if you don't have a reservation you're not getting a spot. Crazy. He said it's been like that all over except Oregon wasn't  too bad.

We left Tuesday morning heading for Cave Lake State Park just out of Ely, NV. One of our favorite state parks. Luckily it's seven miles off the road and there weren't many campers at all.  We found a spot, unhooked and set up chairs. Decided to take a walk up the hill where the other sites were. No one up there, but we decided to move to our very first site we ever had. We didn't check first because Ken was thinking the sites would be too small for us. NOT.  Several of the sites would accommodate larger rigs than us. *There is NO cell or wifi *

On our way to Cave Lake State Park just out of Ely, NV

I love this mountain 💙

In the campground

One view from our campsite

Good night

Chicken on the barbecue

Happy Hour

Our view from the campsite 💙

Cave lake is really low...See the ramp far right, supposed to be in the water 😔

A little ice sheen on the water

Leaving our campsite...

Adam had called leaving a message that he was going to stay at our house overnight. He'd been to Lone Pine for 2 days. He called earlier in the week when we had service saying he was going because he wanted to see Mt. Whitney. Good choice grandson! Too bad I wasn't able to talk with him as I'd taken most of the food with us, so hopefully he found something or brought it with him. :) 

I love this picture of Whitney Portal Road..

Ken barbecued chicken and we enjoyed the night. It is a beautiful park. The lake is really low and we're hoping it'll fill before summer. 

Wednesday, we ran into Ridley's to pick up a few things. We planned it so we would have linner at our favorite Mexican place Margaritas inside the Prospector Casino. Yummy as always! I had veggie fajitas and Ken had a ground beef burrito with beans and rice on the side. OH MY.  I had enough left over for dinner the next day for the two of us. Great food and service! 

Back to camp for Happy Hour and enjoying the rest of the day. 

Thursday morning found us getting ready to head home. Our plan was to hook up and go back to Margaritas for their Senior breakfast of chicken fried steak and eggs. This will hold us all day! 

We headed out and had a wonderful drive other than stopping to put air into one of the Mansion's tires. These are the cheapest tires ever that are on this rig. This will be the 2nd one we've replaced and the other two will be soon. We'll get it in on Tuesday when we have the Tundra serviced. 

Sand Mountain, NV...A lot of wonderful memories have been made here in years past...
Was glad to see people there for Easter break. 

We turned into the driveway about 1600.  Always nice to be home and see that the homestead was just how we left it. 

Put away some things and then we headed over to Karen's for Happy Hour to get caught up on the happenings in the neighborhood haha. 

Friday I spent a couple of hours unloading and cleaning the Mansion so she's ready to go again when we are! Spring has sprung around here so we've got some spraying to do. Saw my first lizard yesterday! YUK! 

Ken went with Karen to Gardnerville to pick up a pallet of fencing. Prices are going up and shortages will be had. After he got home he found things to keep and busy and so did I.  We met up later in the afternoon. 

Decided to try and get this going Saturday morning. The days just go too quickly! 

Well, Saturday didn't work out LOL.  We ran 21 gallons of weed spray through the sprayer, took a couple of hours but luckily the wind held off until right before we were done. 

Ken dropped me at Raley's while he went to Tru Value and the gas station. Put away the groceries (not much as Walmart on Tuesday).  

We were hoping to do some spraying at Karen's on Sunday so late in the afternoon we headed over to get her weed poison. She wasn't home but we took a couple of adult beverages and enjoyed her back fire pit area.  Ken got the fire pit ready for a fire and once she got home we'd have a fire with her.  We ended up leaving right before she got home.

Of course she called us and told us to come back over. Did we have sense enough to stay home? Of course not LOL.  Back we went until almost 2300 and we did have a nice fire haha. 

Sunday morning we had set the alarm for 0600 and I was still sleeping when it went off.  Got ourselves ready and out the door for breakfast in town with Joe, Stacey and Rylee.  Joe just got back from Alaska last night and while he was there he found their house! Offer accepted, so they'll have a beautiful place to live once they're moved! We had a good couple of hours of visiting. Sure are going to miss them when they're gone! 😪😭

We were going to spray the weeds, but the wind says otherwise today...maybe tomorrow. 

I did some baking this am, a lazy Sunday for me.  Ken got the tire off the Mansion and a bunch of other things done. We bought another Smart TV for our bedroom so he got that hooked up and going! I swear he's like the energizer bunny! 😀🐇

Well, it's 1500 hours...time to lock this up and get ready for Happy Hour haha. Have a great evening! 

Parker, AZ, Pirates Den, Silly Al's and Lake Mead Camping

In talking with my other half the other day we decided we wanted a getaway.  We have this home that we love, and plenty of things to keep us occupied especially now that the weather is warming up.  We have the beautiful Mansion that was itching to get away so we decided to go with that for a few days or longer. Whatever we feel like. 

Tuesday morning at our regular leave campground time we left home at 1100. Had a beautiful drive and last night found us off highway 95 on the Mt. Charleston turnoff.  There's a really nice pull over just off the highway we've stayed before. We are outside Las Vegas.  

Love the Joshua Trees! 

Our view from the Mansion! 

Got up and after breakfast we were on the road again.  We wanted to miss the Vegas commute so we weren't in a hurry. Decided to try the 215W belt loop for some different scenery.  It was less traffic until near the end of it, so with that being said we probably won't do it again. 9 miles longer and you still end up with the Vegas slow down near the airport. 

Once we got to Needles we came down the CA side of the Colorado River to Parker, AZ. We found a pull over and had lunch around 1400.  We pulled into LaPaz County Park around 1500.  A few people in line for spots and boy is this park crowded!! 

When you see this bridge you know you're near Parker, AZ

Our view from our campsite

Good night from La Paz County Park!

We ended up with a beautiful site, right on the river. No hookups though.  It's really warming through the weekend but not sure what our plans are at this time.  

Changed into shorts right away! It was 90 degrees. With a warm wind coming off the river it was really nice to sit outside! You know it's warm when I ask for an ice cold Corona Light! Luckily we brought some LOL..

We stayed outside in our beautiful spot watching the boats  and toys on the river just enjoying the view.  Finally it cooled off and it was time to go inside and get a late dinner.  Leftovers of cabbage lasagna so it was easy. 

 (Thursday) I didn't set the alarm so it 0645 when I finally woke up! No plans today except to enjoy the sunshine and maybe a bike ride around the park! :) It's 0850 and 72 degrees..going for 93! There's a nice wind blowing too. 

We did just that on Thursday.  Sat outside watching the many boats and jet skis race by our campsite.  About 1600 we headed over to the Pirate's Den to enjoy Happy Hour and have a drink two. WE actually checked out them and the Roadrunner bar earlier in the day to make sure there were no masking rules and there wasn't.  

We found a couple of seats at the bar and just enjoyed all the smiling faces that you could actually see!  Happy normal families just having a good time together.  We left there around 1830.

Happy Hour at camp...

Pirates Den 

 

Internet is virtually non existent here so we're happy when I can comment on a blog or two! Thursday was not the day! 

Friday morning we slept in until 0715 just because we could.  Our only plan for the day is a ride to Quartzsite and a visit to Silly Al's.  Tradition, you know! It's supposed to reach 96 today and 101 tomorrow. Seems to be a little breeze and the boats are out early today! Can only imagine Saturday! 

We had a great time at Silly Al's and good food! Have to admit we always think of George and Suzie whenever we're there along with our other snowbirding friends :) Really wasn't too crowded there since we're into April.  Again, nice to see no masks on the servers or anyone for that matter.  

Pizza was awesome as always! 

Once we got back to camp we just sat outside and enjoyed the boats and other watercraft on the water.  Later Ken barbecued the hamburgers we didn't have the night before and they were yummy! 

Saturday morning we slept in once again, just because we can! Christina called so I got the details on the shower, wedding and reception from her.  They are down visiting Seth and getting some things done and still having a good time! 

After breakfast we headed outside to watch the boats again! Amazing how many boats and people are out! It got to 100 degrees (or more).  Not bad at all in the shade! 

Around 1300 we walked over to the Roadrunner Bar and Grill for a drink just because it's tradition :) The place was hopping! Never have we seen it so crowded. The food looked wonderful but we weren't hungry after a late breakfast. 

Another beautiful sunset! 

Ken and Wiley Coyote...:) 

The littles out dancing...just too cute! 

This little lady, 97 years young enjoying her whiskey and seven all dressed up just enjoying life!

We walked back and got the truck to go over to Pirates Den to see how they were doing! They were packed too! Found ourselves a seat at the bar and did some people watching. They actually had a live band (2 people) playing so it was fun to watch the little ones dancing out there :) 

Once we got back home we watched the water show the rest of the afternoon. 

I never tire of this view!!

Ken barbecued some awesome boneless pork ribs and I did asparagus and a simple salad. Perfect for a hot night. 

Sunday morning I set the alarm for 0515..sigh..We are out of here today so wanted to get a decent start. Sure have enjoyed this stay and even as hot as it is and no hookups having the water just a few feet away is amazing! It cools down nicely overnight so that helps.  

We were going to head for Flagstaff, Sedona and Page, but the truck is going to be due its 20,000 mile service soon so decided to head home a different way and we'll save that vacation until later in the year. Jello plans? right! 

Time to get going. 

Monday morning finds us at Lake Mead..Boulder Beach Campground. Got in yesterday afternoon and this place is packed! Luckily they have a lot of campsites and we found a nice one. Got set up and found some shade, it's really warm in the 90's and no wind! We cooked some turkey burgers on the Coleman stove, too warm to be inside! They were delicious along with a salad and green beans. We came inside to bed about 2200. 

Not the best night's sleep as we were on top of the covers all night! Just too hot and not a breeze in sight! No hookups here.  

Ken's running into Boulder City quickly and after breakfast we'll head toward Cathedral Gorge State Park about 170 miles from here.  Looking for cooler temps in the 80's.  

Finally had some working internet so wanted to get this posted! Have a great day!