valley of fire

Dear Briggz,

            Some how we ended up about an hour north of Las Vegas at a state park named the Valley of Fire, which was very appropriately named. We grabbed the last campsite in the park. The Park was packed with tourists due to the fact that the shutdown closed everyone out of the national parks. We are all scrambling to adjust our plans with a slight hope that our elected leaders will figure out what the hell they are doing. In Fact we would like to thank the government for shutting down, if they kept running as they do every day we certainly would have missed out on this hidden gem.We were able to grab the last spot at the campground, a double wide handicap spot. An other camper was following us hoping to find a spot as well. We realized the spot could fit both campers we quickly asked the park ranger if it would be OK and with his approval we had neighbors. We had a great time with our new friends who happen to have kids the same age as J and A. the kids played watched movies and the adults talked around the fire. It was a great night.

The boys learned light painting photo technique from their new friends

            The Valley of Fire lies just west of Lake Mead, (Nat. Park). The rock actually looks like fire!!  Deep oranges and reds surround us in this valley. There were a few short hikes to take which on many you can see prehistoric petroglyphs. Some amazing rock formations and as evening falls, some of the prettiest sunsets.

We saw Cabins that were made out of the stone that would house travelers as they passed through the valley, an area of narrows called the Mouse Tank that was a hold out for a bank robber, and on an afternoon drive through the park, came across a group of three long horned sheep grazing on the slim pickings of vegetation in the rocks.

            We will see how long this shutdown will last as our plans have us headed towards Zion National Park and then on to the Grand Canyon.