The illusion of fears

Shortly after leaving Nashville and driving north on #65, I crossed into Kentucky. After a few miles, I saw a sign for the Mammoth Cave National Park and was drawn to check that out. A long, windy road with forests on both sides, brought me to a lovely campground where I decided to stay for the night.

Again, I was camping in a forest, listening to the song of birds. Beside me was a family with 3 young children who invited me to their campfire that night.They were delighted by some of my stories and taught me to make Smores, amazed that I didn't know what those were:
 You toast a marshmallow over the fire, then squeeze it between 2 graham crackers on which there is a piece of chocolate and voila, a Smore! It's definitely sweet, and difficult to have only one!

I was grateful to be able to share the experience with them.

The next day was Easter and I woke up to warm sun shining through my windows. I walked over to the Visitor's centre and learned about the cave.

Mammoth cave is the longest cave in the world (over twice as long as any known cave) and so far, 400 miles of it have been explored. Geologists think there could be as many as 600 more miles to be discovered!

The cave has been designated as a World Heritage Site and also the core area of an International Biosphere Reserve.

Many forms of life can be found in this cave, including insects, lizards, fish and bats. Because of living in darkness, the fish have no eyes or pigments. Bats have become endangered due to "White-Nosed Syndrome", a disease caused by a fungus, spreading throughout the eastern US. It is not harmful to humans and so far has not been found in Mammoth Cave but precautions are taken and visitors must walk on mats containing a cleansing fluid when leaving the cave.
 Only a few miles of the cave have been developed for tours by installing low lights that are turned on and off by the guide , stairs in steep places, and a path.

Initially I wasn't sure if I would go on one of the tours, often feeling claustrophobic in small spaces. Then I thought this would be a safe way to face some of those fears and I signed up for a 2hr, 2mi tour. I mentioned my concerns to the guide and he suggested I walk near him. He told me that with fears of claustrophobia, it's really not about being in a small space that's the problem but rather, the fear of not being able to get out. 

Entrance to Mammoth Cave

The entrance and initial cavern were quite large and the way was lit as our group of about 150 people walked along a path, another guide bringing up the rear. The various rock formations were incredible and beautiful.
In some places on the ceiling, you could see names printed by early explorers. They would tie a lit candle to a long stick to make the small smudges forming the letters.

The guide informed us of the 300ft change in elevation on 
 this tour as we were walking across a grid over "The Bottomless Pit". He shone his flashlight showing us water far below.
As we progressed to deeper levels, I became quite uncomfortable, remembering to take slow deep breaths and reminding myself that this cave has been around for millions of years. When checking to see how I was doing, he told us that the cave is the safest place to be in an earthquake because it is so stable!
At one point, he turned off all lights so we could experience 100% darkness, something that most people have never encountered. I thought about how these kind of fears are an illusion. Just because it is dark, does not make it dangerous. We were with a guide in a safe place and he is in communication with people on the surface.
 It's amazing how our minds can influence how we feel! 

"Fat Man's Misery"

The next section was unexpected and had I known we would go through there, I might not have gone on that tour. There was a narrow opening to "Fat Man's Misery" which became a tight walkway, sometimes requiring me to turn sideways. That led into "Tall Man's Misery" which was a bit wider but the very low ceiling made it difficult to walk, bent over. I focused very hard on there being lots of air and on the stability of the cave, making it through without panicking. 
Facing fears really does reduce their impact!
The rest of the journey through the cave was interesting and I knew I would be able to do this tour again another time. What a great feeling!

I left the park and carried on driving north toward Detroit, the weather getting progressively colder and the vegetation less green.
After stopping for a night at a Cracker Barrel restaurant (another free place for RV's to park overnight) at
La Grange, Kentucky  and then at a Walmart at Bowling Green, Ohio, I stopped at "Maumee Bay State Park".
 It is situated on the Lake Erie shoreline SE of Toledo and about 68mi (110km) from the border into Canada.
I needed this time to sort out the receipts of things bought in US
(mostly for my RV ,such as my second solar panel). After almost 6 mos in US, I wasn't sure what I needed to claim. 

Maumee Bay State Park is a beautiful park set in meadows and marshes with a PA rate of only $14.50/night for electrical hook up. They had showers, fresh water, and a dump site available. I was fortunate to find this place since many northern parks are closed during the winter. It got close to freezing during the night but because  I had electricity, I was able to use my portable electric heater, saving on propane. 
It was good to empty my tanks too, since I had no idea where I would find a place to dump after arriving in Canada.

The next day, April 8, it didn't take long to drive north on I-75 to Detroit and it was quite easy to reach the Ambassador Bridge marking the border between Canada and US. 
Driving over this suspension bridge is always exciting because of its 2.3km length. This time I knew to follow the signs for cars instead of trucks ( My RV is usually a "truck" and when I returned east after buying my motorhome in Calgary, I took the truck lane and ended up in the midst of many transport trucks, finding out I should have taken the car lane! )
I reached Canadian customs without any problem. The guard was very pleasant and didn't require any receipts. I had claimed what I had bought and was over my limit but he waved me through.
It pays to be honest!

It was wonderful to see the Canadian flags and to be back in familiar territory. I love calling Canada my home!

I spent that night visiting a good friend near Windsor , then carried on to London, Ont where I had gone to school and worked and where some of my family and many friends still live.
 It is now April 13 and I am parked in the driveway of good friends, appreciating their hospitality. After I arrived, there was a lot of rain and I came down with a nasty cold. It feels terrible but then I decided to be grateful to have this time to rest!
 The weather has turned from very cold ( close to freezing at night) to warmer days. Signs of spring are visible with buds on some trees, crocuses blooming, and birds singing. How lucky I am to have the pleasure of experiencing such a long spring!

This is what awaits us here soon: 
(photos taken a few years ago.)

I plan to spend the rest of April in Ontario and then drive east to Nova Scotia, stopping to explore the Gaspe Peninsula which I have long wished to see.

The journey continues!


"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."
                                                -Robert Louis Stevenson

"To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first."
                                                           -William Shakespeare


A story shared by a friend:

A man was telling someone that he and his wife were about to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. 
His buddy asked him what the secret was for the success of his long marriage.
He replied that for their 25th anniversary, he took her on a trip to Italy.
"So what will you do to celebrate your 50th anniversary?" asked his buddy.
The man replied, "I'll travel back to Italy to go pick her up!"

Sprinter?

This week I heard the transition from winter to spring referred to as "Sprinter" and that is what I have been experiencing for a couple of weeks now. It's been fun watching spring unfold and then reverse again as I began to travel north, with temperatures going from cozy warm sunshine back to shivering, chilly showers. It's too bad we can't send some of this water to California which is suffering from extreme drought!

On April 2, I arrived in Nashville and was happy to have my GPS as it is a much larger city than I expected, with large expressways and heavy traffic. My odometer passed the 100,000 km mark indicating that I had driven 21000 km since I bought my motorhome just over 6 mos ago!

The recording studio was in "Music City"and was easy to find. I not only got a place to park my motorhome but one of the co-owners, Barry, got me a guest ticket to a dinner and music show.

Spring blooms in Nashville

The show was great and I enjoyed listening to a few of the old country and western songs but I also felt some disappointment since those singers could never sound the same as the original ones. I knew times had changed and that many of  those classic C+W singers are gone and yet I had hung on to my teenage fantasy of what I thought Nashville would be like, not wanting anything to have changed. Then I thought of how wanting to hang on to a previous moment in time, is missing the precious moment of that day.

     Staying at the parking lot overnight                                

The theatre I went to

felt rather uncomfortable. Initially there was loud music from several bars nearby and then, after everyone left, I was the only one in that large parking lot besides one empty car.
I moved to a hotel lot the next day after getting permission and woke up to birds singing their hearts out in a blossoming tree nearby. 
Taking a shuttle bus downtown to Broadway St, I visited the" Grand Ole Opry", only to discover that the original building is no longer there and that the show has had several homes. This one is in a large old church that was converted in 1943 and is known as "The Ryman Auditorium". The tickets were expensive and I decided that since I would not be seeing those C+W singers I loved so much , I would buy CDs of Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves instead. It felt nice to be walking around that area of the city where so many of the old stars used to sing. The shuttle driver was fun and had a sign indicating "Anyone over 80 rides free if accompanied by parents."

Downtown Nashville, the old and new buildings

The Grand Ole Opry

Arriving back to where I was parked, I walked over to the "Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Centre". Covering 5.5 acres of land and with 2881 rooms/suites on 6 floors, this hotel is the largest I have ever seen and ranks as 29th on the list of the world's largest hotels.

There were several large areas of tropical trees, plants and forests as well as waterfalls, fountains, and even a river where you could go for a boat ride! Restaurants were scattered throughout this magical place and it felt wonderful to spend time there, particularly at night with thousands of twinkling lights , all inside.

Waterfall inside hotel

I was ready to leave the city after 2 days and it took me a while to decide whether to continue east or to go north toward Canada. When I got to the highway turn-off, I went north with no idea of where to stop that night. I knew I would find a place and shortly after that, I discovered another fascinating place to stay and an unexpected good experience.
That will make a good topic for my next blog!

A friend gave me this riddle: What is most difficult to open? (answer will follow at the end)
"Underneath even the most annoying behaviour, is a frustrated person who is crying out for compassion."
-Richard Carlson, author of "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff."
"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage
to lose sight of the shore."
-Andre Gide, French author
Answer to riddle:
A closed mind.

                                                                                                       

The Lure of Music

Petit Jean State Park , just west of Little Rock Arkansas, was a relaxing place to rest for a few days. After a 1/2hr drive up a mountain road, I came to the park and its forest of large pine trees. Along the entrance were groups of daffodils in full bloom  and interspersed among the pines were flowering wild pear trees. The songs of many birds added to the peaceful atmosphere.                                                            

    At first it looked like I would not be able to get a 
campsite due spring break for the schools and the campsites had been reserved weeks ahead. Luckily there was a last minute cancellation while I was waiting and I got a site for 5 days ! It was glorious to have so much time in such a wonderful place, to rest, go for hikes on their many trails, or catch up on e-mails at a lodge nearby.

The park is named after a French girl who, in the 1700's, disguised herself as a boy to secretly travel with her fiance to the New World and this mountain. He had refused her to come with him due to the dangers of going to an unknown land and promised he would send for her after checking it out. Her disguise was so good he didn't recognize her and the other sailors named her Petit Jean due to her small size. On the night before leaving  to return to France, she became critically ill and her identity was discovered. She begged him to forgive her and requested that she be buried on that mountain that she loved so much.Her grave site is now visited by many travelers.

There are several well traveled hiking trails throughout the park, often following Cedar Creek which resulted from Cedar Falls, a 95ft waterfall and popular attraction.

Cedar Creek

While at the park, I met many very nice people who lived in nearby towns or cities and wanted to spend time camping with their children. It was delightful to watch the children playing in the forest and listening to the music of their laughter.
Quite a few visitors camped in tents and it must have been cold for them during the night unless they had a tent heater.
The days were warm enough for T-shirts.
One day there was a thunderstorm, my first heavy rain in a long time. I was happy to get my RV washed!

On March 30, I travelled about 4hrs on to Memphis,Tennessee (pop just over 1/2 million) with the worst traffic I have yet encountered. The highway was busy enough with numerous large trucks (and some motorhomes!) and construction , that I decided not to drive into Memphis to visit Graceland (the former home of Elvis, sigh!)
As I had nothing else arranged for a place to park for the night I was going to stay at a Walmart on the outskirts of the city. A security guard informed me that parking there overnight was illegal and told me I could park at Sam's parking lot across the road. I've noted that some Walmarts now don't allow overnight parking for RV's or trucks due to their parking lots being owned by private companies. I was grateful to have a place to park!

The next day, I continued my journey, stopping at a McDonalds to use their free wifi to check on campgrounds along the way. I found a PA (Passport America) RV park , about 4hrs east.
The countryside had been rolling hills with some flat stretches and large fields bordered by forests.
As I drove eastward, I was watching spring unfold as if in slow motion : more blossoming bushes and trees appeared, the grass became greener and had a more lush appearance, young leaves were appearing on the trees and clumps of daffodils could be seen around some mailboxes. After the snow and ice of winter, the magic of spring never ceases to amaze me!

When I arrived at Tanbark campground, I was welcomed like a part of the family. The manager Gena, showed me to my site and gave me information about the park and the area.
Because I have PA membership, it cost me $12.50/night for full hookups, free wifi, laundry facilities and showers! I so love getting a good deal, particularly if it's also a pleasant, quiet, and well maintained park. Several people live here full time in their motor homes or trailers. For $250/mo plus electricity, it's an inexpensive way to live!
Tomorrow, I will go back on the road for the 1hr drive to Nashville, a place I have wanted to visit since hearing country and western music when I was a teen ager....Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves...
Gena made some phone calls and arranged for me to park overnight at her brother's recording studio across from Grand Ole Opry. Oh, I think I can hear the music already!


Some astronomy facts:
In the upper left shoulder of the constellation Orion is the bright star Betelgeuse. It is a supergiant red star 1 million times brighter and  1000 times larger than the sun. It is calculated to be as big as the radius of Jupiter's orbit around the sun!
(from "Understanding the Universe: An introduction to Astronomy" by Alex Filippenko)

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein

"The clearest way into the universe is through  -a forest wilderness" - John Muir, Botanist





      

From Deserts to Forests

Albuquerque, New Mexico was quite a large city with an "Old Town " section that took a very long bus ride from the Ford dealer where my "rig" was being serviced. 

 Small shops, restaurants, and gift shops lined the streets.

The area had a relaxed, quiet atmosphere despite the many tourists.

From Albuquerque, I continued on to Amarillo, Texas where I stopped at another PA park. This one was rather run down but I was too tired to look for a different campground and they did have hook-ups so I used the time there to catch up on some much needed cleaning and reorganizing my cupboards.

Things tend to shift around while traveling and it is an ongoing challenge to pack food and supplies for easy access while at the same time avoiding problems, particularly when having to break suddenly!

On the way to Amarillo, I noticed several signs advertising 

"Free 72oz steak dinner" at a restaurant in the city.

I later found out that yes, it was free, but only if you can eat the entire full-course dinner within 1 hr! Most people couldn't manage to eat so much and then would have to pay a large amount for the dinner. Texans like to think big!

While at the campground, I met someone who works as a camp host in Colorado. He not only gets free hook-ups but also gets some pay. After a 3-month commitment there, he can go on to another park to work or just travel. It's an affordable way that many RVers travel. The work is not hard and is often about 4hrs/day.

On to Oklahoma City to stay at a Walmart, along with a couple from Quebec that I had met earlier. 

I wanted to see the Memorial Museum which was built after the bombing of a federal building downtown 20 years ago on Apr 19, 1995. 

I drove to the downtown area, surprised by how pleasant the city is with little traffic and beautiful parks amidst several skyscrapers. Parking was not possible on the street due to the size of my RV but I found a church parking lot that was almost empty. Since I could not find anyone to ask, I parked there and walked the short distance to the museum.

The experience in the museum was a deeply emotional one and there was a hushed atmosphere as numerous visitors walked by the exhibits.

A child being carried out from the rubble

 From that museum, it was quite a long walk to the Museum of Art. I wasn't sure of the direction and asked a taxi driver who was standing nearby. He offered to drive me for no charge! I expressed my gratitude but declined as I needed the walk after so much driving.

The Museum of Art was a delight after the difficult experience I had earlier. They happened to have the largest collection of glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly and I quickly became a fan.

blown glass in the ceiling of a hallway

While at Oklahoma City, I had to decide which direction I would go for my journey back to Canada. The choice was to start heading north to St Louis and eventually Detroit, or continue east towards Nashville, Tennessee and then directly north to Detroit, a longer way. After listening to the weather reports from Ontario, I decided it was still too cold to go north and continued on hwy 40. 

On March 25th, I arrived in Arkansas and found a wonderful state park where I've decided to stay for a few days, in the forest.

I'll write about that in my next blog.

It's been interesting to see the desert gradually transform to greener areas along the road, to flowering bushes and trees, and to forests.

Along the way, I was thinking of how I had shared about living in harmony with nature, how I talk about conserving energy and how much I dislike seeing the smoke stacks of factories polluting the air. I realized that I'm not really any different and that I'm also polluting the air when doing all this driving.

What is an adventure loving pilgrim to do? Perhaps get a horse and buggy? This is my biggest challenge!

Dale Chihuly 's wonderful artwork

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass.
It is about learning to dance in the rain"
                                                 - unknown

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." 
                                        - T S Eliot, poet

"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice."
                                       - William Jennings Bryan, politician

                                                          

Nature is filled with magnificent wonders!

The 50 mi drive north on hwy 64 was on the Colorado Plateau which is rather flat with gentle undulations.
The plateau was formed along with the Rocky Mountains about 70 million yrs ago as a result of shifting plates, raising it from sea level to thousands of feet elevation.
Arriving at my destination, I was met by the awesome view of
The Grand Canyon, listed as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world.                                                          

Words or photos cannot begin to describe this magnificent landscape.
Given the large numbers of visitors, I was impressed by how well this area (the south rim) was organized, with free shuttle buses to take you along the rim, stopping at shops, restaurants, hotels, and trailheads. Despite so many services, the design is such that I never felt any chaos. There were many natural green areas and I always felt close to nature. Even beside the parking lot, I saw a number of deer wandering in the bushes nearby. The air was clear and, although there was some traffic and you could hear people speaking various languages, there was a sense of tranquility. This is an example of what living in harmony with nature could look like.

The Grand Canyon is 277 mi long and 1 mile in depth. There are several hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult and you can get a permit to camp below the ridge.

I was tempted to do one of the  difficult hikes but then accepted that I'm no longer in my 20's and do have some limits! The "Bright Angel" hike I chose to do was moderate and I found that challenging enough as the trail had some melting snow, mud, and icy patches.  It was very slow going due to some sheer drops at the edges and quite a few people on the trail. I was happy to have brought my hiking poles with me! The 1 1/2 mi walking down took me more than an hour, partly because I stopped to talk to some interesting people along the way. I knew I would have to come back up and decided not to continue the whole route. A sign at the visitor's centre advised that "Going down is optional. Coming back up is mandatory" ! It took longer to come back up and it was getting colder so it felt good to get back and relax.

I had forgotten it was spring break, so the campgrounds were full. I was too tired to look for some free camping in the National Forest so I just stayed at the parking lot and hoped no one would knock on my door at 3 am asking me to leave! There were other vehicles parked and those probably belonged to people camping in the canyon overnight.

After an uneventful night, I managed to get up at 6am to watch the sunrise over the canyon and was surprised to see hundreds of visitors waiting along the rim and at a lookout point. There was a hushed silence , then a sense of excitement when the first rays of the sun shone above the horizon.It was delightful to see the changing colours as the suns rays slowly illuminated the rock formations, peaks and crevasses.

I left there shortly after for the drive back to Williams and hwy 40 .Since it was still early, I decided to take a side trip to Sedona, having heard so much about that area. Heading south on hwy 89A was a treat. The road wound up and down with some sharp curves passing through forests and some very spectacular scenery. Since a permit was required to stop along the way, I stopped only once at a small market to look at local crafts. While there I met a woman who told me she was working for a resort in Sedona that is selling vacation properties. She offered me 2 free nights at their RV park if I agreed to attend their sales talk the next day. I had no interest in buying property but she insisted there was no obligation so I went to check it out. The resort was beautifully manicured and had many attractions but it also felt very artificial to me. I suppose I've been spoiled by camping in the desert! I left after a few minutes and , breathing a sigh of relief, ended up staying at the casino parking lot overnight!
Back to hwy 40 and east towards Albuquerque, however, more of natures wonders called me and I took a detour to the Petrified forest. I found a shop that sold small pieces of petrified wood for $2/lb but they also had very beautifully cut and polished pieces for much more money. A table inlaid with a slice of the polished wood cost thousands of $. 
They are clever to sell small pieces for a bargain because it helps deter people from taking them from the sites and damaging the petrified wood there

I don't really understand  it but the process of turning trees to stone began to occur over 200 million yrs ago when the landscape and weather were very different from today. The landscape was lush with trees almost 200 ft high. Over time, the trees were knocked down by wind or water and carried downstream.

Some were buried in sediment (including ash from volcanoes) before they could decompose. Ground water dissolved silica from the ash and this mixture filled the cells of the tree, crystallizing after a very long time.Other minerals were incorporated as well resulting in the various colours. (info from National Park Service brochure)

As I drove back along the road, I came across "The Teepees"which was an interesting set of coloured hills created by various minerals.

Soon after that, I saw "The Painted Desert" , located at the north end of the park and close to hwy 40, and called by that name because of the many colours there.

 How can anything technological ever compare to these wonders of nature?

I continued the long drive to Albuquerque to stay at another PA campground where I am at this time. I know many more wonders and adventures await me and look forward to sharing those experiences.

But first, I have to go get an oil change for the Ford truck that is a part of my motorhome.

Since I started this journey almost 6 months ago, I have driven 

about 19,000 km! 

While the truck is being serviced, I'll explore some of the old part of the city.

"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!"
                            -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German writer
                              
" Make each day your masterpiece"
                       -John Wooden,   Sportsman   

World wonders - Nature and Technology

From Las Vegas, it was a short drive to Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam, on the Colorado River at the border of Nevada and Arizona. Lake Mead is man made and is the largest reservoir in the US, its water supplied mainly from the melting snow of the Rocky Mountains. The levels are controlled by dams, the outflow regulated by the Hoover Dam to supply water to Arizona, Nevada, California and Mexico. 

Lake Mead


As I approached the dam,the traffic and electrical wires and transformers increased. I had to stop for a security check. 

They looked into one of my outside storage compartments and also  checked inside my RV for explosives.

 I stopped to view a new bridge that was completed in 2010 to relieve some of the traffic over the rim of the dam. I marvelled at the extensive electrical system and wondered if it is possible for our increasing technology to be in harmony with nature. I believe that living in harmony with nature is the only way humans can continue to live on this planet. We do need the technology and we are gradually becoming aware of working with nature as we not only find alternative sources of energy such as solar and wind power but are also learning to use these resources wisely. Living in an RV with no generator and depending on solar panels for electricity made me realize how wasteful I've been in the past. One light on at a time is enough and going to bed earlier is even better! LED lights use less power. Water is also a limited resource in an RV and it's amazing how little a person can manage with.

The new bridge is impressive  and attracts hundreds of visitors daily.
The walkway is walled off from the busy road next to it and has several historical plaques along the 1905 ft 
length.
At the end of the walkway, you have to turn around and head back, so that makes for some good exercise! It took 5 years to build this bridge and it is 880 ft above the river with a marvelous view of the Hoover Dam.

The Hoover Dam

I didn't realize that the Hoover Dam was constructed from 1931 to 1935. It is a National Historic Landmark and is a modern civil engineering wonder. It attracts more than a million visitors from all over the world yearly and on some days, over 5000 people come to see it!

Although I found the dam fascinating, I was happy to drive back through the quiet expansive desert again.

Along hwy 40 east towards Williams, Arizona
The road seemed to go on forever and I was happy I had about 3/4 tank of gas. I began to feel a bit concerned when there was no gas station for more than 3 hrs. Finally, I came to a station where gas was $4.59/gal!! Luckily I met someone who told me gas was less expensive just a few miles further , so I continued driving and was relieved to find gas for $3.49/gal. I have quite a large gas tank so that makes a big difference. After filling up, I continued and was rather annoyed when I came across a gas station only 2 blocks further that charged $2.99/gal! OK, I told myself, "Don't sweat the small stuff "  (It's a good thing I've been reading a book by that name, written by Richard Carlson !) How we react in any given situation depends so much on our perception.

Arriving at Williams, AZ, I had no problem finding the Canyon Motel and RV Park which offers Passport America rates and was very comfortable. Hook ups and wifi are always such a treat!

Williams is a small town on historic route 66 which was the main route from Chicago to Los Angeles  many years ago.
It began  in the 1800's with a series of wagon trails that eventually were linked together. Several towns developed and the railroad soon followed. It became a glorious adventure for many people looking for new opportunities in the west.
Now much of route 66 has been replaced by Interstate 40 but several sections have been preserved. 

Williams is also at the beginning of  a steam train ride and  hwy 64 heading north to a famous natural wonder of the world that I was fortunate enough to experience. The awe inspiring views have drawn an increasing number of visitors from all over the world. In 2013,  4,564,840 people visited this site!
Some photos will follow on the next blog!!


"When we stand at the border of reality, we are afraid that we will lose our identity by plunging in."
-Deng Ming-Dao

"Satisfaction comes from enjoying what you have, not from getting what you want." 
 - Amrit Desai

From Moonlight to Neon, Part 3

It was a long, isolated drive toward Las Vegas. The road seemed to go on forever but warm weather and clear blue sky felt very good !

 I had planned to stop and camp at Red Rock Canyon just west of the city but was unable to get a site because it was the week-end of the Nascar Races in Las Vegas. I decided to continue to the city since I wanted to find an RV park. 

Red Rock Canyon area from a distance

Luckily my new internet plan works on my Canadian cell phone ( I had the phone unlocked and a very helpful sales clerk at Walmart helped me take out the SIM card and put in one I could use in the US. "T-mobile" had a starter kit giving me unlimited internet and texting plus 100 min phone calls for $30 for a month!)I still don't know what a SIM card really is and can't understand how so much information can fit on a wafer less than 1/2in square!
 In a month, I'll be back in Canada
 and will have to look into a new system there.

Las Vegas is a place I've  wanted to visit for years but never got to. It was curiosity more than anything that took me there. I found a fantastic campground which was also a Passport America park. Because my RV is relatively small, I was able to get a site for about $15/ day (half price). That included access to their lounge, a pool and hot tub! Many people are parked here for the winter and most of the rigs are large Class A's with a few 5th wheels, large Class C's and trailers interspersed. Just about everyone has a toad (towing a car or truck) Mine is the smallest motorhome here.

The park is located on Boulder highway, in the southern part of the city. There is a bus that stops by this park and so I was able to go into the city and experience "The Strip".
It was far busier, nosier , and crowded than I had expected.
After the desert, hiking the strip was a very different experience!

Hiking in Death Valley

It was fun for a while but I soon felt sensory overload.
In the desert it was extremely still except the sound of my boots on the rocks. There nothing moved but hikers,
 cars on the roads and an occasional bird flying by. I felt close to the earth.

The strip of Las Vegas was 
a complete opposite experience.

promising the possibility of wealth

Lights, noise, crowds, music.
It was a fantasy world, with a lot of glitz and excitement, promising an escape for many from the problems of every day living.
There were more casinos than I had expected and some, like Caesar's palace, covered several city blocks.

I walked several miles and wasn't sure where to eat dinner. I went into the Flamingo casino and asked a waitress there if she knew of a good place. Not only did she give me some good advice but I felt I had met a soul-mate! She works there because of the good pay but then she is happy to get home to her garden and spend time in some of the beautiful national parks. "Velicity" told me she is a naturopath, does not gamble, smoke or drink
and believes in angels! she said she would get one of her angels to watch over me and keep me safe. It was a delight to meet her and I ended up having a very nice dinner about 2 blocks away from the strip. 
Even there, I had to wait an hour which I used to catch up on e-mails.
 They gave me a $10 card to play the machines while I was waiting but I would first have to pay $10 then use the card for more play. I gave the card to someone else who was excited to receive it. I have no interest in throwing away money on gambling and have seen too many people lose not only money but sometimes their home or their partner.
By the time I was finished with my dinner, it was already quite late but I wanted to see some of the free shows including a water show with dancing fountains and a lazer light show. They were well done and I enjoyed that very much.
On the way, I saw a man lying on the ground with a hotel worker standing beside him. I offered to helped and checked the man. He had been heavily drinking, walked outside and fell on his face hard enough to knock out a tooth and cause a gash on his forehead. He was talking and saying he didn't want anyone to call for help as he didn't have any money to pay for treatment.
Someone brought a first aid kit but they wouldn't allow me to help (concerns re liability). I had to leave and thought of how lucky we are as Canadians to have such a good health care system. I wonder how he dae out.
While I was walking the strip, there were several occasions when an ambulance or fire trucks sped by.
I was told that the Las Vegas has a very high crime rate.

Because of the lights, I never once saw the moon and only a few faint stars.
Coming back on the bus took much longer as I had to wait. The first bus dropped me off after about 45 min with info about where to transfer to the next one. I had to wait at a quiet intersection and felt uncomfortable because it was so late.
Standing at a corner at 11:30pm is probably not a smart thing to do in Las Vegas! 
Luckily the next bus came soon and I was able to get back to my RV.
I decided one visit to the strip was enough for me and can now cross that off my bucket list! 
Tomorrow, I'll leave here to drive to the Hoover dam and east towards the Grand Canyon. The  moonlight should be visible again there!

Along the strip of Las Vegas

Seen on someone's T-shirt:
"Suspend your disbelief"

A quote from the Dalai Lama 
" My religion is kindness"