Alamo, Nevada to Laughlin,Nevada via the Valley of Fire area.

Today we tried an alternate route from Alamo, Nevada to Laughlin, Nevada.  We didn’t have far to go today so we didn’t leave the Pickett’s RV park until about 9:30 am.  We decided to try this route as a possible alternative to our usual one through Las Vegas.  We started our day on Highway 93 South.

Our turn left off of 93 south onto  State Road 168.

On the left is a big golf course development (another Coyote Springs)….not sure if it all really happened. 

As we travelled along there was a long line of large culverts sticking out of the ground.  They went on for miles and miles.  No idea what they were for.

Always interesting hills!

Always different.

At every dip in the road there were cones where the road had been washed away.   In some areas the road had been eroded from both sides.  Back at the beginning of September there was huge flooding in the Nevada /Arizona area.

A coal fired electrical generating plant….perhaps.

We are now coming onto I15 heading north towards our exit to Overton and State road 169 and the Valley of Fire area. 

I15 was completely washed out back at the beginning of September stopping traffic from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas.  

Exit 93 to Overton in one mile.

Well….that all went horribly wrong.  Our lane was channeled to the right and just before the exit there was a sign that said ramp right with no other explanation.  The GPS said it wasn’t time to get off, Eric thought it might be and we kept going.  Missed the exit as the whole area was dug up and under construction.   Many unprintable words were uttered by the driver! We are now heading to Salt Lake City.  So what now….well the GPS said to get off in “18miles” to turn around but Eric saw an exit called Camp Elgin Road exit 100 and got off. 

We came down to the right of the freeway and he turned left under the freeway on a narrow one way road.  This is us going through.

And then through the next part of it so we could turn left and get back on the freeway heading south to exit 93 and highway 169 to Overton.

Once again the Overton exit but now we are heading south. 

More construction, all traffic in the right lane…..

we got off turned left back over the freeway and were on the right road.  Phewwwwww. !

Coming into Logandale. We needed to pick up fuel for the rest of our trip but the gas station was full.   Maybe in Overton.

Well no fuel in Overton.  We couldn’t get into the station from the direction we were coming.  Maybe in Boulder City.

Onward and you can see the very red rock in the distance.

Although we didn’t actually go into the Valley of Fire State Park there is still plenty to see along the way.

Eric found the whole drive very tiring as it was windy and there were constant elevation changes.  The road was very rough in some areas and Eric was worried that Big Red might break loose in the garage. 

This gorge would hold a lot of water. 

The red rock shows up everywhere as you travel along.

 

At this point we were looking for a place to stop for lunch. 

On the left side of the road was a lovely stop.  Washrooms, picnic site and walking trail.

Really amazing rock.  Hardly looks real. Aztec sandstone.

Eric reading the sign shown below.

 

 

We are sitting at a picnic table having lunch and the rig is waiting in the parking lot.

 

 

More information signs.

 

 

This little fellow or gal showed up as we were eating lunch.  It is really tiny….not more than 5 inches tall.

I know you’re not supposed to feed the wild life but….it might have got a little bit of cheese from Eric and a crust of bread from me.  Okay …guilty…and it was just so darn cute.  It scampered away at high speed to eat and then quickly returned for a refill.  I think it might have had a snack or two in the past.  It looked like a tiny meerkat but was probably some type of chipmunk.  http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/chipmunks.html

I soon need to get into shorts and flip flops.  Eric may even have to shed his wool sweater. 

The blogger in front of the rock.

Onward towards Boulder City.

We are now on the East Lake Mead Parkway and that of course is ….Lake Mead.  Very low water right now.

 

Joshua tree at the edge of the road.

We made it into Boulder City and again tried to get fuel.  Another bust at the first station as the centre was too low for us to get through.  The attendant had to back Eric out into the road to get us out.  They are raising the  centre and you could see why.  A big truck had taken out one corner. I was getting a little stressed at this point and missed taking a picture. 

We did finally get fuel just before we had to head south on highway 95 by crossing to the other side of the highway.  Very busy highway. 

We have now been steadily climbing out of the Las Vegas area to Searchlight which is at 3540 feet.   Good news….no wind.  It can be brutal though here.

Slow down in Searchlight or you will get a ticket. 

Mural on the side of a building in Searchlight.

There were two bikes ahead of us with sidecars.  The first one is an old Triumph 650 and the one ahead is a newer BMW.

Going somewhere.

We have now turned off  highway 95 onto State Road 163 on our way to Laughlin.  Laughlin is at 500 ft so ….down we go for 3000ft.

Laughlin and the Riverside RV park ahead.  A long and very stressful tiring day.  Now we will park for a week and regroup.  Eric says this route was a one of.  Not a relaxing alternative route but worth seeing. It would be worth coming that way if you did and overnight stop. 

We are now parked down in the gravel where we usually stay so we can unload the bike.  Very warm.