Fire! Fire!

Thursday, 14th February
Where are them there Indians!

Today we are off on a mini adventure.  I know it is a mini adventure as we have egg rolls.  It's one of those weird family traditions that is steeped in our childrens' memories of times when they were little.  So an early start to the day with the picnic, suncream, hats and woollies just in case it gets a little cool.

Is it a tree or a mobile phone mast?

The Valley of Fire is a mere 55 miles from Las Vegas on Interstate 15.  It does get a trifle boring travelling down the long but not winding road that is the interstate but every now and again you can see something that catches your eye and you think 'That clever.' Well you tell me.  Our countryside is littered with mobile phone masts that stand out like a sore thumb next to a royal oak or fir tree. The Americans have come up with the bright idea of disguising their mast as fir trees.  Brilliant. Let's bring that idea over here.  You can get palm tree versions too.

Look out for the Indians on the ridge

So on we go past quarries and see freight trains with over 100 containers in-between two engines.  A right turn and onto a winding, narrower road that takes us up to the Valley of Fire entrance and paystation.  Having paid you drive around the corner and you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a western film set expecting to see cowboys and Indians having a shoot out with the Wagon Train in a circle.  Amazing.  In fact, for once, words fail me.  It really is very spectacular and any photos will not do justice to the sight.

The red sandstone rock has been shaped and moulded over thousands of years by the wind and water to create these amazing sights.  So the journey begins.  Now I am going to say the magic word Geocaching.  No little plastic boxes this time but earth caches. In other words you take your photo in front of an object and answer questions to widen your knowledge of what you see.

The Beehives

The first place we visited was the Beehives.  Obvious why they are called beehives.  They have been weathered by the eroding forces of wind and water.  The great forces of nature.  

Back in the car and off to see some old fossils.  Technically Logs and stumps that were washed into the area from an ancient forest about 225 million years ago and now appear as rocks although you can clearly see their original shape and form.

I just love this sign.  A text book example of American Grammar and humour.  I tried to shout 'boo' to see if it would affect the wood but there was no reaction.  The tree were scared stiff.   Get it:-)

'A Petrified Tree

 So what now.  Yes, you've guessed it back to the car and on to the next point of interest.  Actually a matter of finding a 'convenience' really and you can't beat a Visitors Centre.  Have to say I am a bit disappointed as the Visitors Centres we been to so far have not been able to provide us with a cuppa or an icecream.  Sufficiently refreshed and informed about the fauna and flora of the Valley we ... go back to the car and off to Mouse's Tank.  Yes, the apostrophe is in the right place.  Mouse is described as being a renegrade Indian who, being accused of theft, used the area as a hideout.  We are talking 1890's.  The Tank part of the name comes from a natural basin in the rock where water collects after rainfalls, sometimes remaining for months. Mind you they only have 4" of rain a year.  The Mouse Tank itself isn't that exciting but what is amazing is the numerous examples of prehistoric petroglyphs (ancient symbols).  Were these in the UK they would be behind a fence covered in perspex.

Can you decode this.  I think it is two people have molar dental problems 

Left - Atlatl (spear) zig zag River, Long horned sheep

Petroglyph Canyon Train. Off the beaten trail

Time for lunch, remember the eggy sandwiches.  As it gets so hot, hot, hot there are a number of shaded areas for a picnic or a bbq.  We were entertained by the cutest of chipmunks who apparently carry ticks and other nasties but they are rather funny.

More peanuts please.

Our journey around the Valley continued to the Atlati Rock.  If you want to go camping there is some great campsites within the Park area.  The Atlatl Rock shows even more Indian rock art.  An atlatl is a notched sticked used to throw primitive spears.  You have to work a bit harder to get to this area though but it had to be done as this was another earth cache.  Glad we didn't have to take the old stairs looked a bit scary.

Arch Rock

And so to the last earth cache.   Our task here was to guess the height and width of the arch.  Any guesses?

And so the journey back to Vegas and the bright lights.  Today two more would join our merry band, Rick and Anna, friends of Mikes'.  Another day done and a fab chilli meal prepared by Mike.  That's how you impress your new in-laws.