Saturday, January 12, 2013

Day 114 (Monday 11/12/12)- Las Vegas, NV

We decided to load up on food before heading out for Red Rock Canyon-A Filipino buffet that we soon found out serves anything but vegetables. Isaiah had plate after plate of unidentifiable meat, I got a great cultural experience. The roomful of Filipinos seemed surprised we liked their food. I nodded along encouragingly, my single plate of white rice and fruit shoved into the corner.

To Red Rock we rolled and once there, out of the van Isaiah rolled. First to the visitor's center which overthrew Death Valley as the best we've seen. Most of the exhibits were outside on a wrap around patio and were interactive. Divided into four sections, representing each of the earth's elements, the exhibits had great information and a spectatcular view of the canyon.

Inside, however, was my favorite exhibit. There I posed with 2 statues-a giant bronze lizard on the floor and a slow marching turtle on a shelf. Only one turned out to be real.

I mistook Mojave Max for an incredibly detailed book end. It turns out desert tortoises, like bears, sleep for most of the winter (for tortoises its called brumation). You would think Max would sleep tucked into his shell, instead he fell asleep mid step. He is expected to re-animate sometime in March. Local school children guess when he will wake up each year. Last year a child got within an hour. I have $400 riding on March 3. What? It's Vegas. You didn't think we weren't going to gamble, did you?

We drove around the park and hiked a path into Icebox canyon. The "path" seemed a vague suggestion. The "icebox" an apt foretelling.

Isn't he huge?

Mojave Max-Weird I know but actually just sleeping

Red Rock park
 

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