We've gone south for the winter!

Above: My brother, Travis, holding his 3-yr-old daughter, Marquel, then Michael, my 10-yr-old niece, Jaicee, then Travis' wife, Shay, and their son Justen -- standing on the top of hoover dam with the Colorado River canyon and the new Hoover Dam Bypass bridge behind them.

I know Michael and I told you all that we were going to "freeze our you-know-whats off in Idaho" for the holidays, but we decided to go south for the winter instead. South as in Wickenburg, Arizona -- just outside of Pheonix. It was 60 degrees today, and we actually lounged around the pool while my niece swam!

On the way here we visited the always astounding Hoover Dam. It is really a remarkable feat of construction. You should definitely visit if you have the time. It's only about 30 miles outside of Las Vegas.

For some reason, the really macabre trivia facts always seem to stick with me. So, here's one about the Hoover Dam. 112 men died during the construction. The man generally considered to be the first to die was a surveyor who drowned in 1922 while looking for the ideal spot to build a dam. The last man to die was his son, who died during construction exactly 13 years to the day later. Creepy, huh?

The new Hoover Dam visitor's center juts out over the gorge and is over 500 feet above the bottom.

Me with my wonderful mother, Edna.

Michael leaning nonchalantly out over the edge!

Michael and my mother, Edna.

More pics of Hoover Dam

Above is the new Hoover Dam Bypass, which was completed in October of this year and includes the longest concrete arch in the western hemisphere. The bridge is the second highest in the US (behind the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado) at 840 feet above the Colorado River. You can actually park at the edge and walk all the way out to the middle (if you're brave enough!). Prior to this bypass being built, all traffic had to cross over the Hoover Dam itself, with only one lane in each direction -- a major pain in the bum!


The sign above says, "Hoover Dam, 1931-1935." It actually took 5 years to complete, from 1931-1936, but was dedicated in 1935 to coincide with Franklin Roosevelts tour of the West. Amazing to think that this enormous construction only took 5 years to complete...in the middle of the Great Depression.

It is nearly 600 feet down from where I was standing at the top taking this picture, to the bottom where the water spins the turbines and generates all that power to light up Las Vegas!

Some groovy Art Deco sculptures adorn the walkway above.


Michael nervously laughing as I ask him to back up just a little closer to the edge for a good picture!