Day 10 Oasis RV Resort Las Vegas, Nevada

We began the day at McFadden-Dale Hardware. We found everything we needed to finish attaching the bike rack to the Jeep. We got back to the RV and everything fit together perfectly. We had one final hurdle…would the bikes fit on the rack with the new tire…YES!!!

We packed our lunch and headed our for a trial trail run. We wanted to try out all the new stuff on the Jeep. Tim was happy and the Jeep ran like a champ. The new tires make him a bit more brave…I will get used to it!!

The trail was initially quite tame and I think that Tim was disappointed.

Beautiful yucca blooms in the foreground.

The Joshua trees are beginning to bloom as well.

We followed the power lines for a long while.

We finally found the Tierod Canyon Trail. It was rated 5 of 7 or moderately difficult. There were lots of obstacles and Tim was challenged by the course.

Lunch Spot.

There are still things we cannot try! Tim said rock crawlers probably use these steep trails.

While we were out, we got a texted a bunch of pictures. PopPop, Oliver, and Austin were all out 4 wheeling today!

It was a successful run. We are leaving Las Vegas tomorrow and will head south toward Joshua Tree National Park.

Day 9 Oasis RV Resort Las Vegas, Nevada

Today we waited. While we were waiting we did laundry and other chores. We also rode bikes around the campground. Finally we got the call, the Jeep was ready. Carlo from 4 Wheel Parts sent his wife to come and get us. She was as excited as we were to see the “big reveal.”

Tim was so happy…boys and their toys! It really does make me happy to see Tim so happy!!

We went for a late lunch and celebration at Steiner’s. We had delicious salads!

We toasted to our “Little Roughneck.” For months we have been trying to come up with a name for the Jeep…I liked Roadrunner…but it wasn’t the right name. A couple of weeks ago, it came to me…”Little Roughneck.” When Tim was young and in trouble, his mom would say, “You ain’t nothing but a roughneck!” Tim liked this reference instantly. So, in honor of his mom…we now have the perfect name!

We spent the rest of the day trying to make the bike rack work on the new larger spare tire on the back door. It needs some modifications. We worked on it until after dark and we will see if we can make it work tomorrow. We hope to have some time to go play with the Jeep. We want to take it off-road before we leave town so that we know everything is working the way it should!

Day 8 Oasis RV Resort Las Vegas, Nevada

We took the Jeep to 4 Wheel Parts this morning. We got a ride back to the campground and now we wait. Hopefully the Jeep will be ready with her makeover tomorrow!

We did ride bikes around a little bit and we had lunch in the resort cafe.

The remainder of the day was very unblogworthy!! We were lazy and even a little bored. No pictures either!

Day 7 Oasis RV Resort Las Vegas, Nevada

We wanted to go back to Red Rock Canyon and go hiking and take the Jeep off-road.

I am really glad that we went back. The view from the hiking trail is incredible. You get an entirely different perspective of the rock formations. The rock is very intricate and beautiful. The layers of sediment that formed this sandstone is easy to walk on except when it is wet. Apparently it gets slippery but also very brittle and therefore dangerous. We stood in awe, watching the climbers. They looked like ants or spiders scrambling up the rock-faces.

The yucca plants are just beginning to bloom.

We took the Jeep on a trail.

Always looking for the perfect picnic spot.

There were a couple of challenging sections…always get out and look instead of getting into a jam!

It looked passable…so on we went.

Part of what makes this so thrilling is that you never know what lays ahead on the trail. Wildlife encounters, obstacles, stunning vistas…or a brand new, very expensive Range Rover with temporary tags…stuck and with 2 flat front tires…in the middle of the trail…

Tim walked ahead on the trail, looking to see if he could find the driver. We will never know what really happened here but when I peered through the window it looked like someone had tried to start it or move it without a key…lots of wires sticking out and a screwdriver on the seat. We had no cell phone service but we were going to report the car at the ranger station. On our way out we passed some guys in a big pickup with tires in the back. They were going to get their car!

Beautiful day!

Day 6 Oasis RV Resort Las Vegas, Nevada

Tim was looking at his iPad and found a road, Kyle Canyon Road, north of Las Vegas, that looped into the mountains.  We decided to take that drive this morning.  As we approached, we could see the snow-covered mountains in the distance. 

As we got closer, we gained elevation.  Las Vegas sits at about 2,240 feet.  It was warm and sunny there…in the 70’s.  As we climbed to 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000, 7,000 feet, the air became steadily crisper and colder.  At about 7,000 feet, we started to see patches of snow. 

At about 7,500 feet we started to see blankets of snow covering all the north faces of the mountain.  

Playing in the snow…off-road!

The outside temperature got down to 41 degrees at 8,437 feet!

As we descended the mountain, we agreed that we had seen the perfect amount of winter.  Pretty snow, leaving to go back to the desert, goodbye!

We got back to the RV around noon.  Tim watched the NASCAR race and I went to the Las Vegas South Premium Outlets.  Everyone was happy!

We summoned an UBER and went downtown for dinner.

The Bellagio fountains as dusk.

The Cosmopolitan.

Vegas nightlife.