July 4 at Lake Las Vegas (West Coast Van Trip – Post 2)

In the morning we decided to go kayaking on Lake Mead, which we’ve enjoyed before. But as luck would have it, right when we got there a strong wind picked up and it was threatening to storm. It was over 100° out, so plenty hot, but it just didn’t look fun trying to fight the wind. And the water level is disastrously low, with nothing but crumbling gravel and smelly mud where there should have been a nice shoreline. Bleak!

So we went on a short hike along the river instead.

It was a very short hike because it was hot, and once the trail got down to the river it was overgrown with seasonal river reeds and brush. All in all, disappointing, I had hoped to get out on the water, but the reality is, we were just very tired.

So we got Thai food instead. There’s a Thai food restaurant in Las Vegas we really like. That perked us up a bit, but I ended up laying down in our room while John took a walk through the neighborhood in the 106 degree heat. I was wondering what the heck is the matter with me, taking afternoon naps. But then when John got back from his walk he fell asleep, leaving me to wish I had actually managed to sleep during my little rest. We are getting old!

Here’s a quick video of some other people out on the water:

We used to really like Lake Las Vegas, but it’s changed and we are less impressed than we once were.

They always used to set off fireworks over the lake right outside our condo, so we often went out on the 4th of July and New Years. We didn’t realize that the fireworks were going up on a completely different part of the lake. Once we found that out, we don’t know if we’re going to be able to see much. I had mentioned the fireworks to the front desk clerks at check-in, but unfortunately they didn’t say, “Uh, lady, we don’t do them here anymore, you’re at the wrong hotel.” Urg.

If you had kids though, this place would be really fun. There’s an entire inflatable playground on the water. Wow, wouldn’t we have loved something like that when we were kids!

It is pretty and we like being on the water.

That night we watched to see if they were going to do fireworks or not. Sure enough, they weren’t setting up where they used to years ago. Uh-oh. Would we be able to see them?

On the hopeful side was all the people lined up on the shoreline and party music blasting over the loudspeakers. They were clearly expecting something to happen.

It was pretty while we waited.

Yay, fireworks! Not nearly as close by as they once were, but at least we could see them.

I love watching fireworks from my own balcony (or in this case, window). It was just as well we were indoors because even this late in the evening it was ridiculously hot.

I hope everyone had a good July 4 holiday! Next stop…Boise, Idaho…

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