Second day in the park. We almost picked the best spot but we were off by one. The spot next to us got early morning sunshine while we sat in the shade behind a small sandstone mountain. Thankfully, no one camped next to us so we enjoyed our morning over there.
Morning hikes to Mouses tank where we saw hundreds of petroglyphs aalong the entire trail. So many that we missed half on our walk in. We easily spent over an hour and half exploring this area. About 10 is when the park began to fill up with tourist from nearby Las Vegas. They were all in a hurry to get to the end of the trail and it didn't seem to me that they even cared about the art work surrounding them. I enjoyed it. It was history and it was beautiful. Ella napped while riding on Jason's back.
We also went on the White Domes hike. On the drive to this trail Jason spotted Desert Bighorn Sheep standing on the red sandstone. I had been wondering how large the herds of bighorn sheep used to be because one of the main petroglyphs is of them and we had not seen any yet. I almost believed that they didn't exist anymore. But they do and we saw them today! The hike was awesome. First of all, since it rained there was still water on the trail which made the majority of the tourist turn around. We climbed over rocks where we could and in the canyon Jason basically Spider-Manned over the water and Gordo and I trudged through it. It felt great to take off my socks and shoes and roll up my pants to make it through. Gordo did not think so highly of the experience. He stopped the second he felt the ice cold water hit his belly, looked around for an alternative but then finally trudged through with a frown on his face. The white canyon was beautiful and I really enjoyed the hike. Ella stayed awake the entire time while clinging to dad's back and watching me and Gordo. She really liked touching the red and white rocks and yelling in the canyon.
We returned for lunch and a quick nap. We then ventured back out for a drive and a short walk to see the petrified logs and the balancing rock. The logs were not as spectacular as the ones we saw in Petrifed Forest National Park. We may returned to that park on our way east. We stopped in at the visitor center and we saw a predetary bird swoop down and snatch a chipmunck from undr some rocks at the bird feeder. I think it may of been an osprey or a small hawk.
Then we returned for the evening. I gave Ella and Gordo a bath in the public shower. I'm becoming a pro at giving Ella baths as I have done it in many places now. I had her sit in the green hamper that I use to tote my things back and forth to the shower. She played in the water while I hurriedly bathed Gordo and myself and then took care of her. She is taking a nice nap right now.
Weather: sunny!!! 39-63. I actually wore a tank top today!
Animals: phainopepla (black bird that looks like a cardinal), Gambels quail, antelope ground squirrel, desert bighorn sheep, cactus wren, black tail jackrabbit
Trails: Mouses tank/ petroglyph canyon, white dome, Petrifed logs and balanced rock.
State: Nevada
Highlights:
Arlene- taking two showers, sitting in the warm sun, getting off the main road, exploring new places, taking my shoes off and walking in the cold water, seeing animals, being in the car with Jason as he hit the metal marker and then ran over it.
Jason's- hike around the white domes. Hearing Ella yell dada all day. She knows who dada is and loves him!
Ella's- hiking with the family, yelling in the canyon, sitting with my legs and toes in the sun while I napped in the stroller.
Gordo- marking the canyons as ALL HIS TERRITORY!!
White dome hike
Getting a closer look at some petroglyphs on Mouse tank trail
Mouses tank
Hiking on mouses tank trail
Panoramic shot of campground
Reading
Looks like fire
Morning shot of camper
Sitting in the sun!
