Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

 Red Rock Canyon is located 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip on State Route 159. You can easily see Red Rock from the Las Vegas strip and we would highly recommend coming out here for a hike instead of sitting in a dark casino losing your money :o)
The unique geologic features, plants and animals of Red Rock represent some of the best examples of the Mojave Desert. The conservation area showcases a set of large red rock formations: a set of sandstone peaks and walls called the Keystone Thrust. The walls are up to 3,000 feet high, making them a popular hiking and rock climbing destination. The highest point is La Madre Mountain, at 8,154 feet.
When looking at these mountains from a distance, you would think they couldn't possibly sustain much life. Enter The Native Americans: The first humans here were attracted to the Red Rock area due to its resources of water, plant, and animal life that could not be easily found in the surrounding Mojave desert. Hunters and gatherers such as the historical Southern Paiute and the much older Archaic, or Desert Culture Native Americans, have successively occupied this area.

We took advantage of this spectacularly beautiful day to take a scramble up into these mountains to take in the views of the surrounding area. We took over a hundred photos of our hike into the mountains. I have chosen a few of the best ones to share with you.

The thing about this hike that kept taking my breath away (beyond the climb!) was how blue, blue, blue the sky was in contrast to the reds, tans and browns of the landscape. What a contrast to the smoggy skies of the LA area we will see later in our trip.

We saw very few people on our hike. Another bonus of traveling to places like these in the off-season.

We had to work our way through some pretty challenging terrain as we went along. Thank goodness we had Steve as our guide. He regularly climbs here with a group of friends, so knows which ways to take us up the mountains.

When given the choice, I was always ready to crawl through the cave instead of climb up and around it. I usually got Rowan to do it with me too.

Canyon Scrambling

 Scrambling is "a walk up steep terrain involving the use of one's hands". Canyoning often involves scrambling. So I guess we are technically Canyon Scrambling here, since we are in a canyon.

Steve and Rowan demonstrate the technique here.

It is amazing to see how life can literally cling to the rocks, as this tree demonstrates (kinda like Steve and Rowan too, in the photo above!)

A bit of live-action walking along our scramble path

We stopped at the top of our mountain path to have a snack and some water before we started our descent down the other side of the mountain. This was the perfect time for a group photo.

Look at the crazy blue sky! Wow!

As we came down the back side of the mountain, we were looking for wild Big Horn Sheep. Steve and Ann have seen them before when hiking here. We couldn't seem to spot any today.

This is a great photo to show the the scale of where we are hiking. See if you can find Steve in this photo (and I am zooming in on him!).

WooWhoooooo! We did it!

What a wonderful day! Now all we could think about was getting in that hot tub back at cousin Ann's place and watching more football :o)

Next, we're off to La La Land.........

West to Hoover Dam and Las Vegas

We continued west on Hwy 40 and hit snow again at Flagstaff. This was a clear sign that we should not take that right turn towards the Grand Canyon. Avoiding more weather drama is at the top of our list.

As we went west, the scenery kept getting more stunning.

We passed by the Juniper Mountains, Aquarius Mountains and Mohave County

The weather surrounding us on all sides was very dramatic. We kept going in and out of little rain showers.

At Kingman, Arizona we headed north on Hwy 93 towards Las Vegas. Here is where the scenery got even more dramatic as we went through the Cerbat Mountains and passed Mt. Tipton.

Hoover Dam

We were pleasantly surprised when we realized we were going to pass right by Hoover Dam. Rowan has never seen it and I haven't seen it since I was a child. As we turned off the highway to go to the dam, we were greeted by this rainbow. We took it as a good sign as our destination today is Las Vegas.

Walking out on the bridge over-look just takes your breath away!

You can see the shadow of the bridge we are standing on. It feels like you are on top of the world when you look down on the dam from this viewpoint.

As we approached Las Vegas, we were greeted by another rainbow. Looks like we might have double luck during our visit here! :o)

Las Vegas

We were very excited to arrive at Rowan's cousin Ann's in Las Vegas.

Ann and Steve are huge football fans, so we are happy we are here on playoff weekend. We will be watching all the games. We forgive them for being Patriots fans and look forward to spirited cheering for the 'other' team :o) 

We all went out for Korean BBQ and the food just kept coming and coming.......

....we absolutely gorged ourselves to the point that all we could do is go back to the house and lay down and watch more football.

A view of The Strip at night from Ann & Steve's house. (It looked like our alien friends were hovering in the clouds over the city. They must be following us. :o)

This is the closest we got to the strip. Thank goodness! It really isn't our scene.

Jenni was very excited to have access to a kitchen and grill for the first time in a couple of weeks, so wasted no time cooking dinner the second night of our stay.

Grilled vegetables, shrimp kabobs and grilled chicken were on the menu.

I just loved the fake snakes Ann had around the swimming pool deck in the backyard.

This helps to keep the birds from pooping all over the deck.

The first time I looked out back and saw this guy I about pooped my pants!

Our hike in Red Rock Canyon is next

Yes, There Is A Song About This Place

You all know that Eagles song, so sing along...........

Well, I'm a standing on a corner
in Winslow, Arizona
and such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed
Ford slowin' down to take a look at me
Come on, baby, don't say maybe
I gotta know if your sweet love is
gonna save me
We may lose and we may win though
we will never be here again
so open up, I'm climbin' in,
so take it easy...............

So, here we are. In Winslow, Arizona. We left Santa Fe and drove west on Hwy 40 along Old Route 66. What a blast from the past. I have been traveling this road since I was a kid back in the 60's, when it was really the old two lane 66. All the funky hotels and Indian tee pee trading posts were operating back then. Today, we passed many of the 'ruins' of those places along the new Hwy 40. Sad. There are a few of those old places still in operation, and we have found a real jewel to stay in at Winslow.

First, as we left Santa Fe, we needed breakfast. Our friend Josh recommended we eat at Tecolote (it means owl in Spanish). http://tecolotecafe.com/

My Breakfast

  Shirred Eggs Tecolote - Fried chicken livers with salsa fresca, fried eggs and fried potatoes. I will say it slowly....H-E-A-V-E-N! How many times can you find chicken livers on any menu for breakfast? I am in love and will continue to eat here when I pass through Santa Fe in the future.

Rowan's meal

 Huevos Yucatecos -

Corn tortilla layered with black beans, two scrambled eggs, green chile, swiss and feta cheese, pico de gallo, surrounded with fried bananas and pinto beans. Holy Mole!

This gave us the strength to carry on down the road.....

If you have never been down hwy 40, the landscape begins to change almost the minute you cross the border from New Mexico going west into Arizona. You can really feel the high desert changing as you cross through the Colorado Plateau and the Navajo Nation.

Geronimo's Trading Post, Holbrook, AZ

 I remember stopping here many times as we traveled back and forth from California to Kansas during summer vacations to see my cousins when I was just a kid. Luckily, this place has survived time. The tee pees are still here, and so is Geronimo and all of his pertrified wood (we are sitting on a stump of it) and the trading post. The petrified forest national park is just down the road from here.

 La Posada Historic Hotel, Winslow, AZ - A Masterpiece

I can only touch the surface of the long history of this stunning place in this post. I cannot express enough to anyone reading this how much you need to come here to experience its magnificence. 

La Posada is the masterpiece and favorite building of Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, the greatest of all Southwestern architects. Today, it is a fully restored hotel, residence and private museum. 

A little history: Mary Coulter was hired by Fred Harvey Company in 1903 to design fine hotels, restaurants, and gift shops along the Santa Fe railway in the southwest: She became America's most influential designer. She blended Spanish Colonial Revival, Mission Revival and Native American motifs and Rustic elements in her architecture throughout the southwest.

La Posada came on hard times during the depression in 1930 and never prospered. It closed to the public in 1957. In 1959 its museum-quality furnishings were auctioned off. It became offices for the Santa Fe railway (railway lines still pass just behind the hotel today). In 1993 the railway announced plans to dispose of the hotel. In 1994 the National Trust for Historic Preservation put La Posada on its endangered list.

Luckily, Allan Affeldt purchased the hotel in 1997. Restoration began immediately and continues today under daily care with a talented team of artisans and craftsmen.

Many famous people visited here during the early days. Rooms are named after them. Everyone from Einstein to Frank Sinatra, FDR to Jimmy Stewart, Jane Russel, Clark Gable, Amelia Earhart. We stayed in the Mary Pickford room.

Each room in the hotel has a plaque with photo and background info on the famous person the room is dedicated to. We learned so much about lots of people as we walked around the hotel.

  
Mary Pickford (1892-1979) was a Canadian-American motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Known as "America's Sweetheart", "Little Mary" and "The girl with the curls", she was one of the Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood and a significant figure in the development of film acting.

Our room was spectacular. Everything in there was high quality and thoughtfully done.

The tiled bathroom was fabulous too.

More history: La Posada was never for sale. Allen Affeldt purchased it from the Santa Fe Railway after learning through the National Trust that the property was in danger of being torn down. He first visited Winslow in 1994 and decided to help the local preservationists.

Allan and his artist wife Tina Mion took on the enormous risk and complexity of the $12 million project. They moved into the hotel in 1997 and still live in the east wing today. They have transformed the place into a living museum, and revived the legacy of Mary Colter.

A photo tour of this magnificent place

There is a large eclectic collection of art, furniture, tapestries, lamps and antiques throughout the hotel

The sculpture hall

Sculptor Shing Yin Khor

I just loved this little creature below made from a gourd. 

Shing Yin's statement regarding her art:

I sculpt awkward, charming, and awkwardly charming creatures trapped in a world of human fallibility. My themes are inspired by historical hoaxes, old museums, cabinets of curiosities, cryptozoology, early scientific illustration, medieval monster design and pre-Linnaean taxonomy; my palettes are inspired by the more obnoxiously colorful parts of nature, especially invertebrates.

 If this were a real creature, I would have one :o)

Lots of American Indian art everywhere

Tina Mion-Artist

 Tina is a renowned artist who paints in her studio at the hotel. La Posada has become her principal gallery, and her art is now an integral part of the experience at the hotel. Tina's work has shown in museums around the country and is in the permanent collection at The Smithsonian. 

She has a large collection of paintings here all about the old route 66. Here are just a few.  

You can learn more about Tina at http://www.tinamion.com

Here is the gallery in the hotel where Tina shows her art.

She currently has her Ladies First exhibit showing in the gallery. This is a study of the lives of the American Presidents' wives. You can learn more about these paintings if you go to her website: http://www.tinamion.com/ladies_first.htmlI  I will show you only my favorite 4 paintings here: 

Stop-Action Reaction - Jackie Kennedy, King of Hearts (that is Jack's face on the king of hearts.)

 Fishbowl - Hillary Clinton, Seven Of Diamonds. This one, painted in 2000, really nails what has just happened!

Eyes Only For You -Nancy Reagan, Ten of Diamonds.

 Of course her eyes are portraits of Ronnie

Leaving The Emerald City. We thought this one was just inspired! I have included the description below.

Here is the ballroom filled with beautiful art and collectibles.

My favorite rusty metal sculpture out in the Well Garden

You can just hear the loud Heeeeee-Hawwwwww!

There are no photos of the exterior gardens at the hotel as it was raining cats and dogs the whole time we were there. Good thing there was so much to look at and take in inside the hotel. We will make this a destination again when we come through Winslow. What a gem!

Go here for more information on the hotel: http://www.laposada.org/

  Hoover Dam and Las Vegas are next!

IZANAMI

Food, Food.......Fabulous Food!

Once we collected ourselves after our spa experience, we walked over to the on site restaurant, Izanami, for some Japanese izakaya (small plates). There were so many delicious options on the menu, we decided to go for the Omakase Tasting Menu and the Omakase Flight sake tasting menu. Go here to check out the menu: https://tenthousandwaves.com/food/menus 

There were a few things we had that were not on the menu as the chef has the freedom to create anything he wants to give you from fresh ingredients that are available to him on a daily basis.

Tofu and sticky rice

 This was super delicious. Homemade tofu, sticky rice, garlic chili sauce, burdock root, carrots, sesame soy dressing.

Omakase Flight Sake Tasting

 The great thing about tasting this many is you can really tell the difference between them and how they pair with the food.

Monk Fish Liver

 I'm sure lots of you are saying, EWE! Believe it or not, this is really delicious. It tastes just like the ocean. It's very light and fresh - served with grated pickled daikon radish and cucumber/seaweed salad

Ahi Tuna Roll and Brussel Sprouts

 The tuna roll was gently seared and rolled in wasabi and crushed pistachios. The brussel sprouts were our favorite thing. They are crispy grilled with house sweet chili sauce and bonito flakes on top. I will most certainly be trying to make this when I get home. YUM!

Crab and Shrimp Salad with Crispy Root Chips

Comfort food at its best. 

 Grilled Shrimp Skewers

....with Japanese aoli

 Grilled Halibut Collar

 This halibut was cooked to perfection. It was marinated in the most delicious secret sauce. Served with daikon.

 House made Coconut Sorbet and Hazelnut Truffle

 The chef just knew the perfect way to end this meal.......the dark chocolate hazelnut truffle was covered in grated coconut. It just melted away in our mouths.

One architectural note:

 

All of the architecture here at the spa is very Japanese (except for the adobe used for the lodging buildings). I was taken by the framing of the ceiling in the restaurant. Notice they used entire tree trunks for the cross bracing, no matter if they had a bend in them or not. Notice also the use of the pegs between the cross braces and all of the counterbalance stuff going on. We noticed that they have an impressive wood shop here at the spa. We were told they do all of their own woodworking and building. Really impressive. 

We both would highly recommend a visit to Ten Thousand Waves. You won't regret it.

Next Stop, Winslow, Arizona.

Our Message To You On This Inauguration Day 

This is a real time post

 

The sign in our front yard

Go here to listen to a song written just for today from one of our favorite Bay Area bands:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67j3v13-zjo&feature=youtu.be 

Peace!

We pick up on our adventure tomorrow.