In this image, I am over ten miles west of the Las Vegas Strip looking east. There is about one-third of the strip that isn’t in the image to the south or to the right from this location on a slope on the western side of the valley. Behind me is the Lamdre’ Mountains and Red Rock Canyon.
Rising up to meet the sky. Mojave Desert beauty.
You are a long way north of Las Vegas at this point where SR160 meets the ninety-five freeway out of Las Vegas. You’ve driven north through the little city of Pahrump on SR160. Turn right, you’ll head back to Las Vegas, turn left, you’ll head for Tonopah, Reno and Carson City, our state capital. Let’s head south, Las Vegas is less than one hundred miles south, Reno is about five hundred miles north of Las Vegas. I like to sleep in my own bed, one day I’ll drive up there.
Tropical Parkway is an east-west road in the northwest area of Las Vegas Valley. If you’ve followed my blog long enough then you might remember the shredded car at the very far west end of this road which I strongly suspect was stolen. Bastards.
Heading east when you pass Durango Road, you will find some great shopping areas and wonderful restaurants. I purchased my leather Lazy Boy couches at the Lazy Boy store there. The area is easily accessible via the 95 freeway too.
These older Nikon photos are not too sharp which I seriously don’t like, not my style. I expect more of my photos today. Looking back at my photography with the good old Nikon D3300 I can see now how fuzzy they are compared to the new Nikon Z6 series with no mirror.
Live and learn…
I’m really looking forward to the days ahead when I can safely get back to my sometimes daily drives around Las Vegas or in the open desert as I call it. A day run down to Laughlin and Needles. A day run to Death Valley. The Valley of Fire, or perhaps north to Tonopah. Let’s roll!
Another point-and-shoot photo from whenever it was taken.
Here are three oldies from a day trip to the Valley of Fire State Park about two years ago. After using the much newer and mirror-less Nikon Z6 camera for a few months now (interrupted by corona) it’s become even clearer to me how much better the photos coming from the Z6 are over the old D3300 body. I’d love to get back up there for another set of photos when this corona situation is over. I can’t even imagine the sorrow so many are dealing with now.
Waiting on a green light along Lake Mead Boulevard.
This is the view on westbound Summerlin Parkway at Durango road, a nice view!
Let’s have a ride on State Road 160, or SR 160 between Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nevada. Don’t the mirages trip your vision and run off the road! In the desert, you can’t remember your name…
Primm, Nevada is right on the Nevada and California border and about forty minutes south of Las Vegas on the fifteen freeway. It’s a small place with a couple casinos and a fuel station. Last chance for fuel for a long way south!
Ivanpah is a huge solar plant which I personally dislike as much as those ugly wind turbines.
The bright glow is light from the thousands of mirrors focusing on the top of one of three towers that heat water and make steam which generates electricity. Good old coal, hydro and oil are much better, tried and truly dependable power sources for we humans.
The Bike is planted in stone, in Boulder City and is at a park for mountain biking. I was not there for biking but just on one of my random drives looking for photos.
This is an all-natural Joshua Tree slingshot, just add the huge rubber band!
Here is a different angle on our famous Las Vegas sign as I call it with zero people in the image! In the other image. I am westbound on Charleston Boulevard just outside of the city. The Red Rock Escarpment is seen just left of centre and several miles away from my location.
The Escarpment is a faultline.
Nevada Love, Desert Love! Two photos from a couple years ago. I called my dad up in Michigan this morning, haven’t talked with him for a week or so. We talked about many things including how the weather has been so cold and snowy for May, that’s just nuts!
I mentioned that I have considered moving back to Michigan at some point to which he replied that I have a wonderful climate here in Las Vegas, stay there! Yep, it’s damn nice dad! But dad, I did grow up with a snowmobile under my butt!! Fact is, I can’t tolerate the cold so well these days, I am a bit chilly when the temperature falls to the sixties! Better stay put eh?
From one of my rides around the city and outside the city, this is the little town of Blue Diamond, Nevada. A quaint little place with a small community with it’s own businesses and post office too. Wikipedia has a nice article on this place.
At nearly 7000 feet, Gass Peak is wearing it’s cloudy crown well! I am northbound.
The photo shows a portion of Las Vegas proper, a misconception is that the entire valley is the city proper but it’s not. The Las Vegas Strip lies in two unincorporated communities called Winchester and Paradise, leaving the actual city just north of the Strip. Visit the Wikipedia page.
Las Vegas was founded as a city in 1905, when 110 acres (45 ha) of land adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks were auctioned in what would become the downtown area. In 1911, Las Vegas was incorporated as a city.
This city has a very complex and interesting history for me. Sometimes I’ll do an online search for the history and other aspects of this valley up to and including why certain areas of the valley are sinking, and where the dangerous fault lines are. I am a Flat Lander from Michigan which is why I have such interest for this wonderful place. And it never snows in the valley!
The name Las Vegas means The Meadow
A Buckhorn Cholla that is! This photo was taken between Charleston Boulevard and the Red Rock Escarpment which is a fault line. My best guess about the distance between the road and the base of the mountains is about one mile. I was able to hike it once about two or so years ago. That’s a very long hike for a guy with a compromised back! Don’t give up, you can do it!!
I also have a compromised heart which is why I have had a Life Alert account for two or more years as a safety precaution. You wear the mobile unit clipped to you somewhere or in the pocket. It’s very small but is actually a satellite transceiver, does not link to the cell system so it works anywhere and has full duplex conversation capability like your phone. Peace of mind.
Another view of how rain can make the Mojave Desert even more beautiful. ❤️🌴
A lone cloud rises over the mountain peaks circa 1897.
Seven years on and this Michigan born man still loves his adopted home in the middle of nowhere. I think the evidence speaks for itself don’t you?
Here are three old photos from I don’t know when! Perhaps three years ago but one was taken at the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Overlook, the other in Calico Basin. The third image I don’t know where that one was taken. Rain and thunderstorms in the desert are beautiful to behold.
I tried to find very specific information on this fault line with no success, sorry about this but I am 100% sure that this escarpment is an ancient fault line. I’d like to know it’s last movement.
I did find information on known fault lines that are actually within the city of Las Vegas though, some are rather close to my location! Nevada is very high on the list of states with the most fault lines and the most active ones.
This has me wondering if Michigan is a safer place to live!
Here is another photo set taken inside the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. There are always beautiful scenes to photograph here, the cute rabbit is to me a bonus photo! Who doesn’t love bunnies, right? They is sooo cute!
These beauties were taken while hiking around the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park probably two years ago with my old Nikon D3300 body. The website says the park is closed which is zero surprise right? Two things that I seriously want to do when this situation passes is hop on a big jet plane and go home to Michigan and see my children and the family! And of course get my bum back out in the open desert for some fresh photography. I miss the freedom!
Power, with a wonderful view. 
It’s another fabulous day in the valley! It was nice to get out of the house even though it’s just another pharmacy run. Drugs… Gotta have my drugs.
Mary K. Eastman ~ Mary Kay Diffin
Photographer turned artist.
Zomaar wat
Conversations with the Heartmind
#Thoughts, #Nature, #Recipes & More
Photography is magic
