It’s not often I get the chance to take pictures in the rain, but Wylde and I had a few hours to spare while we waited for my mother at the beauty salon. The Springs Preserve was close to the salon so we took full advantage of the extra time together. Plus, I got the chance to try out my new Nikon D7100 in something other than the endless sunlight of our desert!
Solar paneled parking lot.
Man-made canyon that leads to the ticketing center.
Escape route for water.
Metal plant sculptures.
Theater and exhibit building.
Clint Carvalho’s singing parrot.(video 01:27)(If this video stops and starts, click off the HD feature on the play ↑ bar.)
One of the many walkways in the exhibit area.
A bit of drunken history.
Rain collecting on a decorative patio canopy.
Desert seeds and soil.
Interactive train display.
Even back in the day, Vegas worked her glamorous reputation.
The Stratosphere tower disappearing into the gloomy abyss.
Fall finally arrived in Las Vegas.
Native American grass dwelling. It was actually dry inside!
Desert plants.
Back to the mall to retrieve my freshly beautified mother.
(Click logo for more information.)
Gloria and I took full advantage of yesterday’s 70° temperature with a trek around Lone Mountain. The hike is rocky and rough, yet at only 2.5 miles from start to finish, this trail gives the illusion of being a rural adventure without the worry of carrying a lot of gear.
Don’t be fooled by these dirt roads because they’re much steeper than they seem in the photograph. Or so the story goes from the perspective of two people who haven’t been hiking in months!
Of course with a neighborhood and a freeway only minutes away from the trail we never really got the sense of being alone with nature, but the purpose of our walk wasn’t about solitude and nature as much as it was about exercise and friendship.
Las Vegas looms in the distance as we circled the mountain on our final decent back into the city. We spent about an hour and half on this adventure, just enough time to feel invigorated instead of exhausted.
Dusty shoes as a reminder that we accomplished what we set out to do. Sometimes life is best served with a fresh dose of friendship and an adventure. Happy trails everybody!
December is stressful for me. Not because something negative is happening in the domestic nest, but because I feel a bombardment of overall busyness surrounding me everywhere. People are scattered about buying things they don’t normally buy because of an obligation called the Holiday Season.