Back in Nevada

Almost on the home stretch now, back in the sandy state of Nevada. But first, look at this place we found on the way out of Grand Canyon National Park - definitely putting this on the list of must-visit accommodations for next time!

Ah, Nevada. Staying in casino hotels mid-week is really cheap. We wound up staying in Laughlin, which is right on the border of Arizona and Nevada - I gather the town only popped up to accommodate some casinos and an outlet mall, so the citizens of the Arizona borderlands can pop over state lines to gamble whenever they feel like it. The heat out here was IN-FREAKING-TENSE, way hotter than even the deserts of Utah, so it's really no wonder that all people want to do is sit in the air conditioning and play slot machines.

The view from the room. Glam, no?

Appropriately pastel resort wear

The view again - more inviting by night, perhaps?

The casino did have some appealing stylistic touches

 And cocktail swords were plentiful, much to Raccoon's delight.

The Road to Zion

Our next stop after the Hoover Dam was Zion National Forest, in Utah. I love it out here - it's such a contrast to the Northwest, so beautiful in an entirely different way.

Our new favourite chain of gas stations

Entering Utah - Life Elevated!

 There's a Starbucks in the Promised Land - PHEW, am I right?

Does it not look like the set of a John Wayne film?

Is This a God Damn?

On Sunday morning, we hit the road out of Vegas and headed to the Hoover Dam (those of you familiar with the educational film Beavis and Butthead Do America will no doubt appreciate the reference!).

Ahh-mazing.

Half of the dam is in Nevada and half is in Arizona:

Observing, from the Arizona side

I can certainly appreciate some good civil engineering, but one particularly gobsmacking thing about the Hoover Dam is the fact that it is deco as all get out:

The 1930's was a great time, aesthetically speaking, to be undertaking huge public works!

Seriously!

Even the carpark signage was in keeping with the theme.

After a lap or two of the top of the dam, it was time to get on the road again. Next stop? Utah!