June 6 - Overton NV to Henderson NV

Since we are now on the cusp of Pacific Daylight Savings Time, the sun comes up about 5:15 a.m. and goes down about 8:15 p.m. We were ready to leave before 6:00 a.m. I got a phone call from the editor of the weekly in the Moapa Valley. Vernon met up with us on the road and snapped a few photos for an article that will appear in next Wednesday's paper.

Oh, I forgot to mention that when we unloaded Sherri's bike yesterday, we discovered there was a flat front tire! Now 3 of the 4 of us hsve had a flat, everyone but Charlotte. Sherri's nickname from the 2006 ride is "Wrench Babe" because of her mechanical skills fixing a flat tire. I helped her some, too. Got it fixed and back on the bike frame. But in the, morning, it was low again, so we just decided to nurse it along, airing up the tire as deemed necessary

Pretty nice road, but lots of uphills and downhills. The road we're on skirts around the Muddy Mountains and afforded some nice views of Lake Mead. We saw scattered redrock sandstone formations, some of which were in the Valley of Fire State Park. Later on we passed an area called the Bowl of Fire. Had some nice long downhills. We were on about 50 miles of Hwy 169 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Everyone was ready for lunch. Didn't find any picnic areas but got permission to eat in the shade of the overhanging roof at Laker Plaza, a C-store, bait, boat repair and storage building. From there we could see a panoramic view of Las Vegas, including the Luxor (pyramid) and space needle-looking hotel.

Wound our way to a park in Henderson, a southeast suburb of Las Vegas. Ginny Jordano met us there. She and her husband Jim are hosting us in their home tonight. We found them through The Stream, an Evangelical Free Church in Henderson. She led us to their lovely home where she fixed us a snack, we had showers, and were able to do our laundry. We were served a wonderful meal: tri-tip beef, steamed fresh green beans, rice with almond slices, and a nice salad. They offered to take us out to Hoover Dam and to see the new Mike O'Callagnan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge above Hoover Dam. US Hwy 93 runs across the bridge, connecting Nevada and Arizona.

Hoover Dam was completed in 1935. The presence of the dam created Lake Mead, the largest man-made lake and reservoir in the US.

We looked around some but it was twilight and so we couldn't walk on the bridge.

The Jordanos drove back to their home. Brownies with strawberries and whipped cream for dessert. Sherri and I slept in Robbie's room (their 13 year old) and Gary slept in Peter's room (Peter is 20). Both young men were gracious to give up their rooms for "company."

Another rich full day.

I rode 17.82 miles, Charlotte rode 48, Gary and Sherri 70 Still no road change.

With love from Henderson,
MARIE