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Hoover Dam, Nevada-Arizona

Last year my oldest brother, his wife, and three adorable munchkins moved to Phoenix.  This is sad because I miss seeing them all the time.  This is awesome because now I have somewhere to stay during the Book Sale. When my 4th of July plans fell through I immediately knew I wanted to head South to see their family.  (I know it’s September and I’m just blogging about the 4th of July–it’s been a rough summer, okay?)  The only problem was that due to my very last-minute decision, plane tickets were several hundred dollars, so I opted to make the 12 hour drive* instead of cough up that kind of cash.

After a delightful lunch in Las Vegas (In-n-Out 4-evah!), it was off to the Hoover Dam, one of my favorite places and the only reason to go through Vegas to get to Phoenix.

Coming up on Lake Mead.

Walking across the dam, this is the Arizona side.  You may now commence with a cadre of “dam” jokes; the dam towers, the dam state line, the dam traffic and the dam heat.

They are building a new, fancy bridge for the highway traffic.  At the moment the dam only accommodates one lane each way, and the speed limit is only 10 mph because of all the pedestrians.  I love this bridge–I’ve seen the construction coming along the last several times I’ve crossed the Hoover Dam, and I am absolutely fascinated by how enormous it is.  Plus, the idea of not waiting 2 HOURS to cross the bridge due to traffic congestion makes me heart it that much more.

Doesn’t that just make your heart leap up in your throat a little?  Yes?  No?  Anyone?  Fine.  I’ll crush on this big piece of concrete all by myself.

In the middle of the dam is the Nevada-Arizona state line.  For the record–it was at least 110 this day and I made the unfortunate mistake of wearing pants instead of a bikini or something less stifling.  Gah, the heat was horrible.  (I suppose that is what I get for planning to go to PHOENIX via LAS VEGAS in JULY!  Planning Fail.)

Still one of my favorite things to do: throw water over the side of the dam–over the dam side, not the reservoir side–and it will float up in droplets.  Goodness, I am entertained by very small things.  I don’t know how well you can see the water droplets–but it is one of the most addicting, fascinating things.  Cup your hands, fill with water, toss gently over the side and the whoosh of wind coming up the dam wall will swoop the dam water over your dam head.  (Yes, the “dam” jokes are requisite.)

In writing this post, it has occurred to me that I went an hour out of my way (going through Vegas instead of Flagstaff) and waited at least two hours in dam traffic in order to throw a handful of water over the dam bridge.  I am either awesome, or delusion.  Your call.

Several hours and a couple of hundred miles later Phoenix greeted me with more blazing heat and a lovely sunset.

I spent the next several days with these three little munchkins, playing the part of Favorite Aunt.

Happy 4th of July!  Or, you know, Happy 16th of September! Whatever.  I Heart America.

*I did not make this drive by myself, however due to current events my road trip companion will not be making an appearance on this blog.  Sorry for being cryptic, but at this point it’s all just dirty water under the dam bridge.

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