Itasca Travels 2017: Much to be Grateful For

Duck Creek, Week 3 (Nov 19-25)

This week began with Stake Conference. As a choir member I’m guaranteed a front seat – but that seat is behind the podium, so we only see the speakers’ backs. Still, the talks were good. Afterwards, driving back into the campground, I noticed a rig with a WA license parked in the check-in lane. Later I knocked on the door and found out the couple was from Camano Island and used to live on Finn Hill. Small world. We shared several travel experiences and plan to get together after Thanksgiving.

Finally, as I’ve previously mentioned, this RV park is near the airport. Normally I don’t pay any attention, but tonight it was one low ‘n loud helicopter after another. I felt like we were sleeping in a MASH tent. Other highlights this week include...

➤Old westerns. We’ve had lots of down time, and Greg’s fallback activity is the GRIT channel. Recurrent images of a young John Wayne or Jimmy Stewart – all in black & white, of course.

➤Upping my daily walks from 6+ to 7+ miles. (The first week it was only 5+.) It’s just so easy here.

Really??

➤Enjoying bleu cheese burgers as we watched the Seahawks/Falcons game. Yes, we lost (and had far too many penalties), but you still gotta love these guys. And Pete Carroll, for sure.

➤Visiting Clark County Wetlands Park, which includes the Las Vegas Wash, a 12-mile channel that feeds most of Las Vegas Valley’s excess water (mostly treated wastewater) into lake Mead. We haven’t felt a drop of rain for weeks, but when it does fall it falls hard – hence the need for the wash.

Normal Flow (street runoff and/or treated wastewater)

High weir & bridge.

Low weir. (Weirs are like tiny dams that just slow the flow.)

Lots of ducks in the marshes. (Lots of other wildlife
is displayed in the Visitors Center but midday isn't
the best time to see these critters.)

Posing Turtle
(the greenery is reflected)

A little fall color.

Silhouettes...
(Have you noticed I love these?)

➤Cirque du Soleil's "O"... which was simply O-mazing. Ninety minutes of nonstop entertainment -- acrobatics, sych'd swimming, 60' dives with more twists and somersaults than you can count, flame throwers, and 2 fantastic clowns. (No photos allowed, so I've stolen 2 from the Internet.)

This fellow, like many Cirque performers, is a former Olympic athlete. His facial expressions and body language were superb. His partner (unfortunately not shown) was much taller, less expressive (intentionally, I believe - this is the emotional character). Loved 'em!

The "stage" (4 or so platforms) can be anywhere from fully above the water to 17' feet below.
(Watching the mechanics can be almost as interesting as the performers.)

➤Friday drive to Leeds. Back through Snow Canyon, then a quick stop to check out the Elks Club in St. George.

Virgin River Gorge

One more pretty tree.

➤Saturday Thanksgiving with extended family. Of course that included a morning hike. I also took a much-needed walk between dinner and dessert. Everything was delicious - turkey, sides, and definitely the sour lemon pie from a local bakery (not Veyo, which we visited in October - I think this one is even better).