Arriving Las Vegas

Time for the next stage of my trip. I picked up the hire car, said farewell to Bec, and set off towards Las Vegas. The timing was right, I didn't encounter too much traffic getting out of Orange County. Getting used to driving on the opposite side of the road was nerve wracking enough, let alone having to deal with the rest of the drivers on the road.

Further from the coast and civilization, the scenery changed, getting harsher and more desolate. It had a certain type of beauty in its bleakness, fascinating to drive through (once or twice) but I couldn't imagine living there. Run down homes, graffitied and deserted pockets of ex-habitation, sombre and decaying. The temperature reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit (~ 40 degrees Celsius) as I ventured further inland.

I passed into Nevada, casinos and billboards lining the highways. It was getting late in the day so I skirted as much of the city as I could manage and found my home for the next week, Red Rock Canyon camp ground.

I found a site, set up my tent, and sat through a fascinating lecture by the park ranger about the desert. As the daylight faded I was treated to a stunning sunset in the desert, a perfect way to start to the next stage of my trip.

A warm beer finished the night, I retreated to my tent in the warm desert air, a slight breeze keeping the temperature down. The adventure begins.

More photos here