Week two at Nellis AFB has gone by faster than week one.We didn't do much the first week here.Didn't have to go far to be entertained.Meaning Red Flag was on going.Every kind of fighter was overhead our motorhome to include aircraft from Canada, Great Britain and Austrailia.Some 80 takeoffs a day.They will use live weapons in these final stages as it ends friday.We've been at the BX and commissary often.Also met some nice folks.One guy is an Army Appache pilot currently flying UAV's located in the mid east.Yes, they're operated/flown from right here.Another couple are from our neck of the woods, Maine.We went to casino "hop" with them since they've come here for years and know it real well.Daisy stayed at "home" for that trip and did real well.We leave the radio on and she can look out some windows for entertainment.
One trip she got to go on was an easy and scenic ride to Hoover Dam.About a 30 mile hike.You can see her in the pictures above.She met another friend there, a german shepard named Lady.Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to leave her in the car according to garage attendants.We didn't know that before we went.It was cool enough out to not be a problem.So, we didn't take the tours of the dam.However, we were ok with that having recently seen a documentary on the building of the dam.Just the size and magnitude of the dam were interesting enough.We parked in a couple of different viewing areas.We decided to drive over to Boulder City airfield to see what might be interesting.Well, the two major sightseeing companies that service the Dam and Grand Canyon were based there.Twin otters and a fleet of helicopters.I wanted to "fly" with these outfits after retiring from the Boeing airliners, however that was not to be.I was only going to do it for six months.Six months here, six in Hawaii and wherever else they have good sight seeing for helicopter ops.Having done it in New York for a few years, I can say it never got boring and the passengers were always enthusiastic.There's nothing like flying a helicopter.I'm glad I have one!
Today we had a special treat.The Thunderbirds put on their "kick off" airshow for the commanding general.He kind of gives them the hand wave blessing to start out on the road across the country on their show schedule for the 2009 airshow season.They invited family and friends and retiree's.I got to use my new Nikon to it's fullest.Using continuous shoot mode, I shot about 650 pictures!I couldn't believe it.But, I got a few gems.Remember a broken watch is correct twice a day.Well, you take that many pictures, your bound to get some lucky shots in there.That's how a lot of weddings photographers work.Shoot a lot of pixs!I'm going to put a few shots on this blog.Hope you like them.The "Birds" are good and put on an excellent display of precision flying, but I must say I prefer the Navy's Blue Angels.Their shows are much more exciting and very little delay between manuevers.They seem to do a few daring manuevers also.Now you Air Force folks remain calm.It's just my opinion after watching these teams for some 40 years.I also enjoyed yesterday's practice by the Birds.I was out cleaning the Tacoma and had taken some photos of them from my area.I had put the camera in the coach and some 5 minutes later the roar overhead was deafening.The venerable diamond formation flew directly over my motorhome at about 5 to 700 feet AGL.Now that there was impressive.
One last thing that we enjoyed was visiting a Mini-Cooper dealer here in north Vegas.What a neat car.Unfortunately not towable, we still would consider one in the future.They can get over 40 MPG in stick shift transmission versions.They're are really comfortable too.One other thing we've encountered out west.DUST!Very dry and everything gets a layer on it.Never thought I'd look forward to some humidity.However, in their defense out here, they are having a long dry spell.We haven't seen rain since a few days in december at Arizona.Tomorrow we will go to the Venetian casino for lunch with our friends from Maine.Weather has been sunny with day temps in the high sixties expecting eighties in a few days.We see temps moderating in the east and hope to have good weather for our slow trek eastbound.We'll take about two weeks to get to the New Jersey area.So 'til next time ........................................ QSY, Good Day.
