{"id":3305,"date":"2016-08-05T09:00:31","date_gmt":"2016-08-05T13:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=3305"},"modified":"2016-07-25T11:18:11","modified_gmt":"2016-07-25T15:18:11","slug":"crossing-the-colorado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=3305","title":{"rendered":"Crossing the Colorado"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a9 2016 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n

Continuing on my way from the Valley of Fire, I turned out of the park and headed toward Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. \u00a0Measuring 112 miles long, when the lake is full, it offers 759 miles of shoreline and brilliant clear blue water. \u00a0Stopping on numerous occasions along the way to admire the view, I paid no attention to the time, but instead to the breathtaking vistas before me.<\/p>\n

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\"image\"<\/a>An hour’s drive later, I soon came to the checkpoint for Hoover Dam. \u00a0After passing through the secured area, I proceeded to the dam parking lot, located nearest the visitor’s center.<\/p>\n

Being that it was the end of the day, the Visitor Center was closed, however, having done the tour on a few occasions, I was more interested in seeing the exterior of the dam and the interesting views it provides.<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a>Walking along the top of the dam, I crossed over to the Arizona side (neglecting to change my watch!) and back again, stopping to photograph both the Colorado River side as well as Lake Mead. \u00a0Looking up to the arched Mike O’Callaghan\u2013Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge,\u00a0which crosses the Colorado River, I could see people standing and walking along the bridge. \u00a0Realizing that the parking lot I had passed on the way to the dam, contained a trail up the the bridge, I decided to head that way.<\/p>\n

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Spanning the gap of Black Canyon, the bridge connects Arizona and Nevada, creating a faster route across the river. \u00a0Open to traffic, it has a sidewalk for visitors who wish to gain a better view of Hoover Dam as well as an interpretive plaza. \u00a0While under construction, the bridge was referred to as the Hoover Dam Bypass, however, the name was changed to honor the former governor of Nevada, Mike O’Callaghan and Pat Tillman the former professional football player killed in Afghanistan in 2004.<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a>Parking in the lot, near the winding concrete walkway, I joined the hoards of tourists heading to the top of pathway. \u00a0Heading to the middle of the bridge for the best view, I captured some photos amidst the windy conditions and then made my way back to solid ground. \u00a0Not normally afraid of heights, I must admit, the dizzying height of the structure, made me a little nervous.<\/p>\n

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With nightfall nearing, I decided that my adventurous day was coming to a close. Reflecting on my day, which started with uncertainty, I had quickly shifted gears and made the most of my day. \u00a0Life gave me lemons that morning, but my decision to rent the car was most definitely my lemonade!<\/p>\n

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Lake Mead<\/strong><\/p>\n