Valley of Fire

 

Valley of Fire State Park
Nevada
June 21, 2026

During our trip to Vegas, Chris and I tried to get outside of the Strip area and visit the surrounding Nevada area. We found a gem less than an hour from Vegas: the Valley of Fire State Park. 

Rock Formation
Valley of Fire State Park, NV
June 21, 2026

The Park is easy to access and does not have any of the surrounding tourist trap towns like those around Zion National Park in Utah. But a note to self, that also means that the visitor must be prepared with nearly everything required for outdoors activity on a blast furnace hot day. We visited on just such a day. 

The sandstone geology is magnificent and the features are accessible--again unlike many National Parks. The are walking trails, rock formations, and petroglyphs. And we only scratched the surface due to the hostile weather conditions on the day we visited. 

Petroglyphs
Valley of Fire State Park, NV
June 21, 2026

Did I mention it was hot? Dry, desiccating, 105 degrees hot. We saw a sign reminding us that the heat can kill the unprepared or stupid.

Big Horn Sheep
Valley of Fire State Park, NV
June 21, 2026

We also saw big horn sheep. We were very surprised by them and we saw two small herds of the sheep during our visit. One family grouping crossed the road in front of us and we sat in the comfort of our air conditioned vehicle and enjoyed an up-close view of the magnificent animals. And this ram was magnificent. He was also large and in-charge.

The park is easy to access in a vehicle and offers a multitude of hiking trails. Some are short enough for enjoying and just bringing a couple bottles of water along. Others are real hiking trails with many closed due to the heat. 

Rock Formation
Valley of Fire State Park, NV
June 21, 2026

The park provides minimal services. There is a very nice, new visitor center but that is also the only water stop.

Looking out to the Horizon
Valley of Fire State Park, NV
June 21, 2026

We learned that parts of one Star Trek Next Generation movie was filmed in the park. The park provides an out-worldly setting.

We, I hesitate to use the word hiked, walked a few hundred yards down one trail to see petroglyphs and were not disappointed. We were told that there were more further along the trail, but aside from water we were totally unprepared for hiking in lose sandy soil conditions.

I am going to make an admission here--we enjoyed this park a lot more than Zion National Park. Why? Because we were not suffocated with throngs of people and unreasonable prices. I cannot believe I paid over $12 for a 6 inch Subway sub at the town outside of Zion.

Do not be surprised by this State Park. It is not small and you can easily spend a day or more exploring the park's treasures. The Big Horn Sheep were not the only animals was came across. We also spied a small common spotted lizard hanging out in a crack in the rocks. 

My recommendation--put this park on your must do list when visiting the Vegas area. It is a good way to escape the manufactured fun of the Strip and find some authentic enjoyment. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Two Flights on Three Jets

 Mike, Nicole's husband, said it best--"Time to leave the red-eyes behind you Bob. That's a young man's game."

Truer words have not been written.

Broke Jet
Atlanta, GA
June 23, 2026

It was a plan and I thought it a good plan. We would get to spend a whole day in the Las Vegas area doing activities and then fly a red-eye to Atlanta and from there to West Palm Beach (PBI) on an early morning flight. It was a great plan, but it did not get executed as planned.

We had a great last day in Nevada. We left the hotel about noon and headed to Boulder City for lunch and a tour of the Hoover Dam. More about that in another blog later. After the dam tour we visited the Outpost 51 Alien Museum  and had a Blizzard at a Dairy Queen back in Boulder City on our way to the airport to begin our journey home. 

The initial flight on Jet #1 was perfect. It departed early and arrived early. I got a couple hours sleep and was not too groggy when we deplaned into Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport at 4:46 AM. Our flight to PBI was scheduled to depart at 7:05 AM. 

We boarded Jet #2 on time and without incident. The jet pulled from the gate on time and that is when things went awry. We stopped on the tarmac for more than a few minutes before the pilot announced that there were engine fumes gathering in the aft portion of the cabin and that we were going to have maintenance check the aircraft, possibly deplane and wait for another jet. 

After a while the jet began moving. I hoped we were going to take-off, but that did not happen. We taxied for a long time before arriving at a new gate. Now for those familiar with Atlanta, we originally landed at gate F09 and traversed nearly the entire airport to gate A09 where we boarded the jet which ultimately broke. We subsequently taxied around Atlanta before arriving at E16. Time was passing. 

I felt the Delta crew and ground support were great. We deplaned and waited in the gate area for about 15 minutes before they announced we would be boarding another aircraft which was at the E18 gate. BUT, there was a problem. The pilots were fine, but two of the required 4 flight attendants needed to be replaced for an unspecified reason. That took well over an hour and then we were ready to board the Jet #3. 

Things went smoothly and we took-off and flew to PBI, landing just after a thunderstorm had forced a ground stop at the airport. That caused us to taxi around PBI a bit because the originally assigned gate had a jet still engaged because of the ground stop. Our bags were also slowed arriving in the terminal, but after being on three different jets, they arrived!

But all ended well. We got home about 2.5 hours later than we had planned. Tired, but happy to be hope. Even the high humidity of the post storm was welcome because we had been drying out and baking in Nevada. It was 106 degrees Monday while we were at the Hoover Dam.

Delta did a great job keeping us informed of the situation verbally at the gate and through messaging on our phones. Panic never ensued. I know that more than a few people were able to change their flight. It was a bit of a mess at PBI with our flight arriving so late.

I was a bit amazed that we boarded three jets to complete two flights. But I learned: no more red-eyes for Bob and Chris.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas

Bowmouth Guitarfish
Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
June 20, 2026

 One of the attractions that Chris and I visited while we were in Las Vegas was the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. I admit that I read the description and felt that it might be a bit overstated. 

Not.

Green Turtle in Coral
Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
June 20, 2026

The aquarium and displays are every bit as interesting and dynamic as the write-ups make it seem.

The huge aquarium is both big and accessible. We were able to see many different fish, many sharks, and there were also displays of freshwater fishes. The aquarium is based around an Aztec temple and that adds to the fun.

I can't begin to detail all of the different fishes and marine animals. 

Blacktip Reef Shark
Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
June 20, 2026

The highlight of the visit is, of course, the tunnels through the ocean tank. It is teeming with sharks, assorted fish, a big sea turtle, and they are constantly on the move. The tunnel system puts the viewer in the middle of the aquarium with fish swimming above and around. It was very interesting to see the underside of some of the fish--for instance the Bowmouth Guitarfish expels water from its gills downward under its body. 

As can be seen from my images, the fish get very close. 

The price point for the aquarium is really good. It was $30/person. Given the cost of other attractions in Vegas, this is a bargain.

-- Bob Doan, Atlanta, GA

Monday Musings - June 22, 2026

 1. Summer has arrived! It showed up yesterday and today is the first full day of the best season of the year. Today is also the 4th Monday of June. The year is nearing the half way point with just 27 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. We have been enjoying Las Vegas. Today is a travel day, but we are not departing until late tonight. We will arrive home tomorrow morning. We have been experiencing some high temperatures--up to 108 degrees! We have been minimizing our time outdoors in the heat and have been drinking a lot of water to stay hydrated. We came upon the heat warning sign at a state park we visited yesterday. 

3. We are being kicked out of our hotel at 10 AM today and need to find something to do for about 10 hours. I always thought 12 noon was the standard be out of the room time. We have planned to visit the Hoover Dam, which will be good for about 4 hours. It is too hot to sit around outside for very long. 

4. Chris and I have done some really interesting things while we have been in Vegas. Yesterday, we visited Valley of Fire State Park! It is definitely something that should be on everyone's visit list. I'll write more about it in a future blog.

5. Well, the Iran war is over. Or is it? Did we win? Lose? Or draw? According to a Newsweek article, the situation on the ground seems to be as follows: 

The U.S. laid out several goals when it joined Israel with strikes against Iran on February 28. It succeeded in beating down Iran's conventional military power. But it did not fully achieve the White House's other stated objectives: eliminating the threat of Iranian nuclear weapons, regime change, dismantling Tehran's support for proxy groups and wiping out its ballistic missile capacity. (Newsweek)

6. Today in History. On June 22, 1944, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the G.I. Bill, an unprecedented act of legislation designed to compensate returning members of the armed services—known as G.I.s—for their efforts in World War II.

As the last of its sweeping New Deal reforms, Roosevelt’s administration created the G.I. Bill (officially the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944) hoping to avoid a relapse into the Great Depression after the war ended. FDR particularly wanted to prevent a repeat of the Bonus March of 1932, when 20,000 unemployed veterans and their families flocked in protest to Washington. The American Legion, a veteran’s organization, successfully fought for many of the provisions included in the bill, which gave returning servicemen access to unemployment compensation, low-interest home and business loans, and—most importantly—funding for education.

UK's Starmer announces resignation, Burnham puts himself forward as successor - Reuters

US authorizes Iranian oil sales amid talks on final peace deal - Reuters

Temperatures to exceed 40C in European heatwave as three die in France - Reuters. (104 degrees Fahrenheit)

People caught vandalizing Washington Reflecting Pool to be fully prosecuted, US Attorney Pirro says - Reuters

Trump’s Iran agreement embraces sanctions relief, a policy he and his team once denounced - CNN

What to know about the New World screwworm - CNN

The Deadly Rise of Giant Trucks and S.U.V.s - The New York Times

Going to a National Park This Summer? Here’s What to Expect.Huge visitor numbers, sharply reduced staffing, scrapped reservation systems and higher entry fees for nonresidents could make your trip a bit less serene. - The New York Times

--  Bob Doan, Las Vegas, NV

Kenny Chesney at the Sphere in Vegas

 

Kenny Chesney at Sphere
Las Vegas, NV
June 20, 2026

Sphere is a one-of-a-kind concert venue. I was completely wowed by the concert last night given by Kenny Chesney. Sphere was alive and the graphics shown during the songs have probably ruined any future concert experience for me short of attending one at Sphere. Nothing can ever compare to the vibrance and visual experience accompanying the live concert that encompassed me.

Kenny Chesney at Sphere
Las Vegas, NV
June 20, 2026

Words cannot fully express the magnificence of the show. Sphere was alive with graphics complimenting the music, but they were larger than life spanning the entirety of my horizon and into the stars. The selfie below provides a glimpse at the all encompassing nature of the graphics with respect to the crowd.

The unique qualities of the Sphere are unmatched. I was fortunate to have attended two experiences at Sphere: The Wizard of Oz and a live Kenny Chesney Concert. Both were unmatched events.

Kenny Chesney at Sphere
Las Vegas, NV
June 20, 2026

Kenny sang for two hours, nonstop. There was no warm-up band and the concert began almost exactly on time. I wish I could say that he sang all of the favorites, but there are too many favorites to fill only a two-hour concert. But, he sang the hits with his unique high energy performance that shows a true appreciation for the fans. At times the Sphere was filled with singing that almost drowned out Kenny. It was awesome. While I have attended a few other Kenny Chensey concerts in the past, the Sphere made the crown participation even more exciting.

I am told that Sphere holds about 17,600 people for concerts. There were no empty seats last evening. I was very happy to be on the ground level and not have to traverse the incredibly huge escalators that whisk people to the upper levels, I am not sure how long it would have taken us to get out. We were in the 12th row behind the Sand Bar. Close enough to see the performers without optical aids. 

I added a clip from the performance to highlight the graphics that accompanied each song. They were all different, themed, and visually stimulating. 

Attending a performance at Sphere is not an inexpensive endeavor considering travel, lodging and all of the associated expenses, but if asked would I do it again? 

You bet!

-- Bob Doan, Las Vegas, NV

Wizard of Oz on Steroids

Scene from the Wizard of Oz
Sphere, Las Vegas, NV
June 19, 2026

 Although we will be heading to the Sphere tonight for the Kenny Chesney Concert, we wanted to get a sense of the venue and went to see The Wizard of Oz yesterday. 

Wow, what AI can do to an old movie. 

The Wizard's Balloon
Sphere, Las Vegas, NV
June 19, 2026

Of course, Sphere is a unique movie format which is similar to to IMAX in perspective but the increased visual resolution combined with special effects including real snow, leaves, wind, and lightening during the appropriate scenes, added to the experience. In short, it was WOW!

The original movie was shortened about 27 minutes and I remembered most of the scenes omitted or shortened. Some were my favorites, like the horse of a different color which was shortened, as well as the chase scene with the wicked witch in her castle which was also edited and shortened. True Wizard of Oz lovers will recognize many of the other scenes which were shortened or even omitted. 

Forest Scene from The Wizard of Oz
Sphere, Las Vegas, NV
June 19, 2026

The AI restoration was incredible. One aspect that stood out was the vibrant colors. 

We were seated in the uppermost section about 12 rows from the top, but the view was fantastic. I got a bit of vertigo from the height and steepness of the stairs and the seats. Once the show began, we were fully immersed into the movie. 

Just one other positive note, we bought our tickets about as late as possible and we had to use a reseller. We were rewarded by getting seats at about half-price. Most of the tickets were astronomically priced, because the show was sold out, but we got lucky!

There are still deals out there!

For the Kenny Chesney concert tonight we are not in the nose-bleed sections, but on the floor.

-- Bob Doan, Las Vegas, NV

Zion and Return

Happy Juneteenth 

Virgin River Gorge
I-15, Arizona
June 18, 2026

I wrote yesterday about the early morning alarms in the building. Well, there was another alarm about 7:30 AM or so and Chris and I evacuated the building as directed. Before evacuating we gathered our supply of water and sunscreen to head off to Zion National Park! Although the trip to Zion had been planned for today, we had been awake since 4:30-ish AM and determined that an early start to the trip would be advantageous. 

Selfie
Zion National Park, UT
June 18, 2026

And so we were off, like a herd of turtles!

The drive was about 2.5 hours. There are parts of the drive which are boring, but as we approached the mountains, about an hour out of Vegas, things got interesting. We drove I-15 through Virgin River Gorge on our trek to Zion National Park. We were surprised at the gorge. It was a beautiful drive and we did stop at one of the few pull-offs for pictures. 

Zion National Park
Utah
June 18, 2026

And then onto Zion. The drive through Utah to the park is fun. There are vistas to enjoy around every turn. It was a busy day at the Park. Parking space was almost non-existent, even at the pull-offs to enjoy the spectacular views. But we managed to enjoy the park despite the crowds. And there were crowds. 

I overheard a ranger telling a group that June was the busiest month, as well as the hottest month, at the park. Note to self, if ever we make a return trip we will aim for October!

We enjoyed our trip very much and are thankful that we made it to Zion. We are not hikers, but we saw there are many opportunities for hiking. We followed one trail for about a quarter mile just to see around an outcropping and the view was worth the effort. Yes, we took water and stayed hydrated. I was about 8 degrees cooler at Zion than the 100+ temperatures in Vegas.

-- Bob Doan, Las Vegas, NV

Our Early Wake-up

Out the Hotel Window
Las Vegas, NV
June 18, 2026

 Chris and I were awakened in the wee hours of the morning to the sound of a loud emergency horn and an announcement advising us of an emergency in the building and that we should evacuate. Jolted awake and mildly disoriented, we began the process of departing our room in the middle of the night. Before we could leave however, another announcement confused us by suggesting that the alarm might not require evacuation and was being investigated. It stated we would be advised. I took that to mean stand-by for further instructions and so we did not evacuate. A few minutes later we were advised that the emergency was minor and had been resolved. Like we are going to be able to go back to sleep?

From the Hotel Pool Deck
Las Vegas, NV
June 17, 2026

Our travel day was great. The flights were on time and relatively smooth. I am becoming a fan of flying Delta. Upon arrival in Vegas, however, we were greeted with a wall of oppressively hot heat. The temperature was 108 degrees. And even though it is a dry heat, it is so very hot. We were pleased to find that, unlike Florida, the indoor air conditioning temperatures are a bit warmer and less of a shock to the system when heading inside. In Florida, it seems that the air conditioning is set very cold to combat the humidity which is conspicuously absent here in Vegas.

We managed a short walk in the heat to a restaurant for dinner and then retired to the hotel to enjoy the evening. 

The adventures begin! And a bit earlier than originally planned. 

-- Bob Doan, Las Vegas, NV

Out the Cabin Window

Out the cabin window
West Palm Beach, FL
June 17, 2026

  And we are off. As I like to say, “like a herd of turtles.”  

The adventure to Nevada begins.  We have a lot planned and the trip is off to a great start. Boarding on our first flight, a Delta flight, went smoothly and we will soon complete the short hop to Atlanta to board our flight to Vegas. 

The morning here was humid. I think the humidity was 100 percent. Ugh. But we are flying in air conditioned comfort. 

It is tough blogging on my phone. But that’s what I have at the moment. I want to send out a very high thank you to Cody, Angie, and Kaya for taking care of Finn while we travel. You are great. 

I made some edits in Atlanta to make the blog a bit easier to read and understand. 

— Bob Doan, airborne over central Florida 

Travel Preparations

View from the Bridge
Tequesta, FL
June 15, 2026

It is weird how things tend to pile up when we are trying to prepare for travel. Tomorrow is a travel day; we head out on on our trip to Vegas.

Yesterday, we received a call from the window people . They are finally ready to install our hurricane windows which were supposed to be delivered in April. Finally! Here's the rub, they wanted to install the windows today whist we are preparing for travel. We have waited for two extra months and they wanted us to move our plans so they could install our windows today. I told them no. We have waited for them and we decided that now they can wait for us. Apparently that did not satisfy them, so they called me back and offered me $150 off the price if they could come today. I was insulted. What they offered was a bit more than 1 percent of the total price. Really? If the offer had been 5 percent, I might have considered it. The windows will be installed the day after we return.

I managed my usual 18-mile bike ride yesterday. I noted that the "feels like" temperature was 105 degrees and that the actual temperature when we arrive in Vegas tomorrow is expected to be 108 degrees. Ugh. I know but it is a dry heat! So is my oven. 

Well, we have a bunch of things to finish up before the end of the day. We have another early flight--not break of dawn early, but early enough. 

I have been finalizing plans to go to Zion National Park, Death Valley, and the Hoover Dam in addition to the concert which was the genesis for the trip. It should be a fun and busy five days.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL