Thursday, April 15, 2010

Stewarts Point – Lake Mead

Here I am , camped underwater at Lake Mead!  Well, I would have been underwater if I camped here a few years ago?  This time I drove down past Overton Beach, where there is NO water to be seen in Lake Mead, to Stewarts Point where there is water, but obviously there was a lot more in the past.  Even though I am camped 60 or 70 feet above the present water level, the whole area is littered with shells from when the area was inundated in the past.CIMG0371 CIMG0377

I had thought that my blogging frequency and timeliness would improve, now that I have gone satellite, but it does not seem that way!  I’m still just too busy.CIMG0372

I’ve been here a couple of days now, and what a great boondocking spot this is.  Plenty of space and privacy, incredible lake and mountain views, and very quiet.CIMG0374

Oh, there are a few anglers on the lake and a few that drive in each day to fish from the shore, but that’s about it.

Today there was also a water skier or wakeboarder giving it a go.  I could not tell which it was as they did not stay upright long enough when I was watching!

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Across the lake on the far side, I can occasionally catch glimpses of the small herd of wild burros, and more often if it is calm out, I can hear them braying over there.

A few helicopters fly over on occasion, but today an amphibious plane (not a float plane) did a touch and go landing right in front of my camp.  It was one of those planes with the motor mounted above and behind the cockpit.  Perhaps it was a kit plane?

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Lots of birds about today as well.  Loons and grebes on the water, pelicans flying by in formation, blue herons, common nighthawks around dusk, gulls, hawks, and vultures.

  On shore, I was able to sneak up on another lizard sunning himself on a rock.  These guys can run about 15 miles an hour if startled, but if you approach slowly, you can often get the camera as close as focus will allow.

(Click on any photo for a larger version)image CIMG0379 CIMG0387

Lots of shoreline erosion evident from the fluctuating water levels of the past.

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I got busy today and cleaned out the basement and re-arranged the stuff therein.  It’s slowly starting to improve – with the addition of hooks, clamps, and containers.

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Here is an example of some of the shells all around on the ground – well above the present water line, but well below the high-water mark from the past.

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5 comments:

  1. Sure looks like our kind of boondocking spot alright. We'll have to try & remember all these neat-o places....A

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  2. I like your pictures.
    They bring back good old times. We were there when the waterline was high up at first and then every year thereafter it got lower and lower. Too bad. Glad you enjoy your time there.

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  3. I like your pictures.
    They bring back good old times. We were there when the waterline was high up at first and then every year thereafter it got lower and lower. Too bad. Glad you enjoy your time there.

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  4. May 26, 2010. Called the visitor center for Lake Mead and they informed me that Stewarts Point is now closed...lots of great primitive camping sites are gone now. And more to disappear as they are getting ready to take more water from Lake Mead. Just thought you should know!

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  5. I am a fulltimer and am camped at Stewart Point as you were about a year ago. Good blog. Took pics that you took...Serial..Still beautiful here. Waiting to move north to Glacier for the summer. eyeland4u@hotmail.com

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