Now that was a DAM good trip!

This is my second trip business trip to Vegas, and third time ever here.  And this is the first time I haven't been on the strip for business,

 

which I have to admit - made me not even feel like I was in Las Vegas, which was a nice pleasant surprise!  Don't get me wrong, I still get the overwhelming exposure to weirdo gamblers at the resort we were at in Henderson - but not to the exponential level as what is there on the strip.  The rules aren't as strict here as they are at the big casinos downtown - even not forcing kiddos off the casino floor - which is weird in a whole new way: Seeing families in casinos is wrong on so many levels. 

Well, the highlight of the trip was our conference evening trip to Hoover Dam.  (Yes, lots of great jokes "This Dam AC on the Dam Bus Sucks....I wish this Dam had a Dam store to Buy some Dam Fudge"....you can imagine the possibilities!)  I have been to Hoover Dam once before with my family, back in 1996.  So, at the nice age of 16, can't say I remember too much about the trip.  The one thing I do remember is one important detail in the subsurface tour of Hoover back in '96 when we went underground to see the power plant workings. 

THE CONCRETE WALLS HAD DRIPS DOWN THE CRACKS!  Hello, this DAMN DAM is older than DIRT and we are in it....and it's leaking! 

I wasn't a Civil Engineer at the time and I KNEW that wasn't ok.  I remember the tour guide - at the time - trying to be clever and saying "oh...hmm....I think that one just started yesterday".  Well, excuse me Mr. Dam Tour Park Ranger Guide, we are 800' below the surface and this is NOT THE TIME for joking!  Well, I was with my parents and we made it out safely.  Fast forward 15 years, and I'm here once again. 

This trip was so cool on so many levels.  I was with about 300 other Civil/Structural Engineers who were also touring the site.  Let me tell you, for us Engineering-type - this was one of the greatest Cool-Geek experiences EVER!  The new canyon crossing bridge was complete just downstream of the Dam by a maybe a quarter mile.  Lake Mead was as beautiful as ever in all it's glory.  And lastly, the Dam and the power plant tour in the bottom was as cool as I remember it! (and yes, there were still leaks!)  Below are some very cool photos I captured.  The thing that seems the most troubling about the site is that Lake Mead is between 60-90 feet below what it should be.  The seven states that share the water of Lake Mead are over-using their allotments, and it is projected to fall another 10 feet each year....which if the usage isn't corrected soon, will mean a HUGE water deficit in the southwest in coming years.  Money isn't the issue out here - but water is Gold!

Chris is utterly jealous, so I'm sure we'll visit again soon with the kids.  Another example of traveling without family and getting NO LOVE !  ha ha - see my post HERE for my other wonderful experiences along this route :)

With my co-workers, Erin and Matt....at the Dam Site ;)

Yes, a wall of LEAKING WATER!

Yes, some cool angel 'protecting' the dam.  I felt slightly safer after seeing this :)