Shaan Hurley combined his love of photography with the Vegas scenery and arranged some unofficial AU related events for snap happy CAD Geeks. The Shutterbug tours took a mix of attendees to sights away from the unreal world of the strip, to experience some real Nevada and photograph it. I could only go on Monday when, unfortunately, pre-AU workload caught up with Shaan so he had to stay behind. A few us went anyway and headed out to see Hoover Dam & Lake Mead.
I had been before but it was a bit of a rushed visit so another look and the opportunity to see the new bridge was worth the trip. The bridge had just been started when I first flew over, back in 2004, and still isn’t complete. It’s a feat of engineering and in part the delays are due to the challenge of building in a harsh environment. It’s an impressive structure spanning the gorge and will be a fantastic photo spot when finished. “The Dam Tour” was great and I recommend allowing extra time for “The Hard Hat Tour” if you go. In addition to the standard powerhouse tour it takes you deep inside the dam through tunnels that go from the base of the dam up to the road deck. The best part was getting to look, and photograph, the gorge & bridge arch from a vent grille in a tunnel about 1/3 up the dam face.
Lake Mead is very low, after nine years of drought, resulting in bizarre sights like miles of boat ramp to get to the water and marinas floating far away from where they were built. The whole concept of a marina in the desert seems strange and I wonder about the attraction of boating where everywhere you go is just more lake foreshore & desert. While Lake Mead is an impressive sight Auckland Boaties are spoiled having the Hauraki Gulf on our doorstep
Although you couldn’t come ours, thanks to Shaan for organising the Shutterbug tours. I must remember to get the shirt!
* Without Shaan!
