Beach Moonrise.

A layer of solid ice on the tents. we're not talking, an little frost here. You could actually peel off layers of ice from the tent. Everything was frozen. Even the trees looked less mobile than usual.

After a moderately unsuccessful endeavor to scrape off the ice, then wipe off the residual water, then air dry in the arctic, we packed wet and headed back into G.C. for some morning views - inclusive of, but not limited to: Roosevelt Point and Angels Window Overlook. I think that I freaked an elderly couple out when I leapt over the edge of the canyon ... there was a ledge below me ... but they couldn't see it from their angle ... some mumbling about reckless youth followed, that sounded applicable.

And, with the spirit of road tripping exuberance in abundance, we powered on over to Lake Mead to pit-stop before Vegas!

Also, with our usual flips of luck, we found a great little campground right near the lake, the bathroom didn't smell like death, and the sign said showers!

... oh ... $5 showers? of course they are.

Dinner - on Lake Mead! Enormous moon setting over the beach, fresh mac and cheese, and the ranger was only a little bothered by having to drive down and remind us that the gates lock you in at sunset if you don't leave. ...lock you in? ... doesn't that seem a little ridiculous? I mean ... you're stranded on a beach ... on the reservoir of water for all of Vegas ... sure, you could hop the fence and leave your car there ... but why LOCK YOU IN in the first place?

coyotes howling outside the tent, strange man sat down at our picnic table in the middle of the night whistling, and some definite Whiskey Tango campers sprawling around as if the campground was their home ... maybe it is.

Tomorrow ... Vegas!