San Francisco to Denver

[Mark Sedenquist]

And a little-known fact about the dam.



See those brownish-streaks running down the face of the dam? (above)

That's rust.

But not rust from the iron inside the dam...

Shortly after the Hoover Dam was completed, the Bureau of Reclamation was trying to take PR photos of the dam and the face was too white -- for the cameras-of-the-day to capture any definition.

So they hired scalers to descend down the face of the dam and pound iron nails into the wall--to create rust-so that the relative size of the dam wall would be easier to capture on film.

As you can see, it worked well.

One side effect of the those nails... Over the years, most of the them have completely rusted away, (as was the intention) but a couple of them are still in there. One of the tall tales (that is apparently false) was shared with me was that during the filming of the Golden Eye Bond movie starring Pierce Brosnan, a stuntman was rappelling down the face of the Hoover Dam became stuck on one of those exposed nails and had to be rescued. I have told that story to dozens of people.

Turns out-- I should have fact-checked the story. The dam that was used in that movie was not Hoover Dam -- it was the Verzasca dam in Europe

But the reason for the streaks is still true!
Here is a 1941 photo without the rust streaks!

Other little known things about the dam. Much of the floors INSIDE THE DAM are beautifully finished with Terrazzo floors and walls. Several of the engineers have offices inside the dam. (no windows, of course, but beautiful light fixtures.) Some of the Terrazzo designs still found in the dam have been reproduced in the visitor center. Here are images of those designs.

[UKCraig]

Thanks for the update, Mark, appreciated, will hold off on the tour tickets until we get there. Like the story too!

Do you know if they still do the daily 'gunfight' thing in Oatman? If we do not spend the time at the dam we may make our way there instead if they do!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Craig,

As far as I know, the Oatman Ghost Rider Gun Fighters perform a gunfight performance at 1:30 and 3:30 PM Arizona local time.

I would still recommend a visit to the dam -- just to see it. -- Just not the tour.

Mark

[UKCraig]

Thank you. Sadly I don't think we'd get to Oatman that early if we went. We'll definitely be going to the dam, for sure.

[Mark Sedenquist]

More bad news for your plans to drive CA-1.

Recent rains have been tough on this road!

SAN FRANCISCO — Authorities urged motorists to avoid California’s scenic Highway 1 after a section of the coastal route collapsed during an Easter weekend storm, forcing closures and stranding motorists near Big Sur, authorities said

.

[UKCraig]

Yes, just been reading about the latest and figured we'll need to re-route away from CA-1. It is what it is and it just opens up other options. Mother nature cannot be out-manouvered.

A final repair design has been completed for the Regent’s Slide at PM 27.8. Surveys of the site indicate that the amount of material that will need to be brought down is in the range of 300,000 cubic yards. By comparison, slides in the winter of 2023 at Dani Creek, Gilbert’s, and Mill Creek, averaged in the range of 30,000 cubic yards.

Initial estimates indicate that once work begins at Regent’s Slide it will take 100 working days to complete the repairs and open the highway.

Source: https://bigsurkate.blog/

Sure looks like game over for that plan then...

[Mark Sedenquist]

Wow, that was a great link. Excellent photos and reports really detailing everything.

Yep, not going to happen again soon.

Mark

[UKCraig]

Not sure if Google is showing blockage individually or if the road closure icons are arbitrary however it clearly doesn't look amazing out there right now!!

In relation to our own trip I have looked at our options and I can see that we are committed to Monterey as that accommodation is not something that can be cancelled/refunded. We can cancel the stay at San Simeon if necessary for a full refund.

I think these are the three options that I am going to put to the family later:

• Leave Monterey and head inland via the 101 instead spending two nights at San Simeon as planned. Possible adding an extra stop en route to fill out the time a little given it looks to be around a three hour drive rather than a full day along the coast road?
• Head inland from Monterey to visit Kings Canyon/Sequoia - I am thinking that the bigger trees will be something that the kids might well have an interest in but I think that it takes a bit of the balance/variety away from the trip in removing the time at the beaches/coast and making it all about national parks throughout the entirety of the trip.
• Scrap the southern element altogether and head across through Yosemite and then out to Death Valley via Tioga Road. Whilst they loved it last year I am not sure a repeat would be as enjoyable and see the point above about it becoming too much national parks?

Any other thoughts or suggestions that I am missing?

[Southwest Dave]

All 3 are good options. Kings canyon and Sequoia NP are pretty spectacular, as are all National parks, and IMO would make a great addition to the trip. (Would be my preferred option) One other option would be to simply stay another night in Monterey and visit the beach, Aquarium and maybe do the 17 mile drive, then break the journey to Death valley with an overnight stop, perhaps with a drive through Sequoia included.

Dave

[glc]

You could still go to San Simeon - just take 101 to Paso Robles then 46 to Cambria and the PCH. San Simeon isn't far north of Cambria and that stretch of the PCH should be open.