Home of the Stardusters

Ok, Nellis AFB is really the home of the Thunderbirds. But, did you know that for a month in the beginning of the team's creation, the Thunderbirds were called the Stardusters?  The first team had only three weeks to prepare for their first show too. I guess it just reinforces the fact that they had good training all along. Their first civilian air show was at Frontier Days in Cheyenne in 1953. 

We stopped by the Thunderbirds Museum one afternoon. After several loads of laundry and a couple of errands, it was time for a little something different. The museum wasn't very big, but we enjoyed looking at the memorabilia and trying to figure out why the 5 was always upside down. We'll let you figure that one out on your own. Here's a hint.  5 is the lead solo jet. 

Performance jet models

Where Are We Going Next?

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is just a few miles outside of Las Vegas. It's managed by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and has one of the nicer visitor centers on BLM land that we've seen. We took the 13 mile scenic drive to kill time while our coach was in the shop. The area is quite popular and you need a timed entry for the scenic drive. Parking at some of the pullouts was a bit tight, even with the timed entry. 

We enjoyed a little rock scrambling and a short hike along the way. We really enjoyed the burros grazing near the visitor center. In contrast to the burros in Custer State Park, these burros are not to be fed!

Wild burros

Calico Hills 

Petrified sand dunes

High Point Overlook

Seasonal waterfall

 Where Are We Going Next?