I camped at the Henderson water tower just to find the highest elevation I could in the 100* heat at midnight. The lights of Las Vegas were spread out like some amazing Civilization on some exotic hot planet. Could not sleep, so I explored the hill above the tower under the stars and beside the shimmering late night smog above the city. Finally was able to doze off around 2AM. My camera tried:
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2013%2005/NVCA01p.jpg)
Woke up at 6:00 with new heat ramping up with the sun streaming in from the East. Repainted the sliding door sill around and under the gasket which had developed rust from the wet Pacific Northwest and wet Salt Lake City monsoons. This tower is a landmark from the valley floor. I was going to photograph it from the Discount Tire wheel balance appointment location, but the moisture in the air blocked it. Good people at Discount Tire who had to cobble together a balance chuck for the wide five rims. I had no faith it would give me a good balance, but lo, the wheels are true:
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2013%2005/NVCA02.jpg)
Yesterday, I felt my first pang of dread at traversing Death Valley in the expected 123* heat today. The car seems OK. I checked my valve adjustments yesterday morning and they were all FINE.
After my Annual Piano Playing Followed By Ass Kicking at Rummy in Pahrump (I love Charlene, my dad's ex-ex wife who somehow manages to put down a cascade of card straights and suits out of thin air to score double the points I ever seem to get), I headed out into the 90* morning to climb the big hill out of Pahrump's baking valley. These are the very mountains that were struck with the sunrise the moment my dad passed away:
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2013%2005/NVCA03.jpg)
The top of that hill leads into the Amargosa Valley. Here, I had just painted the wheel weights white to blend into the rims. Call me obsessive, I DON'T CARE:
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2013%2005/NVCA04.jpg)
The sand coming out of the rocks does not appear to have come from the rocks. I think it is from some long ago sea:
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2013%2005/NVCA05.jpg)
In the middle of nowhere, heck, in that heat I would be, too:
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2013%2005/NVCA06.jpg)
Came across a one-way flight to Beatty:
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2013%2005/NVCA07.jpg)
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2013%2005/NVCA08.jpg)
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2013%2005/NVCA09.jpg)
We should not complain too much about our dashboard wiring, some people have it worse:
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2013%2005/NVCA10.jpg)
So I am off to Death Valley now. It is 8:30AM July 19th. I will take temperature measurements of the crankcase, valve covers, exhaust pipes, and will fill you in on CHT readings. Rules are, no adjustments today, just drive and see how we do. I will post pictures and try not to be the recipient of the following message:
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2013%2005/NVCA11.jpg)