I will write more tommorrow and include some pictures. I took 800 during Death Valley and 400 during Las Vegas (and went through two camera batteries in each event...thank goodness for digital camera's).
I also learned what happens in CA does not stay in California and what happens in Las Vegas does not necessarily stay in Vegas (let's say I would not recommend drying one's unmentionables in a rental cars window's in the presence of my "friends" with camera's and other "friends" I have and graciously share our room with think it's okay to startle freshly showered people clad in only a towel looking for unmentionables to put on...maybe I need new friends or maybe I need friends who do not carry camera's around:-)