Leaving Las Vegas

Las Vegas Nevada  to  Richfield Utah  293 miles

Day 36

Ready to hit the road

I almost hated to leave the Oasis RV Park this morning, it was going to be a nice, sunny day.  Also the fact that I knew we were headed to higher elevations meant that we'd be going back to winter, so to speak.  Psssst...I hate cold. 

A different view of Caesars, from the back side

From the interstate, Trump , Encore, Wynn, and Venice  (I think)

It was a crystal clear morning, and we were on the road by 9:00.  We picked up I15 north and stayed on it most of the day.  Plenty of climbing and descending on the leg of the trip.  We've been on certain sections of this highway before, in fact just last year, but in the opposite direction.  Sounds nutty, but you see different things facing the othery way! 

One part of the highway I always enjoy between  state border of Arizona and Utah.  The highway travels for miles at the base of the mountains on  a flat terrain.  Suddenly it becomes apparent that you are facing a wall of enormous mountains and somehow the highway will find a way through.   This cut is through the Virgin River Gorge and it is breathtaking.  Not too far on the other side of the mountains is St. George, Utah.

Entering the Twilight Zone....er, I mean Virgin River Gorge on I15

And more....

Before long it's back to rugged country, the mountains grow taller and population dwindles.  Actually, this area is on the other side of Zion National Park.  No entry from this side.  We passed the tiny town of Leeds, Utah, where we stayed last year when we visited Zion.  We remembered a little diner (the ONLY restaurant in town) Wagon Wheel Diner, that we enjoyed and looked forward to lunch there.  It has been in the same spot for many years...the cook had catered the cast and crews of westerns and was a huge fan of John Wayne the restaurant was filled with the 'Duke's' memorabilia.  But as we neared the usual string of cars was not parked across the street and as we passed we saw that it was closed and a 'For Rent' sign in the window.  Apparently, it had been there for years....oh well.  Plan B - stop at a rest area and make lunch in the RV.  Bummer.

Not easy to see, but the white in the background is snow on the mountain

As we traveled, we kept gaining altitude and the snow that was on the very tops of the mountains kept getting closer.  Eventually, by the time we made the turn onto I70 to face EAST it was right there, under the trees.  

We ended up in a tiny town, Richfield Utah, in  a valley between the mountains.  Actually it isn't THAT tiny...it has a super Walmart!  The KOA here is very, very nice.  There are only a handful of campers here, could be because most people stay in warmer areas until a later in the season...ya think? It is cold here tonight, they said it snowed a couple of days ago.   Thank heavens for cable TV and good WIFI or I'd be nuts tonight. 

Now, they're happy to go for a walk!  Well...two out of three are!

We will shop tomorrow at the Walmart before heading further into the netherworld, on our way to Moab.  I just read that on the way there is a 105 mile range between services.  In other words, make sure your tank is full and  make sure you pee.  That's when an RV comes in handy, heh, heh!

If we all don't perish from hypothermia tonight, and if the roads are passable, we will head east toward Moab tomorrow...

Back to the Dam

Las Vegas Nevada

April 30, 2010

Day 35

The winds calmed, it was sunny and not too cool, finally.  Had a lazy morning here, then drove over to Hoover Dam and the town of Boulder.

 We've been to the dam many times and were not going there this visit but felt like it just wouldn't be a trip to Vegas without going to the Hoover Dam.  And we were also curious to see the progress of  the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge under construction.  Plans were started in August 2001, and the bridge is due to open in November of this year. 

Next trip...OVER it!

Pictures just do NOT give a proper perspective of this project.  The bridge is next to the dam and will take the flow of traffic off of it and eliminate the winding, cliff hugging, bumper to bumper, two-lane road that now exsists.    The span is 1080 feet across, but the stunning fact is that it is amost 900 feet above the Colorado River.  What a view bridge traffic will have of the Hoover Dam!  It's going to be difficult for the drivers to focus on traffic and NOT the view!  

Later we drove through the older section of Boulder and stopped at a litte restaurant for a sandwich .  We sat outside and watched classic, hot rods and antique autos pass by on the way to a park down the street, where a festival is being held this weekend.  The lunch was great, both of our sandwiches were excellent and NO TWIGS were discovered in the food!

A neighborhood overlooking Lake Mead in Boulder.  Not too shabby, eh?

We stopped to restock our food on the way back to the RV.  Had coffee, talked to the kids on the phone and checked emails.  Later we went back to the 'land of many crazies' or 'The Strip'.  We did a great deal of walking tonight, from the way my legs/knees/back feels...at least 4 miles, maybe more. 

Jim almost got his gelato, almost.  Walked up to one is Caesars Palace, they were giving a 1/2 teaspoon samples, and almost ordered some.  Then I looked up at the price, and the guy kept telling us that our BEST choice would be the *VIP* size.  The smallest size (seriously, about 1/4 cup) was $7.99 and the 'great deal' VIP size was a mere $17.99, and that was about one cup!  We're not cheap, but we have limits and that was just stupid...and it wasn't THAT good!  I think that VIP stood for very ignorant patsy!  All the rest of the way through Caesars and Paris Jim kept muttering, "$17.99 for that little cup...are they freakin' NUTS?"

And we did NOT, repeat...NOT put any money into any machines in the casino tonight!

Tomorrow we leave fairly early, turning the rig back toward Utah and some canyons. 

Baby It's Cold Outside

Las Vegas Nevada

Day 34

Thursday,  April  29  2010


Hard to believe that on Monday we sat by the pool, sweating in 90 degree weather.  It's been all downhill ever since.  Today the sun was in and out, and the wind was still blowing hard, but not as bad as yesterday.  Oh, and yesterday's top gust clocked at 63 mph was the SECOND strongest wind gust in the month of April since the weather bureau started keeping records.  We got a good laugh out of that.

It never got out of the low 60's and with the wind, it felt much colder, especially when the sun was blocked by clouds.  We can see the rain falling, but it evaporates before it hits the ground.  Today I wore a sweatshirt, jeans and a jacket and was still cold, I thought I'd be wearing this in the mountains, NOT Las Vegas. 

Seeing that we couldn't hit the pool, we took a drive up to Red Rock Canyon, less than a half hour from here.  Beautiful rock formations, some with sheer cliffs that we noticed were being scaled by rock climbers.  There is a 13 mile scenic drive that winds around the base of the mountains, and it is indeed scenic.

We headed back to the RV (the LONG way, because Jim didn't listen to TOM TOM) for a late lunch.  Later, even though neither of us really wanted to go outside in the wind and cold, we took a 3 mile walk.

 Then back for coffee and to get ready for the Terry Fator show at the Mirage.  Thew some money away playing the slots while waiting for the show...actually I was way ahead at one point, but gave it back.  The show was excellent, Terry is so talented, funny and humble.  Good clean fun.

This Dummy says he is one of the Beatles

I'm ready for bed, the heat is on in the RV and the dog is sleeping on my foot shivering...and SHE had a fur coat!

Blowin' in the Wind

Las Vegas Nevada

Day 33

Very, very windy today, all day.  We took a two mile walk, with some of it feeling like I was walking uphill while facing the wind!  At least it was warm.

Later we drove to the Imperial Palace across the street from Caesars.  Kind of a dumpy place compared to the premier ones such as, the Bellagio, the Venetian, etc., to see the Auto Collection, over 250 cars, some of the older ones, such as the Rolls just stunning.  Hey, at least they weren't PLANES!

Jim's mom had one just like this....how his younger brother abused that poor little car!

Wouldn't it be great to win a stupid amount of money in the Lottery and pull up to Walmart in one of these?

When chrome was king

We continued on Las Vegas Blvd to the older section and to the Fremont Street Experience.  They built a canopy, 90 feet high and 5 blocks long over several of the older casinos, the original strip.  The street has been closed off to traffic and it's nice to stroll among the old casinos.  We went in one for a few minutes, and actually came out with more money than we went in with...now, THAT doesn't happen often.

Face into the wind at Fremont Street

The canopy at Fremont Street

The pool was on our list for part of the afternoon, but the wind got worse and worse.  Plan B - Jim takes a nap.  I don't know how he slept with the RV rocking  with the gusts.  His phone was acting up so we headed off to a Verizon store, thanks to Tom Tom.  Actually, the guy at Verizon gave me an address way around the other side of the airport and there was one right down the street from where we are staying.  By this time the winds were howling and kicking a lot of dust...imagine that, dust in the desert!  I stepped out of the store when I got a phone call and got a face full of sand from a gust.  We won't go into the Verizon experience...let's just say we were there for about an hour and a half.

Would have been a nice picture, if not for the stupid light pole

If Jim calls this 'Mandolin Bay' one more time....I'll scream

Serious winds on the way back.  Of course, we had to cross the airport, and we all know that they always build airports in the absolute windiest place they possibly can.  Couldn't even see the mountains and the huge hotels on the strip were disappearing in the dust too. The news said that the gusts were clocked at 60mph!

Fed the dogs dinner and they were freaked walking in the wind.
 Lil' Dummy, the gold one is pretty skittish anyway and she ran at top speed all the way back from the dog walk. 

This is Lil Dummy (Brandy) a few years ago...she was convinced that she was hiding

Jim wanted a sandwich from the deli in New York New York, so off we went downtown.  The wind made the 60 degree temperature feel much colder, and the crowds were very, very light.  Really, who wants to walk around getting sand blasted?  At home when we have this much wind, they give it a name, like....Hugo, Ike, Ivan, Charley..

The people on the news are saying that they can't remember EVER having winds like this.  Looks like we are still bringing unusual weather to everywhere we visit.  For this reason we are NOT going to visit California.

We would feel terrible about the earthquake...

The RV's a Rockin'

Las Vegas Nevada

Day 32



Today started off cloudy and breezy. Before too long, those baby breezes grew up into adult WINDS. We walked a couple of miles. Jim did the laundry, he better be careful, he's getting pretty good at it.


Obviously not a pool day, we decided to take a ride to Mount Charleston (maybe we're thinking of home) a part of the Las Vegas area we've never vistied. The peak is almost 11,913 feet above sea level. The wind was gusting as and the temperature was dropping as we gained elevation. It was hard to believe that we left a warm desert area a half hour ago and now we were standing in snow, amoung the bristlecone pines and log cabns clinging to the edge of the mountina ledges! We took a couple of photos at Cathedral Rock which was probably in around the 8,000 level.

Road to Mt. Charleston...dark clouds above

Cathedral Rock

Log Cabins

The gust grew even stronger and one was so strong that we thought it would be a good time to head back toward the city. There was a shopping center about half way back to the RV, we stopped for a late lunch and to shop for some supplies.



The wind gusts tonight are a little frightening, not to mention that the RV is rocking and shuddering. We noticed several large rigs pulling out this morning, getting out ahead of the wind. Driving in heavy wind is exhausting and nerve-wracking. The TV news said that the winds north of here in Reno were much worse, up to 100mph!



Tomorrow is supposed to be cooler, in the 70's with even more wind. More wind! Are they kidding?



Pretty sure we'll be going downtown tomorrow, and trying to do as much as possible indoors!

Viva Gelato!

Las Vegas Nevada

Day 31

Gorgeous, fabulous, sunny and warm weather today.  We are enjoying it while it lasts. 

I was forced to march a little after 9:00, around the resort, it's a BIG place for an urban RV park.  Actually, it didn't start out urban, it used to be out of town, but the town soon followed...

After the short 2 mile march (the gestapo was getting hungry) we headed to the pool.  The pool and pool areas are beautiful, easily the nicest of anywhere that we've traveled. 

Jim in the pool.  The couple in the background have no idea that they are on the internet.

The pool area has plenty of shaded areas too, I like the tall palms

We can't stay out in the sun too long, came back had lunch and discussed where what we would do this afternoon.  Apparently, this wore Jim out, and he decided to take a long nap.   Later we headed downtown to walk more and purchase show tickets for later this week. 

We parked at Bally's/Paris HUGE parking garage.  The garage is about a quarter mile from the Strip, and there is no direct route anywhere in this town...everything must, must, must go through a casino.  Clever, huh?  Our destination was the Mirage, 'practically across the street'.  NOTHING n Las Vegas is 'across the street'.  Also the street is about., oh.....27 lanes wide or so and the sidewalks are the width of the average interstate.  At least we could actually see the Mirage.  The good news was that it was only one hotel away...that bad new was that the 'hotel' was Caesars Palace.  Caesars covers an area the size of Vatican City.  

The atrium of the shops at Caesars Palace.  Curved escalators!

Jim bought the show tickets, Terry Fator (the ventriloquist) while I visited the ladies restroom.  Good Lord, I could have spent the rest of the day in there admiring all the marble and 'fanciness' of it all!  Jim was almost done purchasing the tickets when I came out.  We really didn't want to pay over $200/each for the 'best' tickets, so we opted for seats 25 rows back.  They assured us that we won't need to take our binoculars...

By the time we started our return hike, we were getting hungry.  I knew we had steaks defrosted to be grilled for dinner, so all of Jim's suggestions were falling on deaf ears.  He sure tried though:

Hon, look...gelato!  Want some gelato?

Carnagie Deli!

Pastry shop, wanna take some back to the RV?
Another gelato shop....hon? hon?

Sugar Factory!  How about some candy? Chocolate?

You sure you don't want some ice cream?

Parasol art at the Bellagio

Photography Lesson: Always check your background, look at the babe over my left shoulder!

Somehow, we managed to escape back to the car, buying only a bottle of  water from a street vendor, who probably only knew four words of the English language...*ice-water-one-dollar*.

As we turned into the RV park, Jim mentioned that he needed to stop in the store by the office. 

He returned with Ben & Jerry.

Oh Crap...

London Bridge Is... Where?

Williams AZ  to Las Vegas NV (via Lake Havasu City)  320 miles

Day 30

Last night we stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway RV Resort.  The place is very clean, but it is mostly asphalt and gravel.  The WIFI was pretty poor...but all in all a very nice place.

Ready to leave Grand Canyon Railway RV Resort

We left about 9:30 this morning in dazzling sunshine, last night was COLD.  Funny, there we were at Grand Canyon's front door, but didn't go see it.  We've been at the south rim many times and it never changes, still a huge hole in the ground! 

Snow on the hills around the RV park

So we backtracked, and headed west toward Kingman, then south to Lake Havasu City, where the London Bridge is now located.  This is another place that we have never been.  Fortunately, we actually made it there, unlike Sedona and Prescott.

London Bridge, through the windshield, squashed bugs and all.  About a close as I am ever going to get to London!

 

The town was nice, the lake beautiful, the weather was sunny and warm, no...hot, and I would have liked to spend a day there.  We have never seen so many speed boats, and I mean speed!  Looking back, I was lucky to get to see the bridge...from the windshield and side window.  We drove across it, then if we'd wanted to get closer or walk across we would have had to park the RV quite far away and walk back, leaving the dogs with the generator running.  Really didn't want to do that.  So why didn't we stay?  Las Vegas was 'only' three hours away...Jim LOVES Las Vegas.

We always stay at the Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort.  Spaces are a little tight, but you get that at in a tourist area, especially the closer you get to the action.  We're only three miles from the Mandalay Bay on the top of the strip.  We got here late afternoon and decided to stay put tonight.  Hooked everything up, paid for the WIFI (don't mind paying for GOOD service) and made an easy dinner.  We are paid for a week. 

Could not believe our ears while watching the local weather (don't know why we are surprised) they are expecting it to be nice tomorrow and then warn of extremely unusual weather, 50 mph winds, cold and even RAIN Tuesday and Wednesday!  Highs in the 60's Wednesday...90's are normal.

WE ARE BRINGING RAIN AND COLD TO THE DESERT!