March 1 through March 6, 2006

Wednesday March 1:

We showered, filled water and dumped before leaving Katherine landing, then drove to Las Vegas, stopping at this Cal Nev Ari post office to mail letters.  I walked along the edge of the small airport looking for it....finally asked, and was directed to the restaurant/casino.  The PO was tucked in a tiny office in the middle of the casino.  :-)

It might have been easier to find if the sign had a reference to Post Office too...  :-)  We continued on, finding this amusing casino parking lot south of Vegas.....

It seems like RV parking in Vegas is unchanged despite some rumors to the contrary.  The casinos have always found ways to accommodate their customers....  :-)  The drive into Vegas was much easier than last year...some of the construction delays have been completed, with wide fast roads now open.

The strip hi-rise casinos are visible in front of the snowcapped mountains to the west.  The rotating restaurant atop the spire of the Stardust casino is clearly recognizable to the right in this picture.  We shopped Costco in Henderson before moving to Sam's in Las Vegas to complete our shopping and wait for the right time to go to the airport for Doris.  We found a net connection and tracked her flight on line, found that she was due in early, and moved out accordingly.  We missed a turn for "Large Vehicle Parking" at the ramp to economy parking, seeing the small sign only when it was too late to shift lanes....and were finally shunted off at the parking garage entrance to a road traversing the arrival doors at the airport.....what a zoo!  We went out again and re-entered the airport to find large convenient large vehicle parking in the economy lot.  I was dropped off by the shuttle, with the drivers specific instruction to find baggage claim.....then return to this level to get a return shuttle to the parking area.  Doris arrived and found me...before I was looking for her plane, as the arrival board was not being updated promptly.  :-(  We quickly returned to the RV, were dropped right at the door, and Claire drove back to Sam's for the night.  

Thursday March 2:

In the morning (near noon, after an understandably late morning start) we drove to Bally's.  Traffic on the strip was moving SLOW and we got to people watch on the busy sidewalk....

This costumed showgirl looks almost like a real live advertising poster.....which I guess she was standing there on the sidewalk to arouse interest in her show.  The Jubilee show's advertising sign at Bally's catches our notice.

We'll know more about that show this evening....  :-)  After driving around some pretty narrow driveways, we were finally directed correctly to the large vehicle parking lot behind the casino....and nobody objected to our parking near the other RVs.  :-))  We walked into Bally's to pick up our Jubilee tickets, then walked on around town.  Claire is having increasing trouble walking with her hip…and she went back to the RV when she tired.

Doris and I continued wandering around the area.  The fountains went into their show as we entered the Bellagio casino.

We both tried some video of the fountains....but of course it cannot be displayed on this page.  Inside, the Bellagio is... first class!  They use real cut flowers EXTENSIVELY....and this ceiling design carries through on the floral motif

We need to start back to get dressed for the Jubilee show....but take a moment to rest near the Paris casino entrance.  

Cameras are forbidden at the Jubilee show, so we leave it home.   The Jubilee show is good....the costumes are artful, and there is even enough variation from the antics of the topless dancers to keep the ladies interested....and nearly half the audience seems to be ladies.  :-)   I enjoyed it...and am glad Doris picked it, cuz I doubt I'd have been able to get away with picking it myself.  :-))  It's REAL Las Vegas!  :-)  We walked around some after, then went "home" pretty late to snacks and bed.

Friday March 3:

We woke at a leisurely time in the morning when the sun was ready to warm the coach.  We walked to breakfast in the Ellis Island casino…the food is CHEAP, but they intend you make it up in gambling losses….ha ha!  Doris wanted to learn to play blackjack, and the minimum bet weekday mornings here is $1.

It is unrealistic to expect to win as a beginner, at least, so minimum losses make sense!  I was immediately told NO PHOTOS by the supervisor as I snapped this without flash....so could not try for a better one.  :-)     We stayed until we tired, then went back home to get ready to go to the Silverton for (hopefully) the night…if not, we can try the Rio.  On the way south we stopped in back of Excalibur to walk through the Luxor.

This casino with Egyptian motif has replicas of ancient artifacts.

The decor here is expensive....and the merchandise on sale is too.   I forget how much they wanted for this perfume bottle....?

I only know it was way over my budget for such an item...  :-)  Claire again went back to the RV to rest her hip while Doris and I wandered....first through the Excalibur.

Then across the footbridge to New York NY casino.

This place is most impressive on the outside...especially the statue of liberty replica.  The MGM Grand nearby is more famous for its lion.....and inside they have the REAL THING!

She is much more impressive than the gold statue outside....and that is pretty impressive too!  The animals are rotated into the display from an animal farm outside Vegas so the poor babies don't get fatigued by the crowds.  :-)  The lion cubs on display do not seem to have the overwork fatigue problem though....

they sleep right on the job!  The spots make me wonder if they kept mama too close to a tiger.....but I'm told that would not be possible.  :-))  It's time to head back to the RV, and we've walked further than we planned.  We retrace out path through the Excalibur....and Doris still has energy to enjoy this horse and carriage display.....

The driver is a real pro though....despite the distraction, he doesn't hit anything!  ;-)))   We're soon on our way to the Silverton, and all is well until we cannot find the way into the casino in construction and VERY heavy Friday evening rush hour traffic.  We pick the wrong way to turn, and must endure two miles of  stop and go (mostly stop) traffic with no way to turn around before finally getting back.  A very kind security man at Silverton approached when we parked and told us we could NOT park overnight at the Silverton lot, but could stay free in the Bass Pro lot next door.  We move immediately, and he follows on his bike to suggest where we can park.  Whatta guy!!  -)) We find a BEAUTIFUL aquarium inside.....

This sting ray smiles a welcome through the glass...  ;-)   There are all sorts of warm water fish in the huge tank, and even some divers that enter the tank periodically to perform a show under water.

These folks are a bit hard to photograph as flash does not work well through the glass.  After finding a two hour wait for dinner in the best restaurant at Silverton, we have drinks and snacks at the bar beside the aquarium before returning "home" for more drinks and snacks....enough sustenance for THIS day, fer sure!  :-)  

Saturday March 4:

Tonight is the Celene Dion show….and we drive back to Bally's to park then walk more around the strip before we must get ready.  The Venetian with its canals and gondola rides is always impressively beautiful.

The interior is impressive too, with the artificial sky that sets the scene...

 This is a street that never sees rain or an uncomfortable temperature.  :-))  We walk on to the Wynn....the new casino in town.  This place is nice....but decorated in an "art deco" style that may appeal more to the young adult crowd than to us.

 We have fun here though.  Some of the cast of the show "Avenue Q" playing at the Wynn are out in the "streets" trying to drum up interest.  

They assure us it is NOT a kids show....it's Las Vegas naughty!  :-) We have no more time for another show here....we do not even ask the price.  :-)  But the cast are quite personable (all 4 of them, the "fuzzy" puppets included) and interesting to chat with.  :-)))  Celene is GREAT….the show is a super energetic hi-tech presentation with large video presentations on a screen behind the huge stage.  The theater is huge, and the video screen makes the high mezzanine seats enjoyable.    Celene is just a dot on the stage to the naked eye.  However, much of the visual effect of the dancing and lighting is enhanced by looking down on it from above. Cameras are again forbidden, but Doris' tiny one does not get by the bag search this time....and they give her a storage receipt for it.  I did not realize they would do that....I have been two evenings without camera because the shows forbid them....  :-((  We walk the strip a bit after the show, debate whether we want to eat on the strip, and finally return home to more drinks and sandwiches.

Sunday March 5:

We start the day today with breakfast at the Ellis Island casino.

This is not a flashy new casino, but it's close to the Bally's parking area, the food is good, and the gambling stakes are low...penny slots and $1 blackjack if you play at the right time. Today we will do Red Canyon in the afternoon, and take in the Bonnie Springs 'Old Nevada' resort.  This place is targeted for families, and priced for any budget....only a $10 parking fee to use all the facilities, including a train ride into 'town' from the parking lot!

I must watch my head carefully as clearance getting on and off is a bit low....but it beats walking, especially for Claire!  ;-)  There is a "Wild West" gun fighting demo starting as we arrive.

 The demo is full of noise and smoke....but stresses the danger of even blank rounds at close range....with some disintegrated pop cans resulting. There are things of interest to 'big kids' too....like this old fire engine waiting restoration.

It's not as pretty, but more interesting this way, as we can see all of the old engine exposed.  Doris wants to go on a horseback ride.  Claire would LOVE to, but does not think her hip could take the punishment.  Horses are just NOT my thing....so Doris signs up to ride alone (with a guided group of course).  While she waits for the ride to start, we tour the zoo which is free for all.....

No, it's not the San Diego zoo....  :-))  It does appeal to the kiddies though......   Doris enjoys her hour's ride, and is still walking afterwards.  :-)  This mining operation high on a nearby mountain is highlighted in the afternoon sun.

The tunnels into the red layer of the mountain are visible, as well as the tailings (non valuable rock dug out to reach the ore) dumped down the mountainside.   We intended to fill water in the BLM's 13 mile campground in Red Rock Canyon, which we'd seen reference to on the web, but could not find it, and we got there too late to ask a ranger.  I suspect it is closed, but references remain on the web and in books.  We drove the 13 mile loop through the canyon and returned to the Silverton for the night.

Monday March 6:

In the AM I ask about a dump...Silverton does not have one.  Across the street in the T/A truck stop they have one in the truck/RV wash...but it is $10 to dump, free with wash at $1/ft.  It looks DIRTY and we can drive to Flying J for less.  We do that, and find a REALLY strange dump....a yellow plate in the middle of the gas pump driveway is pulled up, and you dump...no rinse water here.  I'm glad the propane fill guy was out here to ask where it was....I'd NEVER have looked there!  We fill our water tank at the gas island as the fresh water fill faucet is being used to wash the pavement.  Doris suggests we eat in the Flying J restaurant, and it is not bad...but NO WHERE NEAR as cheap as the Ellis Island.  :-) We drive back to Bally's before 10AM so Doris can play more $1 blackjack...and she does AFTER a short nap.  We're all running out of energy!  :-)  Doris actually came back from the gaming today with more than she went with...by a few $.  Still, she can't claim big winnings overall, but she feels her losses are more than offset by the free drinks and entertainment value.  :-))  We drive to old Las Vegas (Fremont Street) around dusk, and find the parking lot for the Plaza...

The lot is free with validation, $2 otherwise; we decide our time on Doris' last day in Vegas is more valuable than $2, and pay rather than try to get the ticket validated.  Claire finds walking impossible, and elects to skip this place and stay 'home" in the RV.  Doris and I find Fremont street, with it's old hotels refurbished into glittering casinos....

The 'Golden Nugget' is a famous old name I recall from WAAAAY back.  The much touted "show" on the ceiling is really lame....a race car video with noise approaching the threshold of pain.  We retreat into a store for shelter from the noise until it's over.  Then we find our way to the Golden Gate, with 99 cent shrimp cocktails...

The shrimp were DELICIOUS and fresh tasting, and we got one to take back for Claire too.  Bob Long was playing a lively piano here.....

Doris bought us one of his country piano CD's. We've about run out of time with Doris in Vegas....  :-((  The CD seems good when we get back to the RV....as much as I can tell on the laptop computer speakers...I am able to play it through before we MUST leave for the airport to drop Doris for her redeye flight back to Miami.  Planes don't wait!  The drop off is much easier than the pickup, as we avoid trying to park.  There is over 13 foot clearance in the departure drop off lane, and we have no problem.  Doris is off on her own at the terminal door...as we cannot accompany her past the security gate anyway....and we drive to Sam's Club for the night.  We have internet, and I verify that her flight left pretty much on time, and arrived early in Miami by a few minutes...so all should be well, but I do not envy Doris' Tuesday work day starting about when she lands.  :-((  Of course, thinking about it, I do not envy anybody's workday any more.  :-))

Tuesday March 7:

We are tired and rise late…We shower, I shop Sam's in Vegas for a few things before we leave Vegas.  I find gas has gone up 6 cents, and elect to wait until Kingman AZ to fill…the Flying J there has it for less.  Sam's renews Claire's card without Claire....for the $40 they renew the complementary card for Matt too.  I think all they really want is the MONEY!  :-))  We drive to Lake Mojave Recreation area Katherine landing campground for the night.  The scenery going down the mountain into Laughlin is spectacular....

Dinner is soup from left overs...and it is VERY good.  This is a quiet dark night for a change.  We certainly do sleep!

PLANS:  This is written on March 29 in Vicksburg MS.  We're planning on visiting cousin Philip and family today, then on to visit cousin Nicki in Decatur AL on the weekend.  From there it is a night with nephew Greg in Charlottesville VA on the following weekend, and some time on Ron & Elizabeth's sheep farm in Lexington VA.  We hear the new lambs have started early this year!  :-)  We plan to be home the third week in April, and expect any REALLY cold weather will have faded in MA by then.  We're still trying to catch up with the web page...so until next time...

ENJOY!   We are....  -)