November 29 to December 5, 2007

November 29 to December 5, 2007

Las Vegas, Nevada to Quartzsite, Arizona

 

Thursday ; Today was sunny and cool again. After another long, tiring day of walking around "the Strip", I have decided that I'm too tired to participate in Saturday's world record setting Las Vegas Great Santa Run. But I certainly would like to witness the start of the event before we leave.

Since the places we wanted to visit today were all around the middle of "the Strip", we decided to find a different place to park than the MGM Grand. Easier said than done, with a one ton diesel dually. We ended up parking in the oversized vehicles parking lot of The Mirage. We walked through The Mirage and caught the free tram to Treasure Island. We walked through Treasure Island, then crossed Las Vegas Blvd. to The Venetian. Through The Venetian, then through Harrah's to Imperial Palace. We spent quite awhile touring the Imperial Palace Auto Collection, a large museum of amazingly restored automobiles, from fairly current models back to the 1920's and even one or two earlier. And most of them are for sale. I particularly liked Al Jolson's 1928 Mercedes Benz, on sale for $1,450,000 !

We walked back to The Venetian, and wandered slowly through the Grand Canal Shops. The Venetian, Grand Canal Shops, and adjacent St. Mark's Square are all amazingly authentic reproductions of Venice. The only things missing were the pigeons that are in the real St. Mark's Square in Venice ( been there 3 times ). We watched some entertainers in St. Mark's Square. Musicians, singers, jugglers, stilt walkers, and very good human statues. I'm not usually impressed by human statues. We walked back across Las Vegas Blvd. to The Mirage in time to see the 6:00 P.M. volcano eruption. Viva Las Vegas ! ! ! We contemplated having supper at The Mirage, but we were getting quite tired and decided just to return to the trailer for a light supper, and to watch Survivor.

 

Friday ; Today it rained all day. First rain we've had since leaving home a month ago. This was the first day long rainfall that Las Vegas has had in over a year. And it showed ! Traffic was snarled. And the streets and hotel driveways were filled with large, deep puddles. Out here in the desert, they don't design roadways with gutters and storm sewers. There's no good way for the water to "disappear".

We were planning to leave tomorrow morning, but we've decided to stay until Sunday. If we left tomorrow morning, we would have to get up very early and prepare for departure before going to see the Las Vegas Great Santa Run, then hurry back to depart before the RV park's check out time. We've decided to stay another day, take things easy, get some chores done, and recuperate from our 4 days of walking around Las Vegas, before getting back out on the road.

We procrastinated going out this morning, hoping the rain would ease up. It didn't. We drove to the Rio, which is not right on "the Strip". We parked in their garage, and went in looking for their free show "Masquerade In The Sky". We thought we had about an hour to kill until the first of the day's performances. We played penny slots. Joanne lost $1.00. I won 50 cents. A total cost of 50 cents for an hour of entertainment for each of us. Not bad ! Turns out our guide book had the show schedule wrong, and the next show was 3 hours later. HMPH ! We took the shuttle bus from the Rio over to Caesars Palace. We walked from Caesars Palace over to Bellagio, our favourite Las Vegas place.

We found our way to Bellagio's Conservatory. The Conservatory was being set up with their Christmas season displays, so we were unable to walk through, although we could view it from the periphery. The Christmas season displays were almost complete, and not surprisingly, they were ... simply stupendous. The last time we were in Las Vegas, 2 years ago, the highlights were Bellagio's Conservatory, and Bellagio's Dancing Fountains. The same holds true on this visit. After viewing the Conservatory, we found our way outside ( easier said than done in Vegas ) to watch a performance of the Dancing Fountains. WOW ! ! ! One of the advantages of the weather was that there were very few people outdoors to view the Dancing Fountains. However, we did get severely splashed by a taxi driving by. C'est la vie !

We walked back over to Caesars Palace and walked around The Forum Shops. The only interesting store was FAO Schwartz, the New York based upscale toy store. Great stuffed animals, especially the different breeds of dogs. Too bad we don't have any really young nieces or nephews to buy Christmas gifts for. We caught a shuttle bus back to Rio, and went to see the Masquerade Show In The Sky. Well ... they certainly spent enough money on this production, but ... it just wasn't really all that good. Elaborate ... expensive ... but not all that good. C'est la vie !

We returned to Main Street Station RV Park, had a late supper, then I walked over to Main Street Station Hotel & Casino across the street to use the Wi-Fi signal there.

 

Saturday ; The Las Vegas Great Santa Run

HA HA HA HA HA ... what a great event !

Fortunately for the event, the rain had stopped and the sky had cleared by this morning. Just before we left for the Las Vegas Great Santa Run, Joanne took Bo for a bathroom walk to the dog run adjacent to the RV park, beside the hotel / casino parking lot. Bo couldn't concentrate on the business at hand because he was distracted by all the Santas walking by on their way to the event. HA HA HA ! The event's registration, start and finish lines were on Fremont Street, a couple of blocks from our RV park. We walked over ... and ... HA HA HA HA HA ! Thousands and thousands of Santas ! Santas as far as the eyes could see ! Big Santas, little Santas, canine Santas, white Santas, black Santas, Oriental Santas ... even a Santa rock band performing. HA HA HA ! I'm really glad we stayed to see this. We regret leaving Bo behind in the trailer. We should have brought him along. He would have loved it. We milled around, mingling amongst all the Santas, taking photos, watching the official start, led by Siegfried & Roy. We watched the first arrivals at the 1 mile finish line, back at the start line. We wandered a couple of blocks over to watch the first arrivals at the 5 mile finish line. HA HA HA ... cheap Santa suits don't stand up all that well over a 5 mile run by serious runners. Tomorrow is the Las Vegas marathon, and it appeared as if a fair number of today's Santa Run 5 mile early finishers were marathoners warming up for tomorrow. We treated ourselves to a couple of Krispy Kreme doughnuts on our way back to Main Street Station. Hey ... watching all those Santas run left us hungry. HA HA HA !

While Joanne did laundry I took our Wi-Fi phone over to the casino where there's a Wi-Fi signal, to do some banking by phone and phone my sister. Walking across the parking lot I found a discarded Santa hat with a press pass attached. I took it back to the trailer for Bo. He really enjoyed destroying it. HA HA HA !

 

Sunday ; Las Vegas, Nevada to Cattail Cove State Park near Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Today was sunny and mild. From Las Vegas we will be somewhat following the Colorado River all the way down to Yuma, Arizona. When I walked Bo at 7:00 A.M. this morning Las Vegas marathon runners were streaming by. We departed Main Street Station RV park and headed south on Fremont Street until it became Boulder Highway. We followed Boulder Highway through the Las Vegas suburbs of Henderson and Boulder City to run errands. First we filled up with diesel ... bio-diesel, actually. Don't often see bio-diesel. Then refilled a propane tank. Then refilled water jugs. Then found an Albertson's and stocked up on groceries. After finishing those errands, we headed over to Interstate 515, heading for Hoover Dam. I wanted to see Hoover Dam. Just before the dam, we had to stop at a Homeland Security checkpoint. Very friendly, professional and efficient Homeland Security anti-terrorist agent searched all exterior storage compartments and interior of RV before allowing RV to cross over Hoover Dam. HMPH ... maybe he can give lessons to that p**** border guard at Nighthawk crossing from B.C. to Washington.

Hoover Dam was impressive. Except for the exorbitant parking fee, and entrance fee to visitor centre. Didn't stop ... just drove over. Stopped shortly after for lunch at Willow Beach on Colorado River. WOO-HOO ... first time Bo has had lake or river to romp in since Deschutes River in Oregon almost a month ago. Joanne was annoyed at me for allowing Bo to go into the Colorado River. Thinks lake / river romping makes him stink. Hey ... he's a dog !

From Hoover Dam we followed Arizona Hwy. 93 southeast to Kingman, then turned onto Interstate 40 heading south, then west. Turned south onto Hwy. 95 to Lake Havasu City. Joanne wanted to see Christmas lights on London Bridge. Yes ... that London Bridge ! It was carefully "demolished" in London, England, brought to Lake Havasu City in Arizona, then rebuilt. Go figure !

On outskirts of Lake Havasu City, found our way to Lake Havasu State Park. Campground has just recently closed for renovations. HMPH ! Drove another 15 miles south on Hwy. 95 to Cattail Cove State Park. Nice state park, although a bit expensive. Tomorrow we'll unhitch, then go into Lake Havasu City late in the afternoon to see London Bridge Christmas lights display.

I think we may have crossed time zones when we drove across Hoover Dam over Colorado River from Nevada into Arizona. Will have to check that tomorrow morning. Today's Las Vegas newspaper reports that yesterday's Las Vegas Great Santa Run had about 8000 Santas.

 

Monday ; Lake Havasu City

Today was sunny and warm. We got a lazy, late start to the day. We went for a hike with Bo to see the campground and surrounding area on the shores of Lake Havasu. Fifteen miles south of us is the Parker Dam on the Colorado River at Parker, Arizona. The backing up of the Colorado River for 30 miles forms Lake Havasu, from Parker, 15 miles south, to Lake Havasu City, 15 miles north. The Colorado Aqueduct also starts near Parker, and travels completely across California, providing drinking water to the Los Angeles area. So don't piss in the lake, Bo ! HA HA HA ! After hiking around the campground and area we drove into Lake Havasu City and found our way to Havasu RV Resort, a local RV park with lots for sale. A few months ago I requested information from them, and what they sent me excluded pricing information. So we wanted to see the resort and get pricing information. We picked up pricing information, and took a look at the development. While we were looking at a lot, a couple from Penticton noticed our B.C. license plate and came over to chat. Nice resort, reasonable pricing, but the Lake Havasu area fails to appeal to us. But it gives us good pricing information for comparison purposes.

We drove around Lake Havasu City, sightseeing, and looking for cheap diesel. HA HA HA ... we found it ! We were killing time until dusk when we drove over to see London Bridge, and the "English Village" area adjacent to London Bridge. Lots of "poetic license" in calling the area an "English Village". Hey ... it's Arizona ! I guess one has to make allowances. HA HA HA ! We wandered around, and over London Bridge, taking photos at dusk, and more again after dark when all the Christmas lights were on. Okay ... London Bridge ... Christmas lights ... can we go eat at In-N-Out Burger now ? HA HA HA ! Can you tell I failed to be impressed ?

 

Tuesday ; Cattail Cove State Park, Arizona to Blythe, California to Quartzsite, Arizona

Eeeeeuuuuuwwwww ... rough night ! Must have got a touch of food poisoning at supper last night. Now I know why they're called In-N-Out Burgers !

Today was sunny and warm. Our plan for today was to drive to Blythe, California, to see Rancho Ventana RV Park. Three of our neighbours at Riverside RV Park Resort in Keremeos own lots at Rancho Ventana, so we wanted to see it. We had a late start to the day, leaving Cattail Cove State Park and heading south on Arizona Hwy. 95 to Parker. We turned west on Hwy. 62 and crossed over the Colorado River into Wyatt Earp, California. Our next turn was supposed to be south on California Hwy. 95. A while after crossing into California, we had to stop at a California Agricultural Inspection Station. The agent wanted to check all our fruits and vegetables. She was particularly interested in an orange we had. Apparently California does not want any "foreign" fruits or vegetables, particularly citrus, brought into the state by road travellers. About 45 minutes after leaving the inspection station, and miles and miles of endless desert, we realized we were far beyond the turn off to California Hwy. 95. Darn ! The California Agricultural Inspection Station obscured the turn off to Hwy. 95. This is the second time in our travels that we've missed a turn off because of a California Agricultural Inspection Station. Joanne was really miffed ! Since we were "lost" we figured we might as well stop for a late lunch. We just pulled off the road into the desert.

After lunch we continued west on Hwy. 62 until we reached Hwy. 177, about 42 miles further west than Hwy. 95. We turned south on Hwy. 177, then east on Interstate 10 at Desert Center, heading to Blythe. Altogether we drove about 90 unnecessary miles because of missing the turn to Hwy. 95 ! At Blythe we found Rancho Ventana RV Park, and drove around. We expected two of our three neighbours from Riverside would already be in the park, but we only saw one of the neighbours' rigs there. We contemplated staying overnight in a Passport America park in Blythe, but decided to continue on to Quartzsite, Arizona. When Interstate 10 crossed from California back into Arizona, we stopped at Flying J to refill with diesel. Best price so far ! While at Flying J I decided to browse for a CB radio and antenna. Flying J has a large assortment of CB radios and accessories. I bought a CB radio and antenna kit. I was planning to look at the flea markets in Quartzsite and Yuma for a CB radio and antenna, but the prices at Flying J were so good I didn't think I would find anything much better at the flea markets. And I was certain of that after making the purchase. The $38 antenna kit I bought scanned into the cash register as $20. Okay by me !

We continued east on I-10 to Quartzsite. Three miles south of Quartzsite on Arizona Hwy. 95 we stopped for the night, just as it turned dark, at "Hi Jolly" campground, one of the many free BLM ( either "Bureau Of Land Management" or "Boomers with Lots of Money" ... take your pick ) campgrounds around Quartzsite.

 

Wednesday ; Quartzsite, Arizona

Well, the annual gathering of flea market vendors in Quartzsite, and congregation of RV's on the BLM campgrounds in the desert surrounding the town has begun. The BLM lands are not really campgrounds. Just ... desert ! Pull off the highway, set up your solar panels, and you're done. At the peak of the season in late January, there will be thousands of vendors, and literally hundreds of thousands of RV's around Quartzsite. At the end of January each year is what started it all ; the annual Quartzsite Gem & Mineral Show. It has evolved into far more than a rock hound show. There are RV dealers with temporary sales lots, many RV parts and supply dealers, and flea market vendors selling stuff you never even knew existed.

After unhitching, then setting up our little solar panel ( thank you, Sharon & Bud ), we headed into town for an afternoon of flea marketing. We bought a lot of stuff, none of it absolutely essential to our existence. But, hey ... that's what Quartzsite is all about. We bought some tools I needed ( well, that's subjective ), some RV stuff, and some banged up food stuff ( dented cans and crushed boxes ) from a salvage vendor. Now I know where all those dented cans of dog and cat food went that we refused to accept over the years as pet food retailers.

 

DSK