Sunday, October 13th, we left our hotel at about 9am. This day was a drive day. We were starting our journey home. Hotel reservations were made for the Virgin River Casino in Mesquite, Nevada. This would put us on the north side of Las Vegas in preparation for Monday's drive to Manti, Utah. According to Google Maps, we would drive 6 hours this day.
Along the way we passed Joshua Trees.
Years ago when Claude was in the Air Force and stationed at March AFB, my parents came to visit from Louisiana. Papa knew of a National Park called Joshua Tree National Park. He really wanted to see this. Claude headed to work and Papa, Mimi, Nissa and I went for a car ride to find and see Joshua Trees. We found it and drove thru it shaking our heads. Some how a forest of trees should be thicker, greener, something more than what we were seeing. We had a great day but laughed at our Joshua Tree experience. It became a metaphor for an experience that underwhelmed you. Seeing these trees reminded me of a fun experience with my parents and a phrase we used afterwards because of that experience. This is Nissa and me in Joshua Tree National Park in August 1972.
I feel like my mother today. Knowing I would blog about all of this trip and include the pictures in the blog, I have diligently labeled pictures each day and created a draft email each day with my memories of that days trip. After Mimi passed, I would pull out photo albums of the trips he and Mimi took or show him videos they took of their trips. Papa would always comment about how diligent Mimi was to record their trips and take pictures to match her notes. I guess that apple didn't fall far from that tree!
As we drove across the desert, my mind caught hold of the word 'Vast '. There is so much open land. For those who only see it in pictures, a real life viewing is necessary to relate to that term 'Vast'. I decided to take a few pictures to try and illustrate "Vast". Note the road that just keeps on going.
We past a huge Joshua Tree area.
We also passed a road named Bailey, our youngest grandmonster's name. Cool.
Another thing common to the Rocky Mountains are runaway truck ramps. Lots of steep grades to get up one side of the mountain. As you come down the other side of the mountain, you find the runaway truck ramps. Trucks can exit into the ramp to stop themselves. It is easy for brakes to get, hot even for cars.
We got to the California/Nevada border at a town named Primm. Immediately there were hotels and casinos on both sides of I-15. They want to be sure you have access going or coming. At one point after entering Nevada, there was an enormous tower hotel in the middle of nowhere. I am guessing only in Nevada could they sustain that large a facility with no other infrastructure for support.
The Las Vegas Raiders new stadium was completed since our last time to Vegas. One end of this large edifice is a huge TV monitor.
I think the Bellagio is one of the classiest of the hotels. The name is beautiful. The fountains are soothing and so fun to watch. On one of our trips to Vegas, we were at the Bellagio outside to see the fountains go off. They happened to be checking the fountains. Instead of them going off every 15 minutes, it was a constant show for the entire time the cleaned and serviced the fountains. It was delightful.
Onward we pressed to the Virgin River Hotel & Casino in Mesquite, Nevada. Our least expensive hotel room for the trip was here. Nice room. No fridge. But all else was fine. The guest rooms are in 3-story buildings separate from the big Casino building. We walked to the Casino back door and through the Casino to the restaurant for our big meal of the day. I had the best bowl of corn chowder. Claude enjoyed ribs, baked potato and salad. Great meal. We did not play the slots. I told Claude, if all Casino rooms cost so much less, I may check for the closest Casino/hotel for us to stay in the future!!
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