Lake Mojave

Monday we took a drive down to Lake Mojave to check out a place we might want to stay during the holidays.  On the way down we stopped at a Wal-Mart to pick up a new Food Saver.  The Food Saver is our vacuum sealer that we used for just about all the food in our freezer.  We’ve had the same one for quite awhile and it finally quit sealing.  This Wal-Mart wasn’t a SUPER Wal-Mart and they weren’t as well stocked so they didn’t have any.  We continued on our way down to Lake Mojave.  The RV park we were looking for was off the main highway outside of Searchlight called Cottonwood Cove.  It was right on the lake and had a beautiful marina FULL of houseboats.  The RV park was really bad though.  The sites were SO close to each other that it would have been really tough opening the slides.  Some of the sites were set up so that you were end to end so if two 5th wheels were backed up to each other your view out the back window would be the living room of the rig behind you.  Uggghhhh.  I don’t think so.  It’s really too bad because it would have been a beautiful place to stay right on the lake.

The Marina

On the way home we stopped at a Super Wal-Mart in Henderson which is suburb of Las Vegas and found the Food Saver we were looking for.  If you’ve ever owned one of these you know what I mean when I say I couldn’t have gone very long without one.  I also found a new one they have come out with that is handheld and can be a lot more convenient than having to get the big one out all the time.

After that we headed for Sam’s Club for a few things and then to Trader Joe’s for a pre-brined turkey for Thanksgiving and then home.   It’s a great shopping day when you can find everything you’re looking for!

The other day Rod wrote a “Status Update” on Facebook that was totally tongue in cheek.  Some people actually thought he was serious.  For those of you who either don’t have Facebook or just missed it he asked me to post it here.

Rod’s Post

RETIREMENT!!!!!!! It's definitely not what it's cracked up to be. An example: the other day I got up at 9:30 and went for a walk. After that I got some projects done on the rig and truck. After that, Deb and I sat out by the fence and looked at Lake Mead and the hills across the way as the sun set behind us.While sitting out there in shorts and t-shirts, we watched quail scurry around, hummingbirds fluttering around us and listened to the coyotes barking and howling. I also had a cigar and glass of red wine (heart medicine) while doing this. After that had dinner, Salad, fresh corn on the cob and salmon. After that I went back outside and started a fire. Still in shorts and t-shirt. Had another cigar and wine while enjoying the quietness. If days like this don't make you wish you were back working, I don't know what will…

Ahhhh, life is good….

Lake Mead & Hoover Dam

Yesterday we had some errands to run in Boulder City so we decided it would be a good day to visit Hoover Dam.  We’re only about 5 miles from there.  First stop was the Visitor’s Center so I could get a stamp in my National Parks Passport.  Then we stopped at the Post Office to mail off a few things and then on to the grocery store (I was out of garlic).  When we walked up to the door we saw a sign that said the Pharmacy had flu shots so we decided to check that out.  They did indeed have them.  Just the regular flu shot not the H1N1 (swine flu).  After she made a quick call to our health insurance company we found out we only had to pay $8 each out of the $30 each that they charge.  Nice.

From there we headed to Hoover Dam.  It actually used to be called Boulder dam but was renamed in 1947 after President Hoover.  The road to get there is very narrow in spots with some hairpin curves so they are building a nice four lane highway and a new bridge which will be called the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge across the canyon so you won’t have to actually drive across the dam anymore.  The bridge is scheduled to open Sept 2010.  Click here for more info

Since 9/11 they have put in security measures which meant since the back of our truck is covered we had to go to the inspection station.  All they did was lift up a corner of the cover and peak inside before sending us on our way.

Security check point

He peaked under the cover

The new highway (not yet being used)

The new bridge under construction

 

This is what the bridge will look like when completed

Looking down at the spillway from the top of the dam

 

The middle of the dam is the dividing line between Nevada and Arizona

The water level in Lake Mead is WAY low right now.  It’s pretty amazing to see the old water line and how far down it is.  I’m not really sure why it’s that way.  I do know that Lake Mead is a man made lake that was created when they built the Hoover Dam so maybe they’re not letting any water into it right now.  It’s at a 44 year low.  Click here to read more about it.  When we were driving along the lakefront the Garmin showed us actually driving in the lake.  Even the boat launch is way up on shore.

Look at the water line!!

Since we have a cold weekend coming up we’re just going to lay low and watch football.  Laundry is all done for awhile so nothing else left to do…

More Vegas

Friday night my sister Joyce and brother-in-law Rick arrived from San Diego to spend the weekend with us.  We visited with them for a little bit then joined my brother George and sister-in-law  Jolene, Dana, Deanna, Marissa and Mark for dinner.  It was hard catching up with everybody because there were so many of us.  LOL. 

Saturday George & Jolene were racing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  This was on the 1/4 mile track.  They had to qualify in order to race on Sunday.  Both qualified in their respective classes but we weren’t able to see Jolene’s race because it was at 7:30 in the morning.  That would have made for an incredibly LONG day as George didn’t race until 4:00 in the afternoon (which really ended up being 7:00).

First we had to stop for lunch on our way to the track

Jolene’s car

George’s car

George’s race

Sunday we went to the Flamingo Hotel & Casino on the strip to join Joyce & Rick for breakfast and a day of football watching.  Chargers won!!!  I got a phone call from Jolene that she lost her race but George was still in it.  He lost later in the day in the third round.  Oh well, there’s more races down the road.

Looking down the Las Vegas strip

Joyce & Rick

Us

George & Jolene had been dry camping in their motorhome at the track and were heading to Pomona, CA for another race but since they didn’t need to be there until Wednesday they decided to come and park at Sam’s Town with us for a few days.  We ended up going to downtown Vegas again which I think is better than the strip anyway.  I’m not sure how we did between us with our gambling on this trip.  Some days we won, some days we lost.  It was part of our entertainment budget anyway.

More of the Fremont Street Experience.  Click here for more info.  This was done to the music of Don McLean’s American Pie.

Ashley, George and Jolene

Everybody kept asking us where we were going from here and we honestly had no idea.  Since we had never stayed at Lake Mead we decided that would be it. Lake Mead was formed when the Hoover Dam was built on the Colorado River.  Our drive was only 30 miles but what a difference in scenery.  You go 10 miles outside of Vegas and you’re in the desert.  We’re not into dry camping so we looked for a RV park and there were LOTS of them.  Most are deserted now as summer is their high season.  It’s still nice and warm here too.  Our temps are in the upper 70’s but there is a storm coming in this weekend.  No snow but cooler temps and some wind.  That’s okay with us because we are perfectly happy watching football all weekend.  After this busy week we had it’ll be nice to just rest and relax for a few days.

This was our drive along the lake

Our view out the back window

Lots of quail running around and LOTS of coyotes howling at night

We even have a fire pit!!!  We are definitely happy “campers”

We only paid for a week when we got here but decided we liked it so much that we went to the office and paid for another week.  Then we saw they were running a special for Thanksgiving where if you pay for 2 nights they’ll give you one more free night AND a free turkey!!  I think we’ll be staying here for Thanksgiving…

Vegas!!

We left Salt Lake City on Tuesday at our usual time 0f 10:00.  We weren’t really sure how far we were driving.  Since it was Rod’s birthday he kinda wanted to go all the way to Mesquite which is just over the Nevada line.  We’ve stayed there before in the parking lot of a casino but this time we wanted hookups.  The last time we took this route I was driving so I wasn’t able to take pictures of these amazing canyons we went through.  This time I was like Dortha (Shutterbug Suzy) and took TONS of pictures.  Some people may think this kind of countryside is ugly but I think it’s gorgeous.

We got to Mesquite and saw a RV Park on the frontage road so we headed in that direction.  They had LOTS of empty pull through sites.  We got set up and headed for the casino in Mesquite.  We found out the RV Park is actually in Arizona but it’s only about 2 miles to the casino.  Since we changed our clocks back an hour last Sunday and left on Monday, entered Arizona and then Nevada, then back to Arizona we had no idea what the heck time it was.  Now we’re in Las Vegas which is Pacific time.

My brother, George and his wife, Jolene are here to race with the NHRA.  We’re hoping to see them race but so far we haven’t.  Two of their daughters are arriving today and also my sister Joyce and her husband Rick.  We’re having a mini family get together.

Yesterday Rod and I took the free shuttle to downtown Vegas.  We are staying at Sam’s Town which is out on the Boulder Highway east of town.  It’s been several years since we’ve been here and have never seen the renovated Fremont area.  It’s pretty cool and pretty cleaned up but they still have all the degenerates there that have always been there.  We did notice a strong police presence though.  The main reason I wanted to go there was to get the 99 cent shrimp cocktail ( click on it for more info) at the Golden Gate Casino.  They were 99 cents up until 2008 and now the price is $1.99.  Still a good deal for a shrimp cocktail.  If you get a players club membership though, it’s still only 99 cents.

Long line to get some

Yummy!!

From there we wandered around Fremont Street going through some of the casinos.  Of course Rod noticed this one with the stripper pole

We were waiting for the show that comes on the ceiling over the street.  I had been wanting to see this for some time and it did not disappoint.  It was a music video that was pretty awesome.  They do a new show every hour on the hour after 6:00 pm every night.

Tonight we’re waiting for the rest of the family to show up and then meeting for dinner at the Cannery Casino  Should be a fun weekend!

Catching up

I was doing so good writing my blog on a regular basis but once we got to Salt Lake City I’ve gone back to my old ways.  LOL.  It’s not that we’re that busy, I’m just being lazy.

We were going to leave this morning but when we looked at our reservations for Las Vegas I realized it was for the 4th so we decided to stay here for one more day and Rod got the truck washed and the windows on the rig washed too.

We’ve had such a nice time here with Todd, Michele, Ashton & Reilly.  The kids are getting older now so they’re not so needy and whiney.  LOL.  Michele took a day off work to go with us to the Golden Spike National Historic Site (click on it for more info)which is about an hour north of us.  It’s way out in the middle of nowhere but since it’s an historic site I got a stamp for my National Park Passport.  This is where the Union and Central Pacific Railroads joined their rails at Promontory Summit, west of Brigham City.  We toured their museum and then decided we needed to get something to eat.

On the way we saw some signs about an ATK missile display so we thought we’d take a look.  The rocket display is only a few miles past the Golden Spike turn off and it displays some of the rockets that Morton Thiokol manufactures.  Each rocket has a small plaque that explains what the rocket is and what it is used for.  Although all the rockets on display were very interesting,  the one that was the most interesting was the rocket booster for the Space Shuttle.  I know the Shuttle is a very large craft but you have no idea until you stand next to this booster, and it takes two to get the shuttle into space! 

Soon we were off to Famous Dave’s BBQ.  We’ve seen these all over the country but had never been to one.  The food was pretty darn tasty.  Rod ordered a beer and the girl told him she couldn’t serve it until his food was served.  Hmmmm, oh yeah, we are in Utah.

Tuesdays are Reilly’s ballet and tap class.  The first time we went to watch I forgot my camera.  This time the teacher said they could dress up in their Halloween costumes.  We weren’t sure if there was going to be a class because this is what we woke up to

Reilly is in a class with other 4 and 5 year olds but she is WAY smaller than everybody else.

Tap Class

The rest of the week was spent visiting until Saturday which was Halloween.  We went to Dave & Betty’s (Todd’s parents) for dinner that Todd had prepared. First he served us appetizers that Michele and Betty helped to prepare.  Bacon wrapped water chestnuts and a salmon dip with crackers.  Then Todd served his roasted yellow pepper and tomato soup that was to die for!!  He served it in sourdough bread bowls.

Reilly “helped” get the candy in the bowl for the trick or treaters

Then it was FINALLY time to go out and beg for their own candy!!

This guy was handing out candy from inside his boat that was parked in the driveway

Sunday Todd made crawfish etoufee and jambalaya at Rod’s request for his birthday dinner since his birthday is on Tuesday and we won’t be here.  Thank you Todd!!  Again, it was SOOOO YUMMY!!  We were going to have the leftovers for dinner today since it was a travel day but we didn’t travel.  LOL, I put a roast in the crock pot and tomorrow we’ll have the leftover etoufee and jambalaya somewhere down in southern Utah on our way to Vegas.

Another milestone happened during this trip.  Ashton lost one of his top teeth.  He just kept playing around with it using his tongue and it finally just fell out.  He’s already lost two bottom teeth but they had to be pulled out by the dentist because the permanent teeth were pushing up. 

Salt Lake City

We made the 2 hour drive from Wendover to Salt Lake City uneventfully.  Michele kept texting me because she said it got really dark and looked like it was going to storm.  It was bright and sunny where we were,  just a little windy.  Since we were driving across the salt flats I took some pictures of the salt plants.

BIG pile of salt

And it belongs to Morton Salt

We arrived at the Pony Express RV Resort where we stay every time we visit here.  Michele wasn’t getting off work until 4:30 so we had to wait a little bit for her to bring the kids over.

Already watching movies

Todd is in culinary school and had class so we didn’t see him until the next day when he cooked us a YUMMY dinner.  Good job, Todd!!  Chicken Provencal, Greek couscous and steamed green beans

 

Here’s everybody just goofing off

Today Ashton had a soccer game and we had to be up EARLY for a nine o’clock kickoff!!  It sure is funny watching 6 year olds play soccer.  All they know is to kick the ball IF it happens to come close to them.  Ashton is number 7 in maroon and yellow.

Reilly has started kicking the ball around too and is actually quite coordinated.  I think she’ll probably be playing next year after she matures a little.

After the game we went in search of some food at the local Farmer’s market.  This market is in downtown Salt Lake City and it’s HUGE.  You name it, they  have it.  We ended up having breakfast burritos with chili verde sauce on it.  Quite tasty.

Reilly had to try ALL the crackers and jams

She takes after her Papa Rod…

The kids are having a sleepover here tonight and Ashton gets to watch another Star Wars DVD.  He’s really into Star Wars right now and in fact is going to be a Jedi Knight for Halloween.

Moving on Down the Road

Sunday was a football day although my Chargers didn’t play and Rod’s Seahawks didn’t play until 1:00.  We lazed around until his game was won and then went into Reno for some more fun.  When we got there they had Virginia St, which is the main drag, blocked off for something.  After parking the truck we walked over and saw the Italian Food Festival was just finished and packing up.  Bummer!  I would have loved to see that.  Oh well, off to the casinos.  Neither one of us won anything again and we left our deposits.  The machines just seem to be tighter these days and most of the casinos are pretty empty.

Monday we moved on uneventfully to Winnemucca.  That called for another casino visit since we are still in Nevada.  I made my deposit but Rod had a little withdrawal.

The drive across northern Nevada has been quite boring so when we stopped for a break I went in the rig and got my laptop to play Peggle (thank you Dortha).  It looks as boring as driving through Texas, doesn’t it?

See the road way up at the top of the picture?  That’s Emigrant Pass at 6,000 and something feet, our last mountain pass.

Through the tunnel

In the tunnel

Today we are in Wendover, Nevada.  We visited the casino last night as this is our last stop in Nevada.  I finally broke even!!  YAY!!  I was playing the quarter machines and not doing anything so I walked over to the penny machines.  I forgot that they actually pay!  LOL

We’ll be moving on to Salt Lake City today.  I’m excited to see Ashton & Reilly (my grandkids)!  We haven’t seen them since we went through in May.  Oh yeah, Michele and Todd too.  LOL