Vegas, Baby...Vegas!!!

Happy Halloweenie to all my Boils and Ghoul's!

Today, we say good-bye to Pahrump and our new-found 'family' member, Wayne. Wayne being the sweetie pie that he is, made sure that our bellies were full, but he had hot cakes for me this morning...woohoo! You know this girl LOVES her some hot cakes!

[caption id="attachment_2171" align="aligncenter" width="300"] J' ended up making them for me, bc I was too much of a mess![/caption]

When our bellies were full of sugar and spice and everything nice we rolled on out and said Hasta La Vista to the small desert town. We were driving toward Vegas.

Vegas, Baby...Vegas ~Swingers

Savannah has found a new place to lay in the van. It's always a "fight" with her because she wants to be on my lap, in the back, on my lap, open the window, scratching my legs....just a big mess sometimes so she figured she would find her own place to lay where she could still see but not be in the way...plus she's closer to daddy this way. We've got a smarty pants on our hands!

[caption id="attachment_2172" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Close to daddy[/caption]

It didn't seem like we were driving all that long when we came over this hilltop and saw Vegas in the distance. I don't think you realize how much Vegas sits in the mountains when you come into the city on a plane, but boy is it pretty out here.

[caption id="attachment_2174" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Las Vegas[/caption]

It didn't take long before we were in the full mix of things; traffic, houses, people, craziness. In a way it can be kind of fun...as long as I'm not driving! haha Our last few days we did some research on things to see and do while we were here so we drove over to the Town Square Mall. It's an outdoor mall, a place that is always nice to walk around.

[caption id="attachment_2176" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Reminds us of Denver[/caption]

It was still pretty early, not even noon, so it seemed we were the only ones there. It was nice to walk around, the weather was beautiful and it's very artsy fartsy over here so a very nice morning all together.

[caption id="attachment_2177" align="aligncenter" width="300"] St. Jude's Heart[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2178" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Acoustic Heaven[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2180" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Halloween Kisses[/caption]

We heard that there was a free dog wash, but that wasn't the case...although they are very dog friendly. Their dog shop was a bit on the pricey side but if you can afford a necklace (collar) for your dog that costs $30-40 bucks it's all you, bro! We chilled and walked around the shops and the park and headed back to the van to see where we might be able to stay for the night. We spent some time in the van calling around to different Casino's, talking to Security and getting a list together(we actually got a list of 8 confirmed overnight parking places-4 Casino's, 3 Walmarts and a camping store). With our handy dandy info, we set off for the closest one...but not without taking a drive on the strip first!

[caption id="attachment_2181" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Well, thank you[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2182" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Luxor[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2183" align="aligncenter" width="300"] New York, New York[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2184" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Fashion Show[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2185" align="aligncenter" width="300"] J' says, "That's profound!" haha
If it's in stock...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2186" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Stratosphere[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2187" align="aligncenter" width="300"] hahahahahaha[/caption]

For all of you who have been to Vegas and have ventured all over the town...even scary Downtown (where Fremont street is and the road to get there) you know that the more you head toward Fremont Street, the more sketch it gets. We were headed to Binion's Horseshoe Gambling Hall (one of the Casino's that gave us the go-ahead for overnight parking). We were only about 2 miles off the strip and decided we would take our chances at one of the other Casino's...if you catch my drift! Wouldn't feel safe parking there, sleeping there, leaving the van unattended or leaving the 'Bug unattended...no thank you!

[caption id="attachment_2188" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The only thing in the neighborhood that made me smile![/caption]

We headed to the Rio. I had been to the Rio many times for their wonderful Seafood Buffet and knew that it was probably our best bet at this time. It was getting dark and it was starting to be time for rest & play and be done with the driving for now.

[caption id="attachment_2189" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Hello Sleepy Town[/caption]

We turned into the Rio and drove back to the self-parking. They have a 5 floor parking garage (that I think we could only fit on the first floor if we could get under the height bar) and they have a bunch of open back lots they use for semi's, other big trucks and RV parking. We felt like we had arrived! We parked in between a couple of trucks with trailers and U-hauls, grabbed our stuff and headed inside. It was still pretty early so we wanted to see what was going on inside. We walked around, looked at the games, live entertainment, and the shops. We went to the top of the parking garage where there was open air and scoped out how we looked from above. The city was beautiful from here.

[caption id="attachment_2191" align="aligncenter" width="300"] We have arrived[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2192" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The City[/caption]

In the pic below, you'll see my finger in the far left corner(ish) of the pic...that's where Joon Van is!

 Oh and for all you horny ladies...and men (you know who you are) the Rio is the home of the Chippendale's...woo hoo! haha

[caption id="attachment_2194" align="aligncenter" width="225"] This elevator is going down....haha[/caption]

So tonight, we celebrate with Nutella sammies and a nice place to rest our heads...they even have the cutest little dog area with the softest grass for Nana's relief. I'm sure she was happy to feel grass under her tootsies again. We have a fun-filled day planned tomorrow, hoping for good weather and not too many annoying people!

Hope you didn't get your bellies sick with too much of your babies candy and you had a Spooktacular Holiday!

PEACE

 

My cup is definitely full!

**Packed full o' pics**

Wow, what a fantastic day! We had plans (the first time in a while) to take a drive with Wayne. He had not been up the mountain in two years and truly wanted to take the trip before we left...no fun doing it alone, he says. Wayne is such a sweetheart, he had everything all planned out: First, we would have a grand ole' brekkie, then take the drive up this way and then up that way and then would see where the day would lead from there...WE also had a little something (or two) up our sleeves!! We said our good-bye's to Bob, he had a long day of driving back to Victorville and wouldn't be able to make the trip with us. The boys went to the store to grab a few items so I finished up in the van and headed over to Wayne's rig. I used the trip as an excuse to put my "purty" face on! hee hee

[caption id="attachment_2131" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Turnin' the purty on[/caption]

When the boys came back we fixed up some brekkie. The boys had Italian sausage and eggs, since I don't do sausage and I can't eat eggs, I had some toast with cream cheese and jelly....with some good ole' coffee. It was good stuff.

[caption id="attachment_2132" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The babe's Brekkie[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2133" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Breakfast of Champions[/caption]

After breakfast, we stocked up on water and piled into Gigi...off we go! We headed up into the mountains just East of where we camped in the desert. It was a really nice drive...didn't take too much time either. Wayne does not waste time! haha Savannah was in Heaven with all of the different scents of plants, animals and fresh air.

We drove up and down and in between some really great roads. There were awesome rocks that would come out of nowhere and looked like some kind of alien had put them there. Loved it.

Wayne took us to the Kilns. These Charcoal Kilns were awesome. I looked up the History of them and this is what I found:

"The route known now as Wheeler Pass Road was first known as Road From Bennetts Ranch to Indian Creek. In the spring of 1875, Charles Bennett and is family established a ranch in Pahrump Valley. Indian Creek, now Indian Springs, was originally a ranch owned by a small group of Indians, later it was a station on the Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad, now it is part of the Creech Air Force base. 
The Tecopa Charcoal Ovens in Wheeler Wash where built in 1875 by Nehemia (“Red”) Clarke for J.B. Osbourne who was operating a smelter at Tecopa, a mining camp in Inyo County California. The location of these kilns was chosen because it was the nearest wood for the smelters. A single kiln has an estimated capacity of 35 cords of wood which would produce 50 bushels of charcoal, enough charcoal to produce one tone of silver-lead ore. Wood for the kilns was provided by Harsha White, who operated a saw mill in Clark Canyon, and was in partnership with Nehemiah Clarke."~

 After the Kilns, we drove all the way up the mountain to Wheeler Pass. The leaves on the trees and plants are starting to change colors so it was a beautiful ride to the top.

I really wish my camera would portray the colors and depth like our eyes do....do I see a new camera in the future!? haha We buzzed right up to the top and oh what a sight it was!

[caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The top[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2142" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beauty at 7,700 ft.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2144" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Wheeler Pass (the other side of the mtn.)[/caption]

I fanagled a tripod on Gigi to get a nice group shot and was actually quite impressed with the outcome of the pic since my camera doesn't have a flat bottom to sit on!

[caption id="attachment_2145" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Quartet of Trouble[/caption]

After about a thousand and one pictures we slowly made our way back down and around and down some more to a neat pull-off with these huge rocks. It was only when I was bent down next to one of them while relieving myself, that I noticed huge hunks of Quartz crystals. I think the boys thought I "flushed myself down the toilet" because I was over there for quite some time! haha These rocks were colorful, beautiful...they were amazing. I went to touch one of them and it pretty much crumbled right under my hand. I picked up the small pieces...yep, Quartz crystals. I brought a few pieces over to Wayne, he digs that kind of stuff too. LOVE IT! 

[caption id="attachment_2146" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Love the colors of her[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2147" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Thrilled face ✔[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2148" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Oh my gosh, oh my gosh OH MY GOSH!!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2149" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Just a line of beautiful boulders[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2150" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ole' Queenie[/caption]

Tearing me away from the awesome boulders, we took another short drive up to the old mining camp. It's blocked off up there and the pics I took turned out really blurry and not able to see anything, but it was cool to see some old machinery and such.

[caption id="attachment_2151" align="aligncenter" width="300"] No Entry[/caption]

We drove back down towards town. Now for one of the 'tricks' we had up our sleeve! See, Wayne is a dog lover. When he gets around any of the four-legged furry friends he turns into a bigger softy and sweetheart than he already is.

[caption id="attachment_2166" align="aligncenter" width="300"] She has him trained![/caption]

Since we met him, he has talked about old loves he's had and how he would just love to have another one. After many discussions with him about maybe getting another dog, we decided why not just go, take a look and see what his options are. So with that, we drove to the shelter. Now, I know anyone who loves animals, dogs, cats, whatever this is something that is super hard because you hate seeing lovies locked up and you want to save them, take them all home...I am definitely one of those people and knew it was going to take a lot for me to even walk through the doors. In we go. This shelter was one of the cleanest shelter's I've ever been in. The dogs were just as cute and loving as you'd expect. There were the couple that scared the living sh!t out of you, but as soon as you put your hand up to the cage...here comes the big tongue and whining as soon as you pull it away. We all fell in love.

[caption id="attachment_2152" align="aligncenter" width="150"] Not a happy mama. Did NOT want me near her babies![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2153" align="aligncenter" width="150"] Bentley[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2154" align="aligncenter" width="150"] Reba[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2155" align="aligncenter" width="150"] 9 babies left in a parking lot :([/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2156" align="aligncenter" width="225"] "Shelby"[/caption]

Turns out we all fell in love with the same pup for Wayne. She didn't have any paperwork on her kennel, so I named her Shelby. We talked to the people at the Shelter about her but she wasn't up for adoption until Saturday (they had to give the owners enough time to come and claim her before they could put her up....they ended up picking her up on Thursday....boooo) I was doing pretty good in there until I started letting my mind wander and do that thinking thing and then the water works just came pouring out. Damn feelings and heart! It's always hard, but it's something we wanted to do for Wayne and we are so happy he is REALLY thinking about it and will be going back to the Shelter in a couple of days to take another look.  After the heart wrenching visit to the shelter, we ran to pick up our new Millenicom hotspot at the postal place and this is what J' had to say to Verizon...

[caption id="attachment_2157" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Delivery for Verizon![/caption]

 Today was also the day for America to get their FREE Doritos Taco Loco from Taco Bell for that dude stealing a base in the World Series...so off for free food we go!

After washing our hands from all the puppy love, we were (surprisingly) only two of four people in line! It does pay to be in a small town sometimes! haha We stepped right up and got our FREE taco's. It was fun, I had never done anything like that before...the small things people!

[caption id="attachment_2159" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Not comped...just FREE[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2160" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Happy to be FREE[/caption]

We went back to Wayne's and chilled for a bit, watching tv shows on Area 51 and Bigfoot, having some great conversations, some lessons on the computer and then a great dinner. We finished off the pot roast and of course the amazing Pumpkin Torte. I got the last piece!

[caption id="attachment_2161" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Squeal!![/caption]

 Like I said at the beginning....Wow, what a day! What if every day had this much excitement, scenery, love and quality to it? What a heck of a life to live. It really isn't even how productive of a day you can make it, it's how much your heart gets out of it, I feel.

I hope your day was full and your heart was overfilled!

PEACE