Standing by...

Being up on this hillside has been really nice. It's pretty private up here so we have been able to take showers without feeling any peeping eyes...but who knows really! It always feels nice to get that full-on shower in though, that most times it doesn't even matter if there were. Yesterday we talked about driving into town (today) due to a phone call I didn't want to miss and our phone signal strength has been in and out roaming. We left the mountain at about 9:30 this morning. As we drove down the trail to the main road we saw some animals, at first I thought they were Burro's because of their color, but as we got closer we saw that they were just little babies. Babies of what, you ask!? Baby Bighorn Sheep...although these were Babyhorn Sheep...haha so freakin' adorable.

[caption id="attachment_2373" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Helloooo Baaabae![/caption]

While we were in the mountains we decided to bungee our trash to the top-side of the van to keep it off the ground in case animals were around. We figured if we didn't drive like crazies, we would be able to drive with the trash still up there...haha It lasted for a couple of miles until we lost one of our towels that was under the solar shower, so we pulled off onto what looked like a trail down into some other BLM land (but a little too treacherous for Joon). While J' went to secure the trash, I saw something across the desert move. I looked up and there was a big ole' Coyote. I thought to myself, if he's that big from way over here, he must be friggin' huge up close!! He turned and watched us the entire time until J' got back in the van and we started driving away. Again I wish I could get a better focused picture zoomed in, but this is what ya get...

[caption id="attachment_2375" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hey big boy[/caption]

So...now we know they are present. Like I said before, when you go so long without seeing any predatory creatures, it's kind of like they aren't around...well there ya go! Down the road we go. We weren't really sure where we were going to go just yet, so we drove through town looking at parking lots, for grocery stores and a good place to park for the day. I just wanted to get my phone call done and out of the way and then the rest of the day would be for play...hooray!!

[caption id="attachment_2376" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Thank you![/caption]

We drove through town and up to the top of this big hill where we saw a bunch of RV's parked in a 'vacant' parking lot...they had a great view.

[caption id="attachment_2377" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Parking lot with a view[/caption]

We pulled into one of the spots to take in the Laughlin scenery from above. The guy we parked next to, Butch, was just stepping out of his 42' footer when we pulled in. We had a pretty long conversation with him about different places him and his wife had been, where they were going, where we've been, etc. He told us that one of the casino's used this lot to park the bigger RV's for $7.00 a day (dry camping).

 We parted ways after a good 45 minute convo. We were going to go check out the parking lots we passed when we drove into town, there were a bunch of RV's in all of the lots. We parked under a tree (for the shade, it's much warmer down here and not as windy) to be able to take my phone call. J' took Savannah on a long walk, while I waited. After waiting and waiting and waiting, I looked down at the phone...I had a voicemail. What? My phone didn't even ring. I tried calling the lady back, no answer, her voicemail was full. I called her 23 times, finally deciding to call another number and another number and another. After being transferred back to the full voicemail 9 different times and being transferred to unhelpful people I can say I was on the edge of losing it...okay I was waaaay over the edge. I had already lost it. All I needed was a confirmation on this one phone call and could go about the rest of my day. I clinched that damn phone like it was a life for the rest of the day with no one ever calling back. J' still tried to make me enjoy my day, he's such a good hubby! We walked around the different casino's, the first one we went into was the Colorado Belle but before you enter into the building you walk on a bridge over a moat. I walked up to the wall to look over and instantly part of my day had been reignited with excitement...KOI FISH!!! Oh.My.Gosh. I LOVE Koi Fish... I mean I have one tattooed on my neck for Criminey Sake's....so excited!

 They even had fish food...now who's smiling? This girl!

[caption id="attachment_2381" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Fish Frenzy[/caption]

 We walked through the casino pretty much just to get through to the Boardwalk/River Walk. It's so smoky in the casino's that if you're not playing, it's kind of hard to just walk around inside, so we headed out! The casino's sit on the Colorado River and even though the river is super low, it's still very cool!

We popped into a Mickey D's for lunch and splurged on the new "Threemendous" CBO sammies they have (Cheddar, Bacon, Onion). I got the chicken and J' got the beef...they are actually pretty darn good especially alongside a couple of apple pies! haha

[caption id="attachment_2383" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Better not be the price![/caption]

Due to the stress of the phone call we went back to the van to find a spot for the night, no sense in going back just to come back down tomorrow morning. We pulled out away from the tree, we needed sun on our panels but as we were getting into the van a guy (looked like he worked there) stopped me and told me allllll about the birds pooping on your car if you park under the trees! haha Thanks dude, very helpful. We moved over to the Pioneer parking lot, it looked like that was where the most RV's were parked.

After finding a good spot with good reception for Fox (which is thee hardest channel to find good signal for, for some reason) we took Nana on a walk around town.

[caption id="attachment_2385" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Big City[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2386" align="aligncenter" width="280"] ♫ I'll take you to the Candy Shop...let you lick the lollipop! ♫[/caption]

This is a fun little place. Hopefully I can get that phone call finished tomorrow, so I can stop thinking about it and get on with the fun stuff already! I'm just glad Savannah's not worried about it...

[caption id="attachment_2387" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hakuna Matata[/caption]

PEACE

 

 

Riveting Rocks of Wonder

Before we took our Monday afternoon drive, we had some cleaning up to do from dinner last night. It's been windy since yesterday morning so it's keeping us inside (more than we're used to) it's a whole different world being self-contained. Last night, we had a little bit of a mess on our hands so we just filled our pan with water and stuck it outside to let it soak overnight. This morning, when I went to clean the pots and pans, we couldn't find our scrubbies (they are buried somewhere on top of Joon) so I had to resort to nature and use the sand and plants to do my scrubbing. Not a totally bad idea, I've done this before but I learned that this is not gritty sand out here, it's more like soft dirt...hence why I used some small plants. I got the job done and everything is shiny and clean again, that's what matters!

[caption id="attachment_2358" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Washing the Dishes[/caption]

We got on with our drive, down one of the many trail roads to see where it led. Why stay in one place when there are so many different roads, trails and other places to be? We got on one road that looked like it just kept going and going and going...maybe all the way into town!?

When we drive to find a new spot there are many things we are looking for and at. I have both the phone and wifi hotspot in hand watching the signal strength of both. We look for nice scenery, how close we are to the road and for anything that could make it difficult getting in or out of spots... and anything that could damage the vehicle. We drove around, down this road, that road and further back into the mountains. J' finally came around the bend of the road we were on and saw a hill...you know he's climbing that sucker!

[caption id="attachment_2360" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Comin' round the bend[/caption]

There would be a picture of the extremely slanted hill but 'someone' had her eyes closed! For some reason, I think if I close my eyes then no damage will be done if there ends up being a problem...haha

When we got all the way up the hill there was a plateau on the top! I think we found our new spot and the view here is much more incredible than the "Cross Spot". Wee hoo!

[caption id="attachment_2362" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The new view[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2363" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Joon looks so little![/caption]

So very awesome that this is all at our fingertips and you just never know it until you live this lifestyle. We are here 100% Free and Legal...you can't get much better than that! The rest of the day we just messed around, the wind is getting worse as the day goes on, so we sit, chit chat with each other, laugh at the stupid things we come up with...and Savannah of course! haha And just chill. I think Savannah thought she was being abused today because we made her sleep on the floor...gasp, the insanity!! She looked so defeated all day, but there was no room for her to lay where she usually does because all of our stuff was in those places. Savannah, sometimes you gotta suck it up and take one for the team! haha

[caption id="attachment_2364" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ok, she still has a pillow![/caption]

I just went out and walked Nana, it was about 5:30 p.m. or so and everything outside was different. The sun changes the look of this place all the time, especially at sunset...WHOA!!! It only lasts about 10 minutes so you gotta be quick and precise with that camera!

[caption id="attachment_2365" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sunny side up[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2366" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Is that rock giving us the finger?[/caption]

I can't say that I've ever slept in a place like this. There is so much beauty around us, it's simply amazing to me. I always think it's so cool to wake up and be surrounded in the nature that's been here for thousands of years, but yet we are in our little spaceship of the Joon Van.

Amazing...Wonderful...Spectacular...Marvelous???

Those words don't even start to describe the sensation of being here and to be able to do what we are doing.

How neat is that!?

Now, go and play in your neck of the woods, build a sandcastle out of dirt or roll down a grassy hill. Do something you wouldn't normally do because what's the fun of doing the same thing over and over again if you're not getting any joy out of it!?

Go play!

PEACE 

 

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

 

Blowin' in the Wind

Phew, what a past couple of days we have had! So you know I wasn't feeling very well...I don't really know what was going on with me. It kind of felt like I had a stomach bug on-top of  'my lady days' on-top of light food poisoning... to say the least every movement was awful, but after three and a half days of it, it's finally gone! Woo hoo!! We kept the bed down all day Saturday. It was a bit of an interesting day with the bed down since J' still had to work. At least he had the passenger chair to sit in...good thing he put that swivel on it last December.

Sunday I was feeling much better so we rolled the bed up, J' was a happy guy! We watched some football and just hung out. The weather had called for some big winds for the next few days and they sure did come through on that! I took Savannah on about an hour long walk, thinking it would be a nice change for both of us (with my icky feelings). The wind was blowing so hard, even MY hair was blowing all over the place, haha!

[caption id="attachment_1820" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Nature's Blowjob[/caption]

I had brought my ipod with me to jam to on my walk and the wind was blowing so strong it kept whipping them out of my ears...umm, OW! We walked down the main gravel road for a while. When we turned back I moved over to a new road they just put in, I guess they are going to put power lines in here. With my heel still healing it was a much nicer road to take, I didn't have all of these little rocks jabbing me in the heel...awww, relief!

[caption id="attachment_1821" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The Road Less Traveled[/caption]

 Plus, I really think the Bug likes to jump up and down on the dirt they moved over to the side...remember, she's a "Circus dog"...haha!

[caption id="attachment_1822" align="aligncenter" width="300"] My lil jumping bean[/caption]

Monday (yesterday) Wayne came and picked us up at 9:30 a.m. We had made plans with him the day before to go run some errands...he's such a nice guy, checking on us and making sure we're okay. That's one of the great things we've run into on our journey, very loving and nice people. We thank you all for caring for us, even though we start out as strangers we always end up as family...so thank you again! So Wayne came and swooped us up about 9:30a.m...right on time! We rode further down the main gravel road (the opposite direction), I don't think the van would make it down there so it was cool to be able to see what was down there. We went to the dump first...Nana LOVES the dump, it smells soooo delish! haha gross

[caption id="attachment_1823" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Oh, the smells!![/caption]

 We then took all the cool back and side roads over to Smith's Grocery. Wayne doesn't mess around, he knows all the back roads. It was fun to go on a little adventure although we were just going to the grocery store. Smith's is a real nice store, great ambiance! It is super clean, there's really no one in there, the people are nice and the prices really aren't that bad. Oh, Wayne gave us a little shoppers card too, for a discount...that saved us $9.00! Every bit counts!

[caption id="attachment_1824" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Our new store[/caption]

Now that we know about Smith's, we probably won't be doing much grocery shopping at Wal-mart. This Wal-mart is actually not that bad, it reminds us a lot of the one back "home". It's really clean and there's never anyone in it...but it's nice to switch things up.

[caption id="attachment_1825" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Whizzing by Walmart[/caption]

Wayne showed us where the Post Office was and then we headed over to an RV park on the South West side of town and refreshed our water...for FREE!!!!  Don't you love that word? I know we do!

[caption id="attachment_1826" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Wet t-shirt contest![/caption]

The boys got a little wet while filling up some of the milk jugs... I laughed, probably harder then I should have...but it was funny! After all of our silly shenanigans, we ran a couple more errands with Wayne and headed back home. Thanks again Wayne, you are a blessing and such great company!

[caption id="attachment_1832" align="aligncenter" width="300"] That's what we look like[/caption]

After errands we pretty much just got back in the van and did our thang! The wind was really bad, so there's nothing to really do but sit in the van. We can't drive anywhere right now, so we sit. We make up things to do, we talk about a lot of different things, we research lots of different things and then laugh at Savannah...haha. She has found a new spot in the van to lay. J' let her lay next to him the other day so she could see out of the window and "window hunt" and all of that good stuff. Well, now that's just her spot!

[caption id="attachment_1827" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Shh...baby sleeping[/caption]

As long as she's by her daddy she's a happy girl. I swear if everyone in this world loved like Savannah loves J'...this would be such a beautiful, loving world...and a little crazy. She's a little cray cray over her daddy! haha

So today... Tuesday we still sit in the van. It's more windy today than the last two days...hopefully it'll pass by tomorrow. I'm very ready to be able to take my Bug on walks again and just be out of the van without feeling like you're in a tornado. The cold has also come with this wind, which is nice for sleeping and there aren't any flies right now... but c'mon man! So that leaves us only to laugh at Savannah...oh you know she likes it because it usually means food is involved! In this case...Peanut Butter!

PEACE