Canyon To Vegas

Well back to normal. Up at 4.30 this morning to get to Yaki Point for Sunrise. It sure was cold when we got to Mather Point carpark. It was still pretty dark at the carpark, but it was the wind that was really making it cold. We must have just missed the bus because we were waiting for a while. Once on the bus we were surrounded by hikers. They all got off at the stop before Yaki Point. They had their massive packs with ruck sacks and everything. Looks like they were off for a few days.

Unfortunately the wind caused a fair bit of dust to be in the air which meant the view was a bit poor. It still looked good, and I think we were lucky in that we had seen the canyon in so many different conidtions. Asides from big thunderstorms or snow. I think we'd seen it at its best.

At Yaki Point there was some joker on a rock a fair way down who kept on doing weird dances and stuff and posing for pictures.

We then had to wait a while for the bus so we entertained ourselves by playing stone soccer and messing about with our shadows.

We then caught the bus back, picked up the car and drove to the cafeteria for breakfast. I had a good brekky - mexican style.

We then headed back to the hotel and had a quick getaway, hitting the road by 8.45 am. We only stopped twice. First off just before Kingston at the Love's servo that Sherry had taken a photo of on the way. She had slept the 140 miles or so to here and had missed ut on some action. Going up a hill I cut changing lanes very very tightly. I call it precision timing by me as I eased over without disengaging cruise control, but it was too close for comfort really. Stupid van for passing me and not as quickly as it should have.

I drove for a little longer, stopping at a servo just before Kingman. Funninly enough it was the one Sherry had seen on the way to the Canyon. I'm still not sure that Sherry actually knew it was a servo on the way. She offered to drive and that was cool by me. I'd had a good stint.

The GPS took us a really stupid way to Vegas. It took us off an exit or two early and made us cut south of the interstate but still travelling parallel with the Interstate. So we eventually drove under it again. It was still worth it despite the lost time, as we saw some cool shops with that Route 66 flavour, also passing an old steam train engine put out to pasture in a park.

The world then began to make more sense as I realised that we were on the same road that we were on when we drove from Phoenix to Vegas. We saw the sign for the gun shop which says 'Try One' and underneath is a picture of a semi-autmatic machine gun.

I thought I'd try to find a picture of the billboard or flyer, but instead I found this! You get the idea of what we saw.

We drove past the jerky stop and then as we approached Hoover Dam we tried to note the changes in the roadworks.

When we stopped we sure did see one massive difference. They had laid the arch way support beams across the massive bridge. We spoke to a lady who took our photo and she said that they had to use helicopters to drop it in. Driving up we werer stuck behidn a Hyundai Legend which just took ages. Hoover Damn tourists.

The new bridge support structure

Lake Mead has not changed in a year

There's a storm coming Any! Better get indoors quick!

Land cruisers parked at a Tatooine house

We eventually made it to the Red Rock Resort after first going to East Charleston St instead of West Charleston. The wrong part of Vegas. The dirty part. Red Rock was certainly in the nice part though and not far from red canyon. It was a pretty swanky casino.

Ah...Vegas.

The Vegas strip in the distance. yes... a bit of a way out we are this time

Back at the room I watched Behind the Music - 50 Cent on VH1. It was cool to hear about the history behind him, including how he was a dealer who got busted, went to some sort of concentration camp for 6 months, then back to the streets. Then how no one seeemed to really give him a chance to get his music out. His first song Rob them all - made him alot of enemies, particularly Ja Rule. The two's rivalvry came to a head when 50 Cent was shot 9 times. He hada bullut lodged in his tongue. He basically had to fully rehabiliateate his hwole body. Docotrs wanted to perform an peration on his throat, but that would mena he would have never naturrally talked again. Back on the streets noone wanted a piece of him, only P. Diddy brought him on to help write music - one notable song being 'Bad Boys for Life'. After this P.Diddy didnt want anything to do with him due to the methodsw Fifty worked under. Protection all the time. Fifty then became 1/3 of the G. Unit - performing live and releasing a series of Mix Tapes to the streets. Fifty Cent was now ustoppable. Eminem met him and introduced him to Dre.

TV Off! No more 50 Cent!

Sherry came back to the room so we went down and grabbed a feed of Panda Express. Back at the room i fell asleep - waking up at 7.00pn. I watched teh Broncos vs Chargers game - including a 77 yard punt return touch down. I also watched the Kings Stars Game. Also saw Teen Cribs and Seinfeld 'Hunky Tony. hey, hey hey hey.

I then met Sherry and Leslie down at the Casino and we all had mexican for tea. I now know that Fajiitas are the skillets. Leslie just seems to know it all - like she could make any of it at home herself exactly like on the menu. The guacomolle made in front of us was particularly impressive. Avacodo, green chili, tomato, onions. coriander.

Co-incidentally - the Mexican restaurant - pictured above is located just near a Miss Kitty Machine - see tomorrow's post

Back home i watched Casino Royale.