The above are views from our room on the 35th Floor of the Rio hotel, that we woke up to this morning. It was a mixed bag day, with us running here there and everywhere to take care of some things. First it was the AAA for some additional maps. Then a Citibank branch so we could take some cash out, as all our other withdrawals have been via cash machines on the weekend. Next a stop at an Albertsons, to renew our supply of happy juice, and a stop at a Wells Fargo ATM to withdraw some trip money. Once that was all done, the day was ours again!
Today we did one of our favorite things to do in Las Vegas, and something we have done virtually every time we’ve been here. We drove the 13 mile scenic loop in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. I think that about 16 or 17 years ago, on our first drive around Red Rock Canyon, was when we fell in love with this area. As I told you yesterday, we owned a house out here at one time, and I think it was a visit to Red Rock Canyon that made us think that we’d like to retire here, and the original reason we bought the house was to get into the Vegas real estate market. Times have changed, as have our thoughts on retirement, but not our love of Red Rock Canyon. Honestly, in all the incredible places we’ve been in the last 3 weeks, almost every time we have compared some aspect of it to Red Rock. There is something mystical about it to us, and real beauty that we think compares to the best the National Parks have to offer.
Unfortunately, today was spoiled by the increasing familiar selfish folks that we have encountered in our travels. My absolute favorite place in Red Rock Canyon, happens about the 4th or 5th mile into the drive. At that point, you are about halfway back into the canyon, a little elevated, and the quiet and peace I feel in this spot, overlooking the canyon is just magical. But today, some bozo was sitting there in his car, with his motor running, so his air conditioning could be blowing at him, while he jabbered away on his cell phone! As the guy used to yell at Adam Sandler in the movie Happy Gilmore, “JACKASS!!!”
Maybe it’s us, but we see wanton selfishness everywhere lately. Everybody’s got to have their picture taken by the sign that says Old Faithful, or Yellowstone Park, or you are looking at some of the most beautiful things in nature, and have to dodge tourists with selfie sticks. Honestly, I think that the selfie is to blame for a lot of this attitude, as people seem to have a need to interject themselves in everything so they can take a picture of themselves. From ball parks, to National Parks, to the top of Pikes Peak, it is EVERYWHERE!!
Okay, enough ranting for now! So after Red Rock Canyon, we went over to the Red Rock Casino for lunch and then played for a bit, winning nothing! Then it was time to head over to CVS to pick up prescriptions. Once we got them, we ventured to Green Valley Ranch for our last visit there this trip.
As Susie and I were coming up to the room tonight, we both agreed that it will be good to get back on the road again, and our routine. Although we always love visiting Las Vegas, this trip was weird for us in several ways. First, this is a place that we know very well, and it was odd, in the middle of visiting new places and having new experiences, to be in such familiar surroundings. I said it was almost like we parked the car, and flew home for 3 days! Then it is just so different from what we have been doing and seeing for the last 3 weeks. Third, Susie won’t let me wear my denim shorts, which have been almost like a second skin to me! But the good news is she says I can ditch the golf shirt and khaki shorts, and get back to my t-shirt and denim shorts tomorrow! Yes, it’s been fun, but it will be good to get back to our familiar routine tomorrow!
Speaking about tomorrow, our plans are to head southwest in the morning, leaving Nevada and heading into a little corner of California. Needles is our way point and our purpose is to pick up old Route 66 for a little bit, as we travel east, out of California, into Arizona (and Mountain time again), on our way to the Grand Canyon. A night tomorrow along route 66 in Arizona, and then two nights in the Grand Canyon!
See you there!
We had a great included breakfast this morning in the hotel before heading out. This Comfort Suites in Kanab, Idaho continues to amaze us! What a really great hotel, with great amenities, and an incredible staff! Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the hotel is brand new, but from the multiple charging ports in the room, to the incredible shower, to one of the best breakfasts we’ve had on the road, this place is really spoiling us! Instead of wishing we were home, in coming weeks, we may just wish we were still at the Comfort Suites in Kanab!!
As we had all the time in the world today, Susie found something in one of the guide books that she wanted to stop at. It was called Fremont Indian State Park and Museum. It cost us all of $6 to go in, and we saw a very nice movie and got to wander through a very well put together museum. The museum and the park are dedicated to a group of Native American’s who lived in the area by the Fremont River from about 300 AD to 1300 AD. A lot of the material about them had been discovered in the 80s when they were building Interstate 70, which is right out front of the park. All they know about these people is what they have found in the area. They don’t know where they came from, or why after a 1000 years of residence in the area, they left. It was another interesting little stop along the way.
Another thing to share with you, as today is a little light on National Parks, cog railways, or incredible sights, is our National Parks soundtrack. A number of years ago, at Red Rock Canyon National Park, just outside of Vegas, we bought a beautiful Native American flute CD, that we always took to Vegas with us. The haunting melodies just seemed to go with the other worldly sights we were seeing in Red Rock. It wasn’t until we were at Badlands National Park, our first park of the trip, that Susie realized we’d left it or something like it home. In the gift store she found a CD called National Parks Soundscapes, and it has been our sound track of every National Park or National Monument we’ve visited. Jimmy Buffett and Sirius/XM’s Margarita Radio is our #1 audio companion on the road, but once we hit the entrance gates, the satellite goes off, and the CD starts playing. Just sets the right mood for us!
When we got there, we thought it would be hard to find parking, and drove around the block a couple of times. We were just about to give up, when suddenly someone pulled out of a space as we drove up the block. We parked, walked around the corner, and wondered if anyone else in their right mind would be heading to the Molly Brown House! Well, turns out we followed the crowd down the street. Who knew it was apparently one of Denver’s landmarks! We had hoped to get the 45 minute tour that started at 12 noon, but when we got to the desk to purchase tickets, we found out that the next two tours were sold out! That would mean we’d have to kill an hour there, and then be late getting to the ball game! Susie graciously said we should just move on to Coors Field!
By the time we got back in the neighborhood of the ball park, it was about 12:30 and now our task was to find parking. Didn’t see any Rockies “official” parking, but did find a city lot about 3-4 blocks from the field. We paid our $20, grabbed our hats and sun glasses, and started the trek to our ball game. The walk seemed much longer than the drive we’d taken getting there, but all’s well that ends well. We entered the main gate, said no thanks to the bobble head doll that was offered today (just what we needed, more stuff in the car), and wandered around the stadium a bit. Eventually we found an escalator to the second floor where our seats were.
Leaving the ball park, the traffic was kind of heavy, as this is the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. The Interstate moved below the speed limit, till we got out of the city limits. I commented to Susie, that so much of our trip so far has been in rural areas, that even Denver feels like a big city. We both agreed that we liked the smaller areas, that we’ve spent so much time in the last two weeks! Saw some interesting rock formations on our way to Manitou Springs, such as Castle Rock, which lends it’s name to a huge community just south of Denver!
Here’s our handy tip for tonight. If you’ve stayed in as many hotels as we have, you’ve noticed how there is always a little sliver of light that manages to get into the room between the two room darkening curtains. The solution, travel with a little clip that you can use to attach the two curtains, and seal out the light! The one we have is a metal clothes pin, but a Chip Clip would work equally well. If you are in this predicament, and don’t have anything with you, grab one of the pants hangers in the closest (if you’re lucky enough not to be staying in a hotel that has them welded to the rod, so you don’t steal them), and use the clip that you would normally use to hang pants, and connect the curtains together. Suddenly, it stays dark in the room, and you don’t wake at 6:30 to that one stream of sun light that manages to hit you square in the face!
R New Adventures 