Long drive to Las Vegas!

September 9 – There was some heavy rain during the night.  It was still drizzly when I got up but by the time we left things had cleared off.  As we sat at the dining table having our breakfast I spotted a large fluffy skunk out the window.  He was scurrying across the field to the out building across the fence behind us.  I warned Bill not to consider it a pet when he went out to pack up the water and electric.

What a long 320 miles to Vegas!  Once again it was 300 miles of desert going nowhere.  For sure there were no traffic issues.  Today there was only 1 cattle crossing sign and it had a bullet hole!  There were horse crossing signs and they also had bullet holes.  We passed a couple of animal carcasses that were stiff leather shells left behind in the dry heat.  We had no weather at all, meaning no rain, no wind.

With towns FEW and FAR between, we found a pull off large enough for the RV and car and stopped for lunch.  When we started up to leave and I pulled back on the road the speedometer needle was not moving.  Crap!  Luckily there was a gas station just up the road with a huge open area in front so I pulled off and turned everything off for a minute.  When I started it back up it was fine.  One more thing to keep an eye on. 

Once we were at the intersection to get on I-15 to breeze into Las Vegas we stopped at Love’s to fuel up for the trip further south on Monday.  Then it was a mere 23 miles to the Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort.  The traffic was horrendous and once again I would start in a certain lane and end up 3 lanes over.  At times it was 7 lanes wide through downtown.  Once we exited the interstate there was some confusion on the turn and we ended up

Old La Concha reception hall is now
welcome center of Neon Boneyard

having to re-route according to Siri and still arrived safely.  This is the largest RV “resort” we’ve been in, over 900 spaces and multiple pools, a café, golf, you name it!   We stayed here before and this is the last weekend of Passport America Discount so our 2 nights were only $61.59.  You see every shape and size of RV here.  Everything is paved and level.

We had reservations for 7 for the Neon Boneyard and needed to be early to pick up our tickets.  We settled and in and relaxed for a while  before warming  up the  leftover   chicken  pot pie  and peach  cobbler.   We managed  to  leave  around 6:15 and traffic  was

Half of the old Stardust signage

other half of the sign

lighter than when we arrived.  Siri took us right to the museum and there was parking next door.  We checked in and waited for our tour time in the gift shop.  Of course they start and end you in the gift shop!

I was disappointed that they didn’t have more signs lit up and they are stacked in front of each other so you really can’t see the entire sign.  The guide was very informative about the changes in Las Vegas, it’s history, the history of the signs and various casinos, hotels and

Binion's Horseshoe

other businesses that they have signs for.  They are a non-profit that has another building donated where they have more signs stored and staff that does the refurbishing of the lights.  It was fun to see the Riviera sign as that’s the first place I stayed in Vegas

with Bill on our first trip there.  I loved Binions and Fitzgeralds that were in the downtown rather than on the strip.  I felt bad that I’d been to quite a few of these casinos that are no longer around. 

We drove home down the Strip and it was packed.  The lights are fantastic and there are so many changes from when I was last here.  Every lane was packed until we got past the Mandalay Bay.  It was kinda nice to get back the campground with not so many cars and people!