Rasila headed off today to visit her parents in the greater Seattle
area. She will be back Sunday. In the meantime, it's just
me and the dogs (I'm dog sitting a neighbor's dog).
Monday, August 22, 2005
Spring Mountains, August 19, 2005
On Friday, we got up and drove to the Spring Mountains, only 30 miles northwest of Las Vegas. We drove up NV 156 from US 95 to the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort.
We then drove back to NV 158 and drove over the summit with the desert overlook to NV 157. We stopped at the Visitor's Center to get some trail maps and then headed out for a hike. Unfortunately, the Mary Jane Falls road was closed, so we ended up at the Cathdral Rock trail. The free lot was full, so we paid to park and eat at the picnic area.
The hike takes you up an avalanche chute, which had seen record snow this past winter. It took out an extra wide swath that must have been a real chore to clear the trail. It also goes by Mazie Falls, up to 3 waterfalls just off the trail before climbing up the back of the rock for a great view (see pictures).
We stopped at the Mount Charleston Hotel for a drink before driving back down for our only night of gambling (we ended up $17.25).
We then drove back to NV 158 and drove over the summit with the desert overlook to NV 157. We stopped at the Visitor's Center to get some trail maps and then headed out for a hike. Unfortunately, the Mary Jane Falls road was closed, so we ended up at the Cathdral Rock trail. The free lot was full, so we paid to park and eat at the picnic area.
The hike takes you up an avalanche chute, which had seen record snow this past winter. It took out an extra wide swath that must have been a real chore to clear the trail. It also goes by Mazie Falls, up to 3 waterfalls just off the trail before climbing up the back of the rock for a great view (see pictures).
We stopped at the Mount Charleston Hotel for a drink before driving back down for our only night of gambling (we ended up $17.25).
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Las Vegas Vacation, Aug 17-18
Rasila was sick these 2 days. Rodney used the gym, took some of
the pictures seen in the first vacation entry, and read. We had
some of our homemade tomato sauce on pasta for dinner Wednesday, then
went to see Jubilee
at Bally's. It was like Lawrence Welk, with topless women!
The sets were incredible, with a sinking Titanic and a Sampson and
Delilah set, among others. There were also some great jugglers
and 2 acrobats that entertained between major set changes.
Thursday, we used some free buffett tickets for the Flamingo, then went to see Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo. He is a great magician, making a car appear, levitate, and disappear! He has a great juggler, who was very funny as well.
Thursday, we used some free buffett tickets for the Flamingo, then went to see Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo. He is a great magician, making a car appear, levitate, and disappear! He has a great juggler, who was very funny as well.
Death Valley National Park, August 16, 2005
On Tuesday, we got up and drove to Death Valley National Park.
We decided to drive to the north, then back down through the valley, so
we drove up US 95 150 miles to NV 267, north of Beatty, NV.
This route takes you down a canyon to Scotty's Castle. We stopped and had lunch on some nice picnic tables in a park there. We decide to not take the tour. We would have liked to take the underground mysteries tour, but you need to arrange that in advance.
After lunch, we drove to the Ubehehe Crater, an old volcanic crater. The road to the Racetrack was along the way, but it was 25 miles on a 4wd road and I was at about 1/2 tank, so I didn't want to have to make a trip back to Beatty or Furnace Creek for gas, so we didn't go. 20/20 hindsight, I wish I had filled in Beatty and made this trip.
We then drove down to Stovepipe Wells, where there are some Sand Dunes and the Devil's Cornfield. From there, you head down (literally) to Furnace Creek, elevation -190 ft. The road goes below -200 feet at the Salt Flats, but I neglected to get a picture of the -200 feet sign, expecting to get one at Badwater. We stopped at the Visitor's Center at Furnace Creek and then had some ice cream at the Furnace Creek Golf Course. The road to Badwater was closed due to flooding from the rains earlier in the week, so we didn't get to visit the lowest point in the US. We drove out past the Furnace Creek Inn, to Death Valley Junction, where the Amargosa Opera House stands. We then took State Line Road to the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Reserve in Nevada to see the Devil's Hole. The world's entire population of a certain species of pupfish live in the water in the cavern.
We then drove back to Las Vegas via Pahrump (about 60 miles). That night we had dinner at Benihana's in the Las Vegas Hilton (travel to and from courtesy the Monorail, see previous posting).
This route takes you down a canyon to Scotty's Castle. We stopped and had lunch on some nice picnic tables in a park there. We decide to not take the tour. We would have liked to take the underground mysteries tour, but you need to arrange that in advance.
After lunch, we drove to the Ubehehe Crater, an old volcanic crater. The road to the Racetrack was along the way, but it was 25 miles on a 4wd road and I was at about 1/2 tank, so I didn't want to have to make a trip back to Beatty or Furnace Creek for gas, so we didn't go. 20/20 hindsight, I wish I had filled in Beatty and made this trip.
We then drove down to Stovepipe Wells, where there are some Sand Dunes and the Devil's Cornfield. From there, you head down (literally) to Furnace Creek, elevation -190 ft. The road goes below -200 feet at the Salt Flats, but I neglected to get a picture of the -200 feet sign, expecting to get one at Badwater. We stopped at the Visitor's Center at Furnace Creek and then had some ice cream at the Furnace Creek Golf Course. The road to Badwater was closed due to flooding from the rains earlier in the week, so we didn't get to visit the lowest point in the US. We drove out past the Furnace Creek Inn, to Death Valley Junction, where the Amargosa Opera House stands. We then took State Line Road to the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Reserve in Nevada to see the Devil's Hole. The world's entire population of a certain species of pupfish live in the water in the cavern.
We then drove back to Las Vegas via Pahrump (about 60 miles). That night we had dinner at Benihana's in the Las Vegas Hilton (travel to and from courtesy the Monorail, see previous posting).
Las Vegas Vacation, Aug 13-15
We just got back from Las
Vegas, where we stayed in our timeshare condo at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club
at the Flamingo.
It is about a 4 hour drive without traffic, but we hit some unexpected traffic at the last mountain pass before the Nevada state line. It lasted until we got past Primm, NV. We arrived about 6:00 PM, and just went out to eat at an italian restaurant in the Flamingo, then went to sleep.
Sunday, we got up and went to a grocery store to get food for the week. We ate all breakfasts and lunches from this, and only ate 3 meals out, since we were planning on spending money on shows. We used the conceirge to get tickets to the Zumanity show at the New York New York. We had to get the tickets before the show, so we went there via the Las Vegas Monorail, which conveniently had a stop right outside our condo, to the MGM. We came back and I barbecued Filet Mignon on the BBQ's that were available. The show was incredible. We had good seats (there probably weren't any bad ones).
Monday, we spent some time in a presentation in order to get discount show tickets. We spent the afternoon getting the tickets and taking pictures. That night we had baked salmon with garlic and basil at the condo before going to the We Will Rock You show at the Paris. It was a blast and fun to sing along!
It is about a 4 hour drive without traffic, but we hit some unexpected traffic at the last mountain pass before the Nevada state line. It lasted until we got past Primm, NV. We arrived about 6:00 PM, and just went out to eat at an italian restaurant in the Flamingo, then went to sleep.
Sunday, we got up and went to a grocery store to get food for the week. We ate all breakfasts and lunches from this, and only ate 3 meals out, since we were planning on spending money on shows. We used the conceirge to get tickets to the Zumanity show at the New York New York. We had to get the tickets before the show, so we went there via the Las Vegas Monorail, which conveniently had a stop right outside our condo, to the MGM. We came back and I barbecued Filet Mignon on the BBQ's that were available. The show was incredible. We had good seats (there probably weren't any bad ones).
Monday, we spent some time in a presentation in order to get discount show tickets. We spent the afternoon getting the tickets and taking pictures. That night we had baked salmon with garlic and basil at the condo before going to the We Will Rock You show at the Paris. It was a blast and fun to sing along!
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
Sunday Drive to Julian CA
We took a Sunday drive to Julian, CA this past
weekend. Rasila had never been there, so it seemed like a good trip.
I used to live in San Diego and have made many trips, but recently my
neighbors had visited and we decided to join them there for lunch.
I wanted to drive some streches of highway I had not before. One was CA-74 from San Juan Capistrano to Lake Elsinore. So we drove I-405 south to I-5 south to the CA-74 exit in San Juan Capistrano. From there going east, it is only a few miles before you are in open country. This is about 30 miles from our house. The drive is popular with sports cars and motorcycles. We saw only 2 pass us, but many more coming the other direction. There are 2 places they like to stop: Hell's Kitchen, at the top of the mountain and The Lookout, overlooking Lake Elsinore.
From Lake Elsinore, we drove I-15 south to CA-79 south in Temecula. CA-79 goes all the way to Julian, but there is a stretch from CA-371 to San Diego County 22 that I had never driven. It takes you by Warner Springs glider airport, which looks like fun.
In Julian, we ate at the Julian Grill, where the special was the Chicken Pot Pie, which was great! We were early, so we hit the used bookstore next door and picked up some books to read while we waited for our friends.
We took CA-78 to I-5 north home. We did stop by Dudley's Bakery and get some apple nut bread for breakfasts. CA-78 is tough to follow through Escodido as it requires many turns to stay on it. It does go right by the San Diego Wild Animal Park, which Rasila has never visited either, so we'll have to go there sometime.
I forgot to mention that we, of course, had a piece of Boysenberry-Apple pie at the Julian Pie Company.
I wanted to drive some streches of highway I had not before. One was CA-74 from San Juan Capistrano to Lake Elsinore. So we drove I-405 south to I-5 south to the CA-74 exit in San Juan Capistrano. From there going east, it is only a few miles before you are in open country. This is about 30 miles from our house. The drive is popular with sports cars and motorcycles. We saw only 2 pass us, but many more coming the other direction. There are 2 places they like to stop: Hell's Kitchen, at the top of the mountain and The Lookout, overlooking Lake Elsinore.
From Lake Elsinore, we drove I-15 south to CA-79 south in Temecula. CA-79 goes all the way to Julian, but there is a stretch from CA-371 to San Diego County 22 that I had never driven. It takes you by Warner Springs glider airport, which looks like fun.
In Julian, we ate at the Julian Grill, where the special was the Chicken Pot Pie, which was great! We were early, so we hit the used bookstore next door and picked up some books to read while we waited for our friends.
We took CA-78 to I-5 north home. We did stop by Dudley's Bakery and get some apple nut bread for breakfasts. CA-78 is tough to follow through Escodido as it requires many turns to stay on it. It does go right by the San Diego Wild Animal Park, which Rasila has never visited either, so we'll have to go there sometime.
I forgot to mention that we, of course, had a piece of Boysenberry-Apple pie at the Julian Pie Company.
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