Laughlin, Nevada

November 29, 2011

Spent the previous week at the Riverside RV Resort/Casino in Laughlin, NV.  Again, not being gamblers, we lost a few bucks, but had a great time.

Previously in Downtown, Vegas we met a couple from Nelson, BC and enjoyed chatting with them on Freemont Street one evening while we were watching a spray can artist paint a picture for me of Red Rock Canyon.  Went our separate ways, but met again the first morning at Riverside RV.  Very strange coincidence.  Syl and Ted were a great pair and we enjoyed lots of meals, wine, scotch and rum with them.  Same age as G & I and we had so much in common.  They invited us over for turkey dinner to celebrate the American Thanksgiving holiday.  Syl cooked the 10 pound bird in her convection oven.  Delicious.  The Wades have two shelties, Whiskey and Buddy as well as a 3 month old Himalayan Rag Doll kitten, Misty.  Didn't take long and they all got along well. 

While in Laughlin (pronounced Lofflin) we visited the Davis Dam and travelled up and down Lake Mohave in Mead National Recreational area.  Bought a National Parks Pass which covers all U.S. national parks, rec areas, etc.  We also drove down part way down Christmas Tree Pass ( a 16 mile washboard dirt road) to Grapevine Canyon.  The mountains here are quite different to anything else we've seen.  The mountains are made up of piles of huge boulders.  It looks as though a giant was playing marbles and left them lying around.  They are also covered with petroglyphs.  There are more here than anywhere else in Nevada. 

Big Bend of the Colorado River State Park was pretty, but not worth the $9. we paid to get in.  Expensive place for a picnic lunch! 

The Riverside Casino was home to an amazing car museum.  Only one British car, an MGTC, the rest were all American.  George, the Viet Nam veteran who chatted with us, obviously has had one joint too many in the past, was fun and let me sit in all kinds of cars including a mauve colored 1963 Cadillac owned by the last wife of Frank Sinatra, Barbara something or other.  The best car for me was a 1963 Studebaker Avanti.  The leather seats were the best perfume ever!  Gord's favorite was a white 1935 Buick. 

With Ted and Syl we went to the seafood buffet at the Aquarius Casino and enjoyed one of the best meals on the trip so far.   Heaps of crab legs, prawns, scampi, etc., etc.!!!  $20. per person also included wine, beer and margaritas. 

Called granddaughter Amy on her 4th birthday, the 27th of November.  Cool in Malakwa, BC, but no snow left.  Our temps were amazing with up to 29 degrees during the day and down to 12 at night.  As soon as the sun comes up the temp quickly starts to rise.  The desert is an interesting place.

Left Monday, November 28th after the buffet breakfast at the Edgewater - not recommended.  Syl and Ted came with us and decided that the $3.99 buffet was not worth it. 

Hugs to all
Colleen and Gord