Thanks Minian! I really appreciate it. And thanks to everyone for all your comments and views. It really makes me enjoy updating this log. I am proud to be the "US's 1st representatives of "Clubmanism."

Day 7 - Heading to Vegas.

We had a leisurely morning at the Grand Canyon and got on the road about 11:30. We were picking back up with Route 66 and all of us were looking forward to seeing some more of the old sites. We had to head down and pick it up in Flagstaff. Driving through the San Francisco Peaks on the way was real nice.



The first point we hit after picking back up with 66 was Twin Arrows - an old gas depot that is now all blocked off but you can still see it off the side of the road.



From there we had to jump back on 40 because 66 is pretty much gone in this area. We zipped down and got off to check out 2 Guns. 2 Guns is named for an old Cowboy bandit that used to cause a ruckus. It was nothing special but we got a few good shots.



From 2 Guns we continued east to check out Crater Rock. The site of a meteor impact about 50,000 years ago. It was pretty cool but kinda paled in comparison to the magnitude of the Grand Canyon from the day before. If you are doing this trip, try to see the meteor first.




This was our last point backtracking east so we turned around and headed back west. We had to take the inner-state back to FlagStaff where we attempted to pick up 66, but a few miles down the road 66 told us "NO"....



Some parts of this old road just aren't "mini" friendly. We jumped back on the inner-state for another 20 or 30 miles. Until we reached a really nice long stretch of 66 that would take us most of the way until we headed north to Las Vegas.

On this long stretch we went through the town to Siligman. Siligman is a great little town with a lot of old sites. Angel's barbara shop, which is now a Museum, and gift store, is great. As well as, his brother's ice cream shop - the Snow Cap. Angel is actually responsible for much of the preservation of "Historic Route 66."








We didn't quite make it to Las Vegas - we stopped over in Boulder City and ended up at the "El Rancho Motel" ... again. It was more just because it would be funny, then anything.


Today we backtrack a couple miles to take some shots of the Hoover Dam and then head on to Vegas.

Please check the photobucket link for additional photos
http://photobucket.com/ninjagoeswest

 

Hoover Dam & Vegas...

We got up in Boulder City and had a good breakfast at Mel's Diner.



It would have been nice to spend a little more time in Boulder City, it seemed really nice. But we finished up breakfast and headed back to the Hoover Dam. It was 9 in the morning and it was already 100 degrees out. It was gonna be a hot one.

The Dam was huge and really an impressive man made site. It was interesting to see it from a few different angles as we came in... but we didn't feel like sitting through the 3 hour tour.



It was a bit sad seeing the drop in water level @ Lake Mead due to droughts and Global Warming.

We did duck in the bathroom on the dam for some AC and got this cool shot



From there we headed back to west into Las Vegas. First order of business was a car wash... we couldn't have Ninja all dirty on the strip..



Once we were all cleaned up we headed into town cruised down the strip and looked for a place to park. It was now reading about 107-108 so I wasn't really looking forward to walking around, but I guess we had to do it.

The first thing we saw as we pulled onto the strip was New York, New York... which seemed rather fitting....



We pulled into the Bellagio, and got out to take a look. It was pretty impressive and probably one of the nicer Casinos we went into. We tried to get a room but everything was full... guess we should have booked ahead. We ended up getting a room at the Imperial Palace... not the nicest place but the price was right and it gave us a place to crash on the strip.



After securing a room we cruised the strip in and out of casinos and it was pretty impressive what was built in this desert. I even got Elif on the roller coaster @ New York NY. That was the first time and probably the last time we will ride a coaster together... she is not a fan.



After that we needed food and decided to check out the Venetian, which unfortunately, was at the complete other end of the strip. Walking there in the heat and the alcohol wearing off was starting to get to me.



I was starting to dislike most every thing about Vegas.




We finally made it to the Venetian had some good food and took a couple photos and checked out the casino, but by 11:30 we were all pretty much ready for bed.



Vegas was interesting to see but I don't think I will be coming back...

Day 9 - the home stretch....

 

great diary and photos dez

do you have a route sheet you can upload? ... would like to undertake a cross country trip in the near future.

 

For some odd reason this shot of you reminds me of the movie "fear and loathing in las vegas"........I hope you left the hotel rooms in better shape than they did in the movie.

 

Yeah! And I hope that they are not washing the car off for the same reasons!

 

Yep! You've got "Vegas Virginitis!".

 

Day 9 - the home stretch...

We woke up in Vegas got the cars packed up and checked out of the Imperial Palace. I was all but ready to just drive right out of Vegas, but the rest of the group wanted to check out the Wynn.



I'm glad we did it was nice change from the other casinos we went in the previous night. We had a good breakfast and walked around for a bit then decided to hit the road.

We had originally planned on doing Route 66 for the rest of the way into Santa Monica, but we all decided at this point we were just ready to get to our new home. We jumped on the inner-state and proceeded on the last leg of our trek.

I was glad ninja is so fast our other wise he may have burnt up ... it was 113 driving through the desert.



Near Barstow we were getting tired of the traffic and the inner-state and jumped off for a short stint on 66. I'm glad we did because there were a few cool sites and nice curvy roads to drive on.




We made Santa Monica around 6 and to our new home around 6:30 after stopping for a few errands. It was really nice to be in our new home and have completed such an awesome trip. Now if only our stuff would arrive... guess we shouldn't have driven so fast.



Well thanks so much to everyone viewing and commenting. It has been very nice to have the feed back, comments, and suggestions from everyone. If you ever have the chance to do this trip - do it. It brought some close friends closer and we have a lot of new stories and memories for some time to come...

Keep a look out for the next Ninja adventure, as we are exploring our new home and area.

Any body at the MTTS LA look for me and Ninja ... we'll be there...

 

Great story! Nice pics!

 

Fantastic photos! I especially liked the first one in post #21, and the one of the little girl.

Also, it's nice to see how the driving lights look on the front end of an S. I usually only see them on the justas.

 

glad you made it to your new home OK!

so which was the favorite place you visited on the trip?

 

Thanks for sharing your trip. Welcome to SO CAL!

 

For your next adventure take a trip up the PCH at least as far as San Francisco you'll love it. Maybe stop by the Hurst Castle.

PCH = Pacific Coast Hwy.

 

Thanks

This was fun to follow...

Great PICS!

 

Awesome trip, I'm jealous.....and mentally trying to justify a cross country trip in the car I don't have yet (On order, and killing me to wait). Congrats on the safe arrival, and glad to see Ninja held up nicely. Don't forget about that windshield...

 

Stuck at home for part of this summer. . . just found this thread. WOW! Thanks for a vicarious vacation, Dez and all! Your pictures are beautiful, and the stories just tied it all together. Loved it!

 

Great story. Great pictures. Thanks for sharing. Since I too like road trips and look forward to the day when I can do a road trip in my Clubman, I have a question about the spare tire, or lack thereof. Did you have one buried in the back or did you simply take a chance? I'm pondering a roof mounted solution since the small donut tires will only work on the back tires from what I've read so far.

 

Dez,

Great photo story, I have followed it from the beginning. I enjoy all your pictures in your albums.

Good your home and it's funny, we feel the same about Vegas. Great place for a 2 day visit then get out of town.

 

reliving old times... I need to go on another road trip

 

dez,

Nice pictures and description of your journey along the way.

Welcome to CA!