Back in "the world"

After the silence of the desert these last days, in Arizona, Grand Canyon, Mojave, Valley of Fire and Death Valley, I'm back in the built up world again.

I've fallen in love with the desert, especially Mojave. I'll be back there for sure. And, Arizona.

Saturday 28 August: Las Vegas to St. George and onwards to Zion

After a real Las Vegas breakfast (oof: biscuts and gravy. dear heavens!) we left the city for St. George, where we dived into Walmart to shop for camping gear for me. They did not have my Internet order ready yet, so I whizzed through the aisles with Gina, tossing things in the cart. Well over $100 further, and many times back inside because we forgot stuff, we drove out of St. George with a fully loaded car.

We stopped at a little cheesy tourist stop called Virgin, just for fun:

 The scenery became increasingly beautiful and strange as we drove towards Zion. 

... not too far after Virgin, I noticed a car in my rear view mirror which was flashing it's lights. PULL OVER, roared Gina, that's my HUSBAND!!! So, I did a quick stop on the side of the road and we all met up.
I then followed Weasel all the way to Zion

It was still quite light by the time we found our camp site, near the southern entrance at the Watchman camp-ground. We set up camp, and Gina helped me to set up my brand new tent while Weasel and the kids set up the big tent.

The camp site was pretty magical all surrounded by very high mountain peaks. I was introduced to the joys of s'mores (biscuit, toasted marshmallows, chocolate: really, what's not to love about that?).

Friday 27 August & early Saturday 28 August: Las Vegas

It was a LONG drive from LA - traffic jams all the way!

In Las Vegas now with Gina... we walked around last night and dropped some money at Belagio.
This place is madness! 

It's HOT here! Heading out to Zion this morning :)


(PS we just missed Paris getting arrested on the strip last night)

Friday 27 August: Fly to Los Angeles

Debbie took me to the airport early in the morning. I was sad to leave but happy that I would (probably) meet up with her again later - if she could swing it, she would meet up with me again in Bisbee.

The two dogs, sad to say goodbye:

The flight to Los Angeles was a bit confusing, they wanted me to pay extra for my luggage but I managed to convince them that this was not a single trip, but an in-between stop of an international trip so I did not have to. 

The flight was in a sardine can of a plane, the most uncomfortable I've ever been in a plane in my life.

Heading out to the tin-can plane:

To my right was a woman who was going on her first trip to Hawai for a week, a gift for her retirement. I was her captive audience for the entrire trip, gave her my Hotmail email address and finally escaped her in LA airport.

Mt St. Helens? Or Rainier?
I don't know. It was quite an impressive sight.

Landscape seemed dry, with these odd round green patches. Not too sure what that is.

I got my luggage without trouble and found the shuttle bus stop to National. Had to wait some time for the bus but finally made my way to the rental place. I picked up a gray Kia Soul

...and jumped straight into LA rush hour traffic (seems it's like this all the time, according to someone who lives there). The drive out of LA was endless and horrific, it took many more hours than planned and much of it was in the dark. Traffic remained thick the entire trip, especially trucks going at max speed! As it got dark, a magnificent thunderstorm was straight ahead. Surreal drive....

I made it to Las Vegas in the dark, arrived at the Super 8 around 22.00. Gina yanked open the door and hugged me squish... We went out on the town, to the Bellagio, tossed some coins in a slot machine. I had a fierce bellyache and needed quite a few toilet stops. We also went to Paris Las Vegas, wandered around goggle eyed till we went to the hotel around 2 in the morning. I was a true zombie by that time and was unconscious by the time my head hit the pillow!