Happy Easter from the LOST Action Figures and Frank!

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Now that was quite a road trip! I will continue where we left off (Phoenix, AZ) and only do the highlights so this will not be too long of a post. We skipped the Grand Canyon as the weather was forecasted in the 40’s and windy. We did not bring any cold weather clothes, oooopppss! The drive from Phoenix, AZ to Las Vegas, NV was quite easy. Took us through a bunch of towns…but was fun to see something different! Spots of road construction and lots of bikers.

Hoover Dam was the most interesting part of the driving experience as I am amazed at this new road project. They are basically building a new highway that will bypass Hoover Dam and lots of the twist/turns all together. I heard the new highway will save about 20 - 30 minutes. Kind of sad though as visitors will not drive over Hoover Dam anymore. The project is an engineering marvel as they have to build this huge bridge accross the river. Concrete is poured and has to be cured. Looks like it is going to be an arch bridge…I am just amazed at how this process is done. OK, enough of that…onwards to Vegas.

We got to the Flamingo Casino at 3 PM and checkin line was loooong. I don’t see the downturn in the economy going on here honestly. I gave the lady a $20 tip and got upgraded to a nice larger room on the top floor. Was cool as it had a seating area and fridge. Gambling sucked as always in Vegas. The highlight was hanging out with my buddy Chuck and friends from Ohio.

I metup with Dan and Randy on the first night at the Riviera. Dan had his parents come in and they were super nice. It was an early night as Dan and Randy had to go to the security tradeshow the next day.

The next day and night was the go big in Vegas. Earlier in the afternoon, Chuck arrived and we just sat out in the pool area (nice and warm) and drank lots of beer. We went big the only way we know how that evening, Margaritaville Balloon Hats. Yes, we are a wild bunch. It was pretty funny overall. We were the only table that everyone had balloon hats, haha!

The next day we (Dad, Chuck, and I) visited the Atomic Testing Museum. This was an amazing museum parntered with the Smithsonian. Exhibits were top notch and sometimes scary. There was this one area called the bunker theater that you went into. The lights dimmed, and basically you experienced a blast…shaking and air hitting you. Then it went into the movie about the tests and soldiers. Pretty powerful museum over all.

After the museum visit, we got gas; which was when this crazy homeless dude came up towards us roaring and asking if we were scared of him. I honestly just wanted to leave, but Dad and Chuck had a mission of cleaning the windows on the car. Scary homeless man finally went away. Rest of the day was mellow and we all saw a show at the Stratosphere called American Superstars that night. It was Dan’s first Las Vegas show, we all had a great time.

Today was the drive back home…booooorrrriiinnnng! I did have a tire pressure sensor on the rental Benz complain about low tire pressure…but they were all in range. Luckily we made it back with no probs and I returned the car earlier today. Was weird getting in my older Caribou, but was comforting at the same time.

Overall, had an excellent time on the road trip. Definitely one of the longer trips I have taken in some time. Now, back to the grind and enabling technology everywhere.

Dan, I, and Randy Outside of the Riviera Casino,
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Me, Dan, Randy, Dad, Other Lady, Jean, and Chuck @ Margaritaville,
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Hoover Dam New Bridge Project,
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