Then, we stopped at a Food 4 Less grocery store and bought a few things. The food is not that much for less, but still, the prices were not bad.
But after doing all of this, it was close to 10:30am by the time we hit the road!
Interstate 15 all the way today. And it was windy again, but not quite as bad as the day before. Plus, it was more of a head wind instead of a cross wind for most of the day. Better for driving, but not so good for fuel mileage.
Not the most exciting.
But, one or two interesting scenes along the way.
There's a long uphill stretch that goes through a mountain pass. You rise from 1,500 ft up to 4,000 feet over about 16 miles. They have a trucking lane for slow vehicles, and it was getting used. Even Sherman had to work hard to get up there. I think we must have got about 4 miles to the gallon during that 16 miles!
Heading uphill.
Sherman had to move over to the "slow truck" lane.
Fortunately, after the summit there was a 10 mile downhill stretch where Sherman could relax.
The cars are zipping by at 70 mph. Sherman even touched 65 mph while coasting downhill!
Made it to Nevada.
Still lots of wind to keep that big flag flying.
Made it to Las Vegas around 1:30pm.
Driving right down the main drag.
Las Vegas.
But, we aren't here for Vegas. It's just that our route passed right through the city. And, we knew that friends Croft and Norma were staying here on their way back to British Columbia, so we figured we'd stop in and say hello for an hour.
And we did. We also made good use of that hour by doing some laundry at the RV park where they're staying. Next thing you know, an hour turned in to two, and they were inviting us to stay for dinner.
We didn't plan it this way. We actually thought we might get some more driving in. Plus, I hadn't researched anywhere to park for the night, but Vegas has lots of opportunity for free RV parking and I knew we'd find something.
The RV park where they are staying is $18 USD ($23.40 CAD) a night for full hookups. Not a bad deal, but we knew we could find somewhere nearby for free. Also, this RV park thinks Sherman is too old. They say that any rig older than a 2000 model is too old! Strange, because we saw a few travel trailers in there that were from the 1980's.
Anyhow, I called a nearby casino and asked about overnight RV parking. Sure, the guy says they have an oversize lot at the south entrance to the parking lot. We got there and parked up. I flagged down the security guy on his bicycle just to confirm that we were okay to stay. He proceeds to tell me that we are okay to park overnight, but we can't stay in the rig. Says they are not a campground.
Okay. Whatever.
So we moved on to the only nearby choice where we could walk back to Croft and Norma's...the local Walmart!
Quite a few older rigs camped out at the Walmart. Makes Sherman look pretty good!
Walked over to Croft and Norma's and had dinner and a few drinks. Fun night, and glad we stopped in.
Croft, Ruth, Kevin, and Norma.
We're headed for Utah this morning. No idea how far we'll get, so tonight's overnight destination is a mystery.
Yesterday's drive, 160 miles (255 kms).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A great deal on a six pack of LED lightbulbs for standard household sockets. Works out to about $3.00 a bulb...
And at Amazon.ca, a decent deal on an external hard drive...
Loved hearing about your time in Vegas and seeing your pix.....Have a safe drive to Utah...........
ReplyDeleteDidn't really spend time in Vegas but glad you enjoyed it. If you want to see what we did when we were here for a week back in 2012 you can start reading about here. www.travelwithkevinandruth.com/2012/03/vegas-baby.html
DeleteWe were once turned away from an RV park because of the age of our last rig, a '94 Tioga. A few minutes with Photoshop on the registration document changed it to a '99. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was a lot of fun last night, we had a lot to catch up on. Have fun on your way back to Saskatchewan.
Yep, that would work too! :-)
DeleteThanks once again to both you and Norma for your wonderful hospitality. We had a great time and look forward to meeting up with you again sometime down the road. Have a safe trip back to British Columbia.
What on earth could be the reasoning behind the age of an RV's ability to stay at a park? Strange! Well if they don't want your business more power to you! Fun times with good people...
ReplyDeleteIt seems like quite a few private parks out west like to try to keep the riff-raff out and figure that they normally drive older model RVs so they put an age limit on RVs, normally those older than 10 years. Don't really like that way of thinking but then again we rarely stay in RV parks anyways and if we do, we seldom stay in private ones.
DeleteWe had a wonderful time with Croft and Norma! :-)
Those arbitrary rules are ridiculous. Love Croft's answer to the problem. I've heard of some parks that won't take any rig over 10 years old. That's down right snooty if you ask me. But probably not some place I'd want to stay anyway. But even more outrageous is that you can park your rig but not stay in it. You two are flexible that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you Sherry. Those rules don't normally affect us as I mentioned above because we rarely stay in RV parks anyway but it can be a problem for other people. Having said that I think many of the parks will take older vehicles that are in good shape.
DeleteThe parking an RV and not staying in it is because they had too many problems in previous years with RVers not being considerate and emptying tanks in the parking lot and some basically living there and not using it for a one or two night stay. It's amazing how the acts of some RVers can ruin it for others.
I have also run across parks that use ten years as a cut off, but often see rigs much older in those parks. I think it is just a rule to have in case they do not like the looks of an older rig.
ReplyDeleteYes, we totally agree with you, Chuck and Anneke!
DeleteWe have that a few campgrounds nothing over 10 years old, but they have come and taken a looks, and because I keep it clean and shiny we have always gotten pass and it is now 17 years old.
ReplyDeleteNice that you could spend some time with Croft and Norma, finally,
Yes, I am sure that most of those parks will let you in if your RV is in good shape. Having sad that, we would not stay there just because of that rule but it is their park and they can operate it however they want.
DeleteWe had a wonderful time with them both and it was almost exactly a year ago at that same park that we saw them last time.
Well, my airstream argosy is almost 40 years old. Wonder what they would do with that?
ReplyDeleteIf it is in good condition I'll be they would let you in! :-)
Deletetoo old?..pfft! have a safe trip to Utah!!
ReplyDeleteThat's what we say, lol! Sherman doesn't think his is old and neither do we and that's all that counts. :-)
DeleteAlways fun meeting up with friends and catching up on trips.
ReplyDeleteYes, it certainly is! :-)
DeleteHello Ruth and Kevin, I live in South Carolina, and have been following ya'll for a while. I love being on your trip with ya'll.
ReplyDeleteThanks Misty, we are happy to have you follow along with us!
DeleteWell, Wal-Mart is a last resort for sure, but it helps to know you can stay there if you have to. I've been meaning to ask you if you have solar panels to help keep you charged and allowing you to stay in one spot as long as you want.
ReplyDeleteWe try to stay away from overnighting in a Walmart parking lot but it was close to RV park that Croft and Norma were staying at. Had we not stayed for supper we would have carried on past Vegas to some BLM land and done proper boondocking.
DeleteYes, we are all set up with solar panels. We have 3 - 80 watt panels, 4 - 6 volt TR-105 batteries and a 1000 watt converter which supplies us with all the power we need, providing of course we have nice sunny days! :-)