The Shields in Las Vegas

November 2003

November 13

We get up at 3:30 AM, dress and drive to Indy. We park at Alpha parking and get shuttled to the airport.

This would start out as a poor trip. To start, I discovered at Indianapolis International Airport that my drivers license had expired. That meant a near cavity search before I could get on the plane.

Next, the plane started boarding 15 minutes early, but still didn't pull away until the scheduled time. Why do people rush on to a plane to sit in a cramped space longer than they have to. You can judge their feeling for airline seats by how quick they are to get off.

Next, we start to taxi. Then we stop and are informed that our right engine will not start. thus we return to the gate. Maintenance gets on the plane. fix some electrical in the cockpit. 45 minutes late, we take off.

The flight was a little bumpy, but after seeing the weather across the country that day, it was a pretty good flight.

At McCaren, we take the shuttle to Thrifty to get the SUV we've rented.

At Thrifty Car Rental, we try to pick up the SUV. The web site said it was a Jeep Cherokee or equivalent. It ended up being Jeep Wrangler. But we can get a Dodge Durango for $25 more per day. (Can you say "bait and switch"?). They end up giving us the locals discount for $10 a day. After inspecting the contract, they charged us $12 a day. They said it came out to $10 a day because we had the 10% Sam's Club discount. (My math must be wrong. 10% off of $12 is $10.80 in my book.) OK, now we've established that Thrifty Car Rental runs a shady operation.
BTW: We had a second party that reserved the same. They got similar treatment.

Since my drivers licence was expired, Jo gets to drive this trip. She isn't real happy with the idea. On top of that, they say I can't pay for the rental. Only my wife can pay for the rental.

We proceed to the Golden Nugget and see if we can check in early. They check and there is a room available. Hey, something went in our favor.

We head to Jillian's for lunch. Jo wanted to split a 9 Ball Combo and I got a Double Baked Potato Soup. The Potato Soup was very good. The 9 Ball was out of the bag onion rings, hot wings, chicken strips, cheese sticks and corn chips (blah).

We hit Wallgreen's and buy some diet coke and water. Then back to the room. We crashed in the room for a while.

After we wake up, we head to Main Street Station. Thursday night is Fillet and Scampi night. The fillet had some gristle, but taste good. The scampi was in a cream sauce. Jo didn't care for it that way. I'd have preferred it without the cream sauce also. This is one of the better inexpensive buffets in town. It didn't disappoint. We took some pictures of their artifacts and improved their bottom line.

We headed back to FSE. The entertainment was a guy on a truck playing a pretty good blues guitar, LoveShack and Louie Louie. Off to Wallgreen's again for more diet coke (somehow diet coke isn't lasting long on a day that started at 3:00 AM).

Friday November 14

We slept in, checked out the FSE. For supper, we ate at the Golden Nugget buffet. We met 2 couples that originated from Canada. The wives were cousins (as I recall). the first couple had been married 33 years. The husband is vice president of a power company and was just stationed in Las Vegas. The other couple had almost been married almost as long. He is a retired Royal Canadian Police officer, now consulting on gambling fraud. We talked and enjoyed the wait and ended up at tables across the aisle. The Golden Nugget has one of the 2 best downtown buffets.

Saturday November 15

Jo decides to brave more driving in Las Vegas. We visit the new discount strip mall. OK, it's another bunch of the same old outlet places. We ate lunch at the italian joint in the food court - BAD.

Sunday November 16

We get up, check our bags and check out.

Jo drives to Nellis for Aviation Nation. This was a good air show, but the exit was a huge long line.

Jo drives back to the Golden Nugget. We get our baggage out of baggage check and she drives to Westgate Flamingo Bay. We unpacked and headed to Albetrson's to pick up supplies. Back at WFB, we turn on the fireplace, pop some popcorn and relax.

Monday November 17 - Vicki's Birthday

We attend COMDEX. WOW, this show has gone from the biggest in the America's to dead in just four years. After leaving COMDEX, we visit the Visitor's Center and meet a very nice couple from Honolulu. Goldie Woodward of Wukoki Preview Gallery and her husband David. We exchanged greetings, recommendations and presents.

That evening, we met Pat & Jolene, Dave & his crew (Eric, Charlie, Vicki and ). It was Vicki's birthday so I bought at Ellis Island.

Tuesday November 18

We get up and drive to Red Rock Conservation Area. After hitting the Visitor's Center, we head around the look and stop at the quarry.

What luck!!! (OK, my wife didn't agree.) Even though it is cool out, there is a model shoot going on. Jo lets me take a few pictures from afar. Then we head up Calico Tank Trail. Near the end, we lose the trail and end up on the top. When we get down to the bottom, the shoot is still in progress.

Supper is at the Rio Grand Carnival Buffet. Warning: The Grand Carnival Buffet is being remodeled and is half of its normal size. We were told it will be back to normal size in April.

Wednesday November 19

We pack. Pat & Jolene come over for breakfast. We check out and they follow us as we hit the road. We stop at the Utah Visitor's Center, pick up info and decide to stop at Zion Kalob Canyon Trail. Then on to Moab Utah.

We got in to Red Cliffs Lodge late and found out the restaurant closed early, we scrounged up some snacks and ate in our room. Later we used the hot tub (except for Pat), watched the meteor shower (it was a poor year).

Thursday November 20

At Red Cliffs Lodge we got up and ate the continental breakfast and took some pictures.

Jo lead over to and through Onion Creek. Jo then leads for a ways in to Kokopele trail. Jo decided she did not care for Kokopeli Trail because of so many blind hills and turns.
BTW: coming out of Kokopelli, she came right up the big hill and Pat had to back up and try again. Pat claims it is because he didn't have a 4x4, but Jo didn't have her's in 4 wheel drive.
BTW: Jo had a great time and decided OHV driving was a blast.

We headed to Moab for lunch at Buck's Grill House. The food was good and the services was very good. Then to Arches National Park (PM).

After dark, we headed back to Moab for supper. We ate at Fat City Smoke House. You can smell the smoke a half block away. Your mouth starts to water. Are you in for a huge dissapointment. Pull pork is boiled. No smoked flavor at all. Then they add a 20% gratuity ti the bill for mediocre service. We went back to Red Cliffs Lodge to relax and enjoy more of the hot tub (except for Pat).

Friday November 21

We ate the continental breakfast at Red Cliffs Lodge, packed and checked out. We headed back to Arches National Park (AM) for the morning sites. A little after noon, we headed to Moab for lunch, then hit the road to Monument Valley (PM).

We checked in at Goulding's Lodge, ate supper at Goulding's and then saw the video.

Saturday November 22

Well, our good luck over the years with the weatherman has come to an end. just as the sun is rising, a snow storm arrives at Monument Valley (AM). We ate breakfast and hit the road.

The weatherman wasn't to bad to us, because we beat the snow storm to Navajo National Monument. After taking a couple trails (thanks Jolene, it was a nice canyon view and I got a few pictures I would have) we hit the road.

We arrived at the Grand Canyon (PM) , entering the east entrance. We visited the tower and Yavapia Point for sunset.

We checked in at Bright Angel Lodge for our Canyon view rooms in Kokopelli Lodge, ate supper in Bright Angle Lodge (SLOW).

Sunday November 23 - Jolene's Birthday

We get up at the Grand Canyon (AM). We go to Bright Angel Lodge and eat breakfast. The service was much better and the banana bread french toast was also. After a few photos (it was 3 degrees out), we headed out.

We to Route 66 and took it to Peach Springs.

At Peach Springs, we stopped at the Hualapai Lodge and paid our dues. We took Desert Springs Trail down Peach Springs Canyon to the Colorado River. On the way back out, we encounter a vehicle that didn't make it down. Remember, this trip is Jo's first OHV driving and she had no problems. As you can see by the pictures, someone else wasn't so lucky.
Note: You can drive down to the river in the Grand Canyon at this point. The other side of the canyon is Grand Canyon National Park, this side is Hualapai land and not part of the park.

We took Route 66 on to Kingman and then to Las Vegas. We checked in at the Mirage.

Monday November 24

We slept in. We got up and went over the the Venetian. We ate lunch at the Grand Lux (great). Then we visited the Forum Shops. We met Pat & Jolene at Bellagio for their buffet. I loved it and Jo hated it.

Tuesday November 25

We got up packed checked out. We ate lunch at Red Robin. This is another very good burger joint. We checked the car back in and headed to the airport. President Bush is in town and scheduled to leave the airport about 2 hours before our flight departs. Remember the extra security in Indy? I was expecting a real hassle with the president at the airport. Instead, they glanced at my drivers license at ATA check in and again when boarding the plane. Security didn't even want to look at it. We watched Air Force One depart and the loading of the motorcade. Our flight gate was changed, but nobody bothered to tell us. I saw it on a monitor and notified the other people waiting at the wrong gate.

The flight back was un eventful and so was the drive back home.

Wednesday November 26

Jo takes me to renew my drivers license.