Other than Gambling, Drinking, Shows...interesting things to do..

[Dead Money]

Trip to Pahrump...or what was I thinking....

Trip to Pahrump...or what was I thinking....

Talk about a waste of precious gas...

About 55 miles Northwest of Las Vegas is an unincorporated "town" consisting of a few junky casinos and residents who have to be bored out of their gourds.

The only redeeming factor is that it is in Nye County....lots of "chicken ranch" activity. (houses of ill repute)

Pahrump Nev (Pahrump in Shoshone means "water rock" lots of Artesian wells...this appears to be a "town" with little past and less future. They did not have phone service till the 1960's.

Strangely, gasoline was a quarter cheaper than Vegas.




After my lab liberally soiled their park, we hastily continued on.
On 95 south towards Mt Charleston,
There were a couple correction facilities, air force bases, and a distant "settlement" called Mercury Nevada..signs said "NO Services"...after Pahrump, passed this one traveling 90MPH...this is a good area for unwanted members of society. Nothing but sun scorched rock, dirt, and a few scraggily cacti.




Mt Charleston....elevation 11,000+ ft..you can drive up to about 8000 ft on paved road.

Goodly amount of snow still in shaded areas, most trailheads closed till April.

This is a beautiful mountain area with great views and outdoor activities skiing, horseback riding, trailblazing, climbing, wildlife...etc, in season.

Driving 95 north out of Vegas, it is about a 40 minute ride and 25 degree difference maker.








The highlight of the mini-trip was seeing a young wild Burro, standing by the roadside watching traffic as he grazed.

Next season out, I will head up to Tahoe and Carson City.

 

[Dead Money]

Crater tour anyone?

Crater tour anyone?

Just googled Mercury Nevada...

This is where they housed scientists and gateway to "Atomic Bomb" testing area...

http://www.atomictourist.com/nts.htm

Reading that, its amazing Las Vegas doesn't glow at night without electricity.

you can actually tour the blast areas and take a walk through "Doom Town", realistic sets constructed by the Atomic Energy Commission to measure effects of atomic weapons on animals and various types of buildings....OMFG

No atomic dosage badges are needed on tour?

That shit has half life of centuries..

That one won't be on my list of must do activities...

 

[kickserv]

Ya gotta "draw the line" at some point Dead Money:SIB

 

[Dead Money]

Ya gotta "draw the line" at some point Dead Money:SIB

LOL....:lol:

Don't want to pick up hitchhikers out there either....lots of walking dead.

 

[Dead Money]

Antique and Bric-a-brac shops

Antique and Bric-a-brac shops

If you need some "points" with the wife while in Vegas, here is a couple of winners.

We have been going to antique and collectible stores for years, most are pure shit.
These 2 listed were very entertaining.... especially if you enjoy rummaging.

Antiques at the market...6665 South eastern Ave..15 minutes east of strip..Eastern and Sunset area.
Hundreds of booths of much better than average collectibles.
Bronzes, paintings, glass ware, vintage clothes, small furniture, jewelry, Vegas and Hollywood memories, much more...you will enjoy this one.

Antique Mall 307 West Charleston
(West Charleston + I-15) 10 minutes from strip

A large quantity of cool vintage Las Vegas stuff, a completely stocked "Tiki Room",
circa 1960, Vargas Prints, TONS of neat stuff from A-Z...especially good used book section with many older gambling, western, and gangster titles, a room of vintage clothes, purses, shoes.

Park next door at Holsum Bread store, their parking sux.

They are having huge sale month of April. May 1 they are moving next to Arizona Charlies on Decatur.

Enjoy...:toast:

 

[turksure]

Just pass the humanity of people at the hotel lobby, is a magnificent site;
you will find a beautiful Oriental garden with many Dragons, Little emperors, Koi Ponds, fountains and falls.
All ornately surrounded and some covered by live flowers.....
Being 2012, "year of the dragon"

Look overhead and you will see lit garlands of firecrackers going off complete with crackling noises....

A must see if you have the wife, significant other with you....

Every trip to LV, its a stop

 

[Dead Money]

Smith Performing Arts Center

Smith Performing Arts Center

We are talking "World Class" here...
2000+ seated theater, 250+ seats Jazz Cabaret Theater, 250+ seats Studio Theater.

This palace is near downtown, bazillions of dollars of Marble, Art Deco style with all the bells and whistles.



All large cosmopolitan cities have a Performing Arts Center, kind of a crown jewel so to speak.

For decades the casinos dictated the entertainment (money) in this town; I don't think they wanted the competition of a PAC (performing art center)

Gone are the days of Elvis, Sinatra type generational super performers.

Now you have had 18 years of Circus Soliel, now being re-re-hashed as they closed the "Elvis" version.

Here is link if interested..

http://www.thesmithcenter.com/shows-tickets/

 

[Dead Money]

My ATV experience.....

My ATV experience.....

My 62 year old " content sitting at a poker table" body is still recovering from the experience 2 days later.




For the last 10 years I have wanted to try an ATV adventure.

Never been on one, closest experience riding a rented motorbike near Cancun (Isle Mujeres, circa 1979)

Purchased a Groupon for $85.00


Adrenaline ATV family owned, Overton Nevada, (near Logandale...50 miles North of LV off of I-15)


You are picked up at MGM Grand or several other hotel locations and whisked out to this "Valley of Fire" National park area.

Guided group rides consist of 10-12, split by experience into an easy group
and a "adventuresome" group.

My brother in law and I chose adventure saying we had motorcycle experience...he did not ask what decade.

After going over basic safety, we donned our helmets, goggles, gloves and headed out.

The 2007 Hondas could be driven manual or automatic..

If you are thinking gentle, rolling trails with cute wild rabbits eating vegetation along the trails, you will be sadly disappointed.

You will be very dirty, you will feel aches and pains from body areas you never had; for several days afterwards.

The access road to the trails are gravel and a bit of asphalt so you do have a couple minutes to figure out throttle, brakes, and center of gravity.

The trails range from well worn dirt ruts to huge chunks of exposed bedrock covered with big loose rock and dirt...there are occasional short straight gravel covered areas (it is semi-maintained by BLM and National Park) that you can get quickly up to about 40-45 MPH.
There are trails with hairpin turns with a 45 degree grade.

The hardest thing on the body were
the many series of rolling hill ruts...you learned quickly to get your butt off the seat on these very quickly.

You will experience a power drift thru sand dunes if you wish...I almost lost it but hung on for dear life.

Lets just say your adrenaline will be flowing big time.

The vistas are magnificent..here is a site with pics http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...5983-Adrenaline_ATV_Tours-Overton_Nevada.html


Lunch is supplied as is plenty of water by a following dune buggy.

Halfway thru the 16 miles we stopped and ate.
There are several stops for photos and stuff.

After lunch we opted for the easy group. In the fast group you were so busy watching the road, you did not enjoy the great views.

If I had it to do again, I would do the easy group for the first half to gain the experience and for the second half go balls to the wall, as there were many more straightaways where you could fly with new found confidence.

The road guides are fabulous, most been riding since they were 5 or 6 years old...every house in the area has ATV's; it is the entertainment here.


I give the experience 5 stars, use Adrenaline ATV none better...:toast:

 

[kickserv]

62 year old on an ATV.........

:bigun: :0023


Sounds like ya had a blast:00hour

 

[Dead Money]

Excavation equipment anyone?

Excavation equipment anyone?

http://lasvegas.about.com/gi/o.htm?...fo/operate-excavator-bulldozer.htm#Experience

Did this today with my brother in law...

Mini dig on a groupon was $100.00

Just south of Palace station on Rancho Dr...4 acre "sandbox'' with 315 cat.....experience priceless...air conditioned cab....hard hat, work vest, and 2 way radio....

Way cool; about 45 minutes continuous on the spot training, an hour hands on digging a trench, deep hole, hauling dirt, rolling the cab and scoop around and around or whatever. (Can't play tag or dodge em' with the others)

They had 3 Excavators, 3 dozers and on this windy dusty day, they ran a water truck spritzing down the compound....

If you loved Tonka trucks as a tyke, you will love this adventure..you get a "Diploma" suitable for framing.

This was started by an "Aussie" out of work construction outfit to pay the bills.


I am leaving Vegas for a return to my Humdrum existence in Oklahoma Friday....and to think I came out here to "relax"...:142smilie :142smilie :142smilie :142smilie