April 6, 1997
Good Mornin' Las Vegas...
Yesterday seems a blur... We left the Barstow sandstorms behind and trekked up the I-15 grade. This is beautiful country; wide open and peppered with a grey-green shrub with an occasional Joshua Tree. Every so often a leafless willow had found a foothold near dry wash or along the roadside.
I can't help but think about some old prospector and his Jenny (still) out there back in the 1800's. Hard to fathom how harsh this land is until one sees it muchless walks it. Dark purple crags jutting out of an ochre plain look so close, yet are actually so far away. We crossed a dry lake bed right at the California-Nevada State line. The lake floor and surrounding flats appear to take on a much greater slope up to the mountains in all directions... This is an optical illusion due to the enormity of the expanses in the desert without visual references.
We stopped at Primm, NV. This city is not on the map yet it's there. Seems to be relatively new. We stopped at Buffalo Bills to eat lunch. We were seated, brought chips and salsa, and were forgotten. We finished all the chips and salsa. Richard Higbee smiled from under his black Stetson and said, "Well, lets give 'em ten more minutes." We all agreed and licked the salsa bowls.
At eight minutes Bill Terry slapped the table top, "Time's up..."
We stood and left for Jean, NV. Stopped at the "Gold Strike" and had 10 oz prime rib dinners with all the trimmings for $3.95... Incredible.
While eating lunch I (John) struck up a conversation with a fella' sitttin' at the counter with the Oscar crew. Seems he brokers bus trips from Los Angeles up to the Casinos. His name is James Andrew and paints cars for a living. He became curious regarding Oscar and later followed the crew out to see Oscar.
I had left the casino to make the "Happy Hour" radio program call. It went through on the cell phone without a hitch..... technology is amazing....
We made Las Vegas and drove the "Strip" in daylight to reckon the area. Saw sights and people there that were very unusual to say the least. One in particular was a sign that advertised drive-through weddings and divorces...
We settled in a Nellis AFB billeting and melted in the showers.
Met the camera folks at the Excalibre and began an interesting evening of lights, lenses, and the curious. At the Riviera, Bill and I were greeted by three beautiful Show Girls that greeted us as we pulled up... What a hoot. Later they posed with Oscar, Bill and I.... Oscar was purring.....
We sent recorded "Hi, there..." to Dave Letterman and Jay Leno for fun.
At long last, we arrived at Caesar's after driving the Strip several miles. Folks were waving, smiling and staring at Oscar. We pulled into the entrance and up to the Valet curb. Bill and I stepped out of Oscar while handing over the key to the Valet. He handed me valet tag number 22, watched us disappear inside, then approached Oscar. He stood there without a clue as to operating the controls. He sat in the driver's seat and scratched his head....
After the shoot, we had dinner (King Crab) at the Riviera with the Dickel folks. Great food there. Everyone running out of gas due to the long day. Broke up and scattered to the wind.... 'cept Richard Higbee. He wanted to play Pai-Gow for an hour. The rest of us watched a show and people.
Ever notice that non-blinking look people get when they play slots? Furthermore, the only thing that moves is one of their arms.
Back to Nellis..... went online and collected all the E-mail and sent some back out. Saved this for the morning after a good sleep.
Today we enter our third state of the trek; Arizona. We'll drop into Kingman around 1400 today.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Ray beat on my door at around 0900. I leapt out of bed like a launched rocket.
Ray gathered and did the laundry while I went on line and caught up on the net E-mail, etc. Decided to send one giant E-mail update and CC everyone at once. Seems more cost effective re: time.... which we really have very little due to moving 100 miles a day, maintenance on Oscar, bathing, eating, and sleeping.
Stopped by the Base Exchange before leaving Nellis AFB. Met a wonderful elderly woman sitting in her van at the exchange handicapped parking lot. She sat staring at Oscar, craning her neck to and fro trying to drink in every detail. I approached her and introduced myself. Rose Lopez, of Nellis AFB said what so many have told us... "That brings back so many memories." Oscar truly does touch hearts.
Refueled the Chase Truck and the Dickel Trickel Truck in Las Vegas, then set out for Kingman.
WHOA! What a stop at the "Railroad Pass" casino on the way out of Nevada. The turn off is through the median and downhill.... sneaks up on one not familiar. Anyway, we stopped to have breakfast. Richard Higbee wanted to have another shot at the Pai-Gow tables. Ended up at the Blackjack table instead and walked away with $60.00 more than when he arrived.
Our host was fascinated with Oscar. Come to find out her maiden name is the same as mine... Barbara (Ford) Peck.
Left the casino and headed downhill to Boulder Dam. What a massive piece of construction. Hundreds of people were milling into and out of tours. We stopped up on the hill in a turnout to take a few photos.
An entire extended family from 15 to 92 approached and gathered about Oscar to look at his every feature... bugs on the windshield and all.
After leaving Boulder Dam, we passed into Arizona. I am very impressed withthe maintenance of Hwy 93... especially the vegetation management through the sensitive ecosystem of the high desert. Whoever is doing this work deserves a pat on the back... several pats.
One cannot appreciate the raw beauty of the high desert until they actually see it ---- no, experience it personally. I thought the mile long slopes were optical illusions yesterday; I'm now aware these slopes are real. They are gradual alluvial slopes resulting from millions of years of patient erosion. It's an awesome thought to realize that one is catching but a glimpse of this eternal erosion process in the present while simultaneously knowing it is ageless and even actively continuing.
Along Hwy 93 at about mile marker 15, an old ruin of a windmill stands silhouetted against the purple backdrop of high desert. This thing stands there as mute testimony to the need of water and the ravages of the high desert weather. I understand this windmill still functions; even though many of it's blades are missing and the vane is bent from some past windstorm. Those that live in the Kingman area to Boulder City all know the windmill...a mute American Landmark.
We got into Kingman a little later than expected. Our cell phone couldn't make a call in the desert... low battery...
Met up with Lucia Knudson and her husband Jerome at the "Canada Mart" on Route 66. Oscar's first footprint on the historic highway. Lucia is the reporter for the "Kingman Daily Miner". When asked if she wanted to take a ride in Oscar, she jumped in without hesitation. We popped and rumbled a short distance down the famous highway, then turned back for the market.
We left the market and headed for the KOA campground. We found it, pulled in, and stepped into the office. The host, Sylvia Edmonds, was busy with a couple registering, yet she looked to me and said, "Glad you made it Mr. Ford" This was a bit unnerving at first.... but funny too. Seems the "Daily Miner" had run an article this morning regarding the arrival of Oscar. Wild...
After registering, Sylvia's husband, Ernie, hopped into an electric cart and led us to our cabin and camping site. Later he brought folks from all over the KOA to meet Oscar.
One couple, Aldor and Barbara Cournoyer of the KOA, came over and visited for a spell. Seems they were traveling about like we and found the Kingman KOA and stayed..... six years ago.
Seems someone else had anticipated Oscar's arrival... A.J. Legault had driven out into the desert in search of us in "Sgt. Bilko", his 1953 Dodge, M-37Army Ammo Carrier. Unfortunately we missed each other on the road.
Jerome and Lucia (the reporter and husband) said they knew of someone that could help us with a phone link to the net. They disappeared in their van, yet a few moments later the same A.J. Legault with the M-37, and his mother Carol; both of Kingman pulled into the KOA. I was desperate for a phone line for these updates and none were readily available at the KOA campground. These folks came to the KOA, picked me up, and took me to their home for the link. Great folks here in Kingman.
Well, off to Flagstaff tomorrow...