Installment #1 - Retirement Trip

2-15-06
Three pictures attached – outside Venice casino in Los Vegas, cactus garden in Henderson NV close to Ethyl M’s chocolates, and country and western band at RV sales lot in Quartzsite, AZ.
We are thoroughly enjoying the 80 degree heat, sun and blue sky. We hear it is close to 10 degrees in Moscow, Idaho.
Some of the highlights we have seen:
McCall ID ice sculptures
Huge Winchester rifle hanging over town street in Winchester ID
Huge Mammoth in Grangeville ID
Railroad Depot Museum in Ely NV
Jackpot casinos in Jackpot ID
Time share tour in Vegas
Las Vegas – Venice, Paris, New York, water show at Bellagio, thunderstorm inside, to top of Stratosphere (112 floors up, 909 feet), $100 free slot money at Casino Royale, American superstars show at Stratosphere (imitators – Michael Jackson, Elvis, Christine Aguilar, Britney Spears), Fremont street experience (downtown LV) (saw spray paint artist), M&M shop, rainstorm inside Aladdin, Wildlife habitat in Flamingo, largest gift shop in world in Vegas.
Chocolate Factory and cactus garden tour in Henderson NV
Hoover Dam
Route 66 in Kingman NV
London Bridge in Lake Havasu AZ (saw radio control boat races) (saw largest candle shop in word there)
Found Butch & Mary’s campsite without any problems in Quartzsite.
Quartzsite – millions of motorhomes, campers, RVs, ATVs, etc. etc.
Country and Western free entertainment
Square and round dance entertainment
Proving Ground, Yuma, huge anti-aircraft guns, army personnel jumping out of planes
Small church built in memory of some guy’s wife, patterned after small church in Washington
Mexico – bought a few trinkets (Tony bought a shot glass for $4.25 that sold in store for $1.92) (Sharon bought a bracelet for $5.00 and next girl would have sold it for $3.00). Tony DID NOT like Mexico tourist trap.

Plan to go see mines today, then back to Yuma tomorrow, to Lake Havasu for pyrotechnic display (bigger than we’ve ever seen) on Saturday. Will drive to Phoenix to see my aunt Bernadine on Sunday (probably stay a couple of days there and then back to Quartzsite).