2009 Holidays and 2010 Beginning Travels

This travel blog will catch everyone up to date of our activities through the holidays and the beginning of our 2010 "snowbird" travels.

We spent a week in Wyoming ~ a few days at brother Dick's home before going on to brother Jim's home for the Thanksgiving holiday. Santa Claus on a motorcycle was a sight to see in Rock Springs, WY, while out shopping the day after Thanksgiving.

Entertainment for the holidays included a Living Nativity Scene at a local church and attending granddaughter Caily's school Christmas program. Caily is the one in the middle in the red dress.

We took a three day trip to Leavenworth WA with friends for the Christmas lighting festival.

A new addition to our extended family. Mom shown with Mae (my niece, Karla's first baby).

After Christmas festivities with Dennis' and family, and Karla's visit to our home on the 26th, we loaded up the motorhome, trailer, car, bicycles, and ATV to head south. We met up with cousin Judy

and her husband, Larry, from Nebraska in Las Vegas, Nevada on the 27th of December. The Venetian Casino was one of our stops ~ the first time we have seen a "living statute" in the U.S. First picture shows the canal boats as seen in Venice, Italy.

Sharon particularly wanted to see Christmas lights in Las Vegas. Unfortunately they were few and far between. A nice display was in the Wynn Casino..............

......and at the Ethyl M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Gardens. Here they had over 500,000 lights all over their Cactus Gardens. There is a great video of this display at this site.

While in Vegas, Judy and Larry decided to upgrade three of their four ATV tires ~ picture shows the ATV void of three tires while they went to pick up the new ones.

First picture is a strange site was a motorhome with a cat door out the back of the motorhome. Double click on pictures to see larger image.

We visited the Trump Tower (picture is of Judy and Larry beside the model of the Trump tower) to see if Trump was able to "trump" the luxury we see in the Wynn Casino. Our vote was that it wasn't as good as Wynn Casino. But we did see on display the Singleton whiskey in the lobby lounge which is a rarity.

Another strange site in Vegas was this twin tower leaning casino and condo construction.

Our next RV park was outside of Lake Havasu....it was strange to see a motorcyclist ride up, sweep some rocks away, and pitch a tent for the night.

Our first ATV ride after arriving in Quartzsite was, of course, out in the desert. Judy managed to get a cactus sticker completely through her shoe. Tony got the pliers from our tool box and Larry removed the sticker.

More fun and excitement to follow soon.

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).