Nov 21 - Reno to HOME!!!

Our first sighting of a signpost for an Oregon city and our first glimpse of beautiful Mt. Shasta let us know we were really almost there!

Back home now, everyone is enjoying being without leashes and seatbelts!

Hey look--we can pee without a leash!!!

Nov 19-20 Las Vegas to Reno

Everybody was excited about driving this stretch of the road, as you can see by Jessie and Cody's reaction. The only thing that perked us up was driving past the inviting desert abodes of legalized prostitution (a couple of examples below). They did have some pretty clever names, though--Shady Lady Ranch, KitKats, PussyCat Ranch, and my personal favorite, Bar Slutz. That one had seen better days--a faded billboard and boarded up bar with some sad-looking rooms out back.

Nov 17-19 Arizona to Las Vegas

Another long desert drive, highlighted only by being able to see Hoover Dam. We didn't really even think about it being on our journey until we came to a checkpoint of armed guards who needed to look inside, outside, and under the RV, thanks to 9/11. After we passed inspection--Bear was not a bit happy about people coming into our home, by the way--we drove another 20 miles or so and there it was. I've always heard about people crossing over Hoover Dam, but it was certainly nothing like I had pictured it. I thought you'd be driving straight across the top of it so you'd see a lake of water from the Colorado River on one side and a gigantic dropoff on the other. It's more like traveling in an enormous spiral down through the dam and mountain area, with your jaw dropped open the whole time! It's a really indescribable piece of engineering. I was snapping pictures out the window while Tip was trying to keep the RV and car on the twisting, winding hairpin turns on the road down through the dam area. I have no idea what I was taking pictures of--just that it was GIGANTIC, amazing, and demonstrated beautifully what incredible things people can do!

.

The RV park in Las Vegas was like an oasis in the desert. Not only were there swimming pools, an 18-hole putting green course, a bar and restaurant, slot machines in the registration area, Texas hold-em poker games in the evening, and a wedding pavilion, but you could also have someone come and wash your RV, clean the carpets, do a tune-up--pretty much whatever you needed!

Nov 15-16 Grand Canyon

We left Albuquerque early in the morning and drove up to the Grand Canyon (quite a long haul) and stayed at an RV park inside the South entrance to the Canyon park. Spent the next day touring the South Rim area. It's disappointing that you can't capture on a camera the gut-wrenching feeling of peering over the edge of the Canyon! It gives new meaning to the word, AWESOME!

Nov 13-15 travel across TX and NM

Here are representations of what we saw for two days driving from San Antonio to Albuquerque. Hope we never have to do that again!!!! Don't believe anyone who tells you that the desert has a "beauty all its own..."

We're now at the Isleta Indian Resort and Casino. It's such a relief to not be driving for a while that we're going to spend an extra day here. Tip is out golfing right now at a course that looks like a pretty good one. We had an unproductive time at the casino last night, but did have a nice dinner! :-) We'll try it again tonight--wish us luck!

Nov 12--The Alamo

What can you say about the Alamo that hasn't been said before? Here are pictures of what we saw there.....

Nov 12--San Antonio River Walk

We took a boat tour of the River Walk area, and the tour guide filled us in on the history of the San Antonio area as well as the River Walk. I was surprised to learn that the River Walk was constructed by the WPA in the 1930's. I had figured it was a recent tourist attraction. It's quite beautiful and has countless restaurants and shopping all along it. The River Walk meanders through about four city blocks of the old town.