Happy Birthday!!!

Guess who turned 25!

Sorry for the barrage of posts tonight; I'm trying to get caught up.  I'm now two days behind.  I'd keep working but according to the self-adjusting clock on my phone I just lost an hour so I should get to sleep.

Arches

Warning: This post is extremely picture heavy!

From: Richfield, UT
To: Big Bend Campground (near Moab), UT
Mileage: About 384kms

I left the motel and followed I-70 through Utah.  This has got to be one of the most amazing interstates in America, and one of the most scenic roads out there (even though it's an interstate!)  All the way along are scenic lookouts where you can stop and be amazed.  Here are the photos I took along the way:

The road ahead.  The next pictures are zoomed in on the road.

Too fun.

Yeop.

Since I was stopping every 5 minutes to take pictures (several aren't posted) I kept passing the same vehicles when I'd get back on the road.  I passed this one RV going the minimum allowed speed about 6 times.  Finally, when stopped for gas, the same RV pulled in and the guy came over to chat while I was looking at my maps.  Turns out he's an adventure rider who's gone down to Guatemala, up to Alaska, etc.  He told me that Moab and the surrounding area was not to be missed.  He seemed to know what he was talking about, and Moab was in the direction of Arches National Park (something I've always wanted to see).  I hit the road and took the turn off for Moab.  The ride into town was phenomenal with snow-capped mountains off in the distance and amazing canyon walls on the other side.  I got into town and stopped for some information.  From there I went into Arches National Park. 

Courthouse Rock (or something to that effect)

Balancing Rock

For scale

More scale - notice the people climbing

One of the Windows (arches)

For scale

There are more arches in Arches National Park, but I just couldn't get to them in time.  Also, I didn't want to park and hike in all my gear.

After leaving Arches, I drove along highway 128 (a scenic byway).  Beautiful!  The road winds along beside the Colorado river surrounded by cliffs and canyon walls.  I think I have a few pics (which don't do it justice!):

Entering the canyon

Colorado River to the left

The river.

Yeah, I wish I'd taken more pictures.  But the sun was setting and I was looking for a campsite.  There are small government run owned campgrounds all along the river.  I didn't find a site because everything was full.  Then I saw the RV belonging to the guy I'd been chatting with earlier.  He was right where he said he'd be.  So I pulled in to continue the conversation.  Turns out his name is Bill.  We spoke to the campground manager and got him to let me pitch my tent in the overflow area:

The river flows through that clearing between the walls.

Bill helped me set up the tent, then offered up a plate of spaghetti his wife (Linda) had just made.  I happily accepted the offer and ate dinner while Bill and I had a beer.  I gave them the address to this blog, so I guess I'll take the opportunity to say thanks for dinner!  Bill and Linda sell hand-made Christmas ornaments and travel around selling them.  Linda looked over my blog while I ate. Then somehow some scotch made its way out and I was tasting the difference between a 12 and 15 year old.  Linda went to bed while Bill and I stayed up talking.  The problem here is that I was very dehydrated from having very little water throughout the day.  That and the only thing I'd eaten since breakfast was the spaghetti.  So drinking was a bad idea, and I woke up feeling extremely thirsty and sick the next morning.  I had to drink about 3-4L of water in the morning to start to feel better.

Hypothermia

From: Las Vegas, NV
To: Richfield, UT
Mileage: About 486kms

After leaving Las Vegas, I crossed into Utah

I said this when I was in Arizona and Utah: "These people really know how to make a state!"  It's a really scenic drive and I enjoyed riding through the mountains.  It was nice to have some turns!  I took a few quick pictures, but I couldn't stop during the middle of a turn in the mountains, there was nowhere to pull off.

Damn interstate... ruining my picture.

I pushed on, but as the night got later, I got colder.  I stopped at a welcome center to pick up a map of Utah and to add layers (I was in hot weather gear coming out of Vegas).  I added layers and set off.  Again, it got colder and I think it eventually got down to about freezing.  Factor in the bike's wind-chill and I started shivering.  Since I was in the middle of nowhere, it was hard to find a place to pull off.  By the time I did, I was starting to show signs of hypothermia - uncontrollable shivering/shaking, fatigue, slow movements, etc.  I went into the rest stop and drank two cups of hot coffee.  I also had a toasted sub and stayed inside until I was thoroughly warmed.  I then checked the weather and decided not to camp.  I set off for Richfield, UT where I got a room for the night.  By the time I checked in it was late and dark.  I did a load of laundry and worked on posting before falling asleep.

Vegas Baby!

From: Fontana, CA

To: Las Vegas, NV

Mileage: About 353kms

I left my "campsite" in the morning to find that low level clouds in the valley were soaking the roads.  I ate breakfast at a local cafe and checked my maps.  It was kind of an upscale cafe and I must have made a scene.  Soaking wet, smelly, spending forever at a booth on my own, ruining their washroom...

Anyway, I hit the road and headed for Las Vegas.  Along the way, I was passed by this:

       

Maybach 57S

I'd never seen one of those on the road, or in person.  It was being followed by a Rolls Royce, but that pales in comparison here.  A little further down the road and I entered Nevada

I stopped at the visitor's center in Primm and booked a room for the night.  I got a steal on a room at Planet Hollywood.  I looked around in the adjacent outlet mall for sunglasses.  I bought a pair (finally!).  Anyway, I continued to Vegas and checked into the hotel.  Here's the room (unreal!):

There's another sink on the right side wall

Everything was much bigger and nicer in person.

I really liked the room.  It was very modern and had a cool feel to it.  Wifi was an additional $14 or something, so I said screw it and went down to Starbucks to use the free wifi.  I was only there for a few minutes before I went to the buffet and cleaned them out.

I staggered back to my room in pain and rested for a while.  Eventually, I went back down the casino to do something interesting.  I played blackjack for a while and I think in the end I was up a little.  I chatted with the two other guys who stayed at the table for a while.  Both were named Brian.  One was from Vancouver and the other was from Chicago.  We had a good time as the night went on.  Eventually, I went back to the room and fell asleep instantly.

I woke up late the next morning after forgetting to set alarms.  I frantically got packed and ready so I wouldn't be charged another night's hotel fee.  I checked out and went in search of a place to take passport photos.  I was under the impression that I had to get the photos stamped or something for my visa applications.  So I wasted a bunch of time trying to find a place that could do it for me.  I ran a few errands and filled out my visa applications at an Italian restaurant in the shops at the Venetian (just had coffee).  Eventually, I got the photos taken and rushed to the post office to send off my stuff.  FINALLY, after getting all that crap finished, I weighed my options.  It was almost dark already, and after leaving Vegas I'd have to either set up camp in the desert in the dark, or find a crappy room for the same price as Vegas.  So I decided to stay put and have an early night.

I looked around and finally booked a room at the Rio (an all suite hotel).  So I got a suite for $45 + tax.  I went to check in and the guy told me that I'd been upgraded to a much nicer room in the Masquerade Tower.  He said it normally goes for an additional $300/night.  And here she is:

View from the front door

Bathroom to the right as soon as you walk in.  Notice that it's missing a shower...

Dining room (off to the left when looking at the living room from the front door)

View from the dining room.  Kitchenette and living room visible.  Notice the room at the far end.

This is the room at the far end... the bedroom.  Notice the room at the far end.

The room at the end... the master bathroom.  Laundry area to the right, toiled to the second right, shower to the third right.  Vanity mirror on the left, sink and mirror on the second left. 

What a nice photo...

Jacuzzi at the far end

And of course, the view.

More view.  The room was a corner suite, so I got almost 180 degrees of view.

More view.  The other part of Rio

 I got settled in, and eventually wandered off in search of food.  Everything was closed so I got a side salad (to go) from the TGI Fridays across the street.  I ate it and called it a night.  The next morning, I packed up and got ready to head out.  I ate lunch at the buffet in Rio and had a conversation with the (very nice!) 75 year old waitress who used to live in Santa Monica.  After lunch, I figured I'd take a few photos of Vegas so I could post them.  Here they are!

Iconic

New York New York and part of the strip

Bellagio.  Across the street from that famous Oceans 11 scene I think.

An obstructed view of Paris

 After that, I jumped back on the freeway and left Las Vegas.  I pulled off at one point to fix some sort of clothing item or something, and snapped this parting shot:

Las Vegas in the distance