Viva Las Vegas!

Tuesday morning we woke up bright and early with plans to leave Richfield, Utah super-early as to beat the Vegas heat the best we could!  We did the re-pack & re-load routine that we're all too familiar with!  It's amazing when we check into a room, within 5 minutes it looks as though our luggage exploded.  Crap everywhere.  When it's time to check out, it's equally amazing how quickly everything finds its place once again!  One of these days I'd like to do some time-lapse pix!  Haha!
We left into the cool, sunny morning.  ANOTHER perfect riding day!  We've been really lucky with the weather thus far and I'm grateful for it!  Utah continues to be beautiful!  We pass the Kanub/Bryce Canyon exit.  That's where Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is!  I've been donating to them monthly for the past 20 years and I've visited once before.  Although, for that visit we had a bout of food poisoning the day before caused by a Barbecue shrimp pizza from Spago's at Caesar's, so the visit wasn't nearly as awesome as it should've been! Had I known it was on our route, I would've planned for another, more enjoyable visit!

As we approached the Zion area, I could see rain up ahead.  The road twisted & turned.  Every time I thought we were heading away from it, the road would twist again right toward it.  Damn.  Our weather luck had apparently run out!  Then the lightning bolts appeared.  One screamer of a bolt cracked in unison with a crack of a drum beat on a Megadeth tune on my iPod.  I just about wet my pants!  I saw a bolt that branched off into 2 bolts!  Fun stuff!  We each get our own bolt!

Tom started giving me signals, asking if I want to pull off.  I kept giving him the palm-up shrug!  Dammit!  I can see clear skies ahead!  We're making good time!  If we can hammer past this we'll be good to go!  But the lightning!  Damn the lightning!  I can handle getting wet.  Getting electrocuted?  Not so much.  So I throw on my turn signal as the next exit approached.  I figure we can't discuss whether or not to pull off while going 80 mph!  As we're exiting, I see Zion Harley-Davidson!  Perfect!  So we pull in, park, and buy a couple T-Shirts!  It drizzled a little bit outside as we were shopping, and the weather was clear by the time we were ready to roll!  Great timing!   

The weather got considerably warmer by the time we reached St. George.  Then Arizona was sweltering!  But the scenery was still awesome so I didn't mind so much!

We reached the Nevada border.  Helmet time.  Ugh.  Welcome to Nevada!  Now throw on that helmet and bake your brain!  From the Border to Vegas there was no exciting scenery.  Brown.  Lots of brown.  Flat brown.  Ugh.  We DID pass the Las Vegas Speedway!  Last time we were there in 2006 for the Cup race we got snowed upon!  I wish we were getting snowed upon about now!  We got into the city and luckily we were getting in at an odd hour during the week because traffic was light.  I was expecting the worst and it wasn't all that bad!  

We pulled into Bob & Cathy's driveway and Bob greeted us!  Hooray!  I knew I was filthy and smelly so I gave him a handshake instead of a hug!  We came into the house to see their chocolate lab, Abbie (Gunther's best friend!) and I finally got to meet their latest addition, Bella!  I get my puppy fix!  Hooray!  I so miss my Gunther! Cathy greeted us then!  She got a handshake, too!  (Seriously...we were NASTY!)  After BS-ing for a bit, we pulled our bikes in the garage to keep Bob's bike company, unloaded our crap, and hit the shower!

After we got presentable, we all hopped in their car and headed down to M Casino for a bite to eat before Bob had to go to sleep.  (He works nights dealing poker at South Point Casino.)

We sat at the 32 degree bar, where Bob & Cathy know everyone!  I stuck a $20 in the machine in front of me to play some video poker.  My first deal gave me 4 Jacks!  Woo Hoo!  Cash Out...I'm going home now!  Hahahaha!

We headed back to the Casa de Tvrdik...their house....hitting the liquor store along the way.  Bob went to sleep while Tom & Cathy & I sat around the pool with the dogs. 

 I was exhausted and ready to go to bed by 9 pm!  The tequila wasn't helping to keep me awake, either!   I was hoping to stay awake at least until Bob got up to go to work but that was not happening!  I found my way to the bedroom and crashed!  I woke up at about 4:30 am, wide awake!  Damn.  Still on Cleveland time!  I managed to fall back to sleep until about 6:30 am.  I was up for good then.  Bah.  The 4 of us drank coffee and hung out for a bit before showering and heading back to M Casino.  Today is Cathy's birthday and the people at M have a carrot cake cupcake waiting for her!  

We enjoyed Hibiscus drinks (Champagne & Cranberry) and then I switched to beer. And I won more money on the same machine I was playing yesterday! 

From there we headed up the road to the Boulevard and had some lunch.  And tequila.  And another beer.  The Boulevard is awesome because the owner has Cleveland ties, so there is a WMMS Buzzard statue behind the bar, lots of Browns & Indians paraphernalia, and scenes of the Cleveland skyline.  

And they have awesome food!  Tom & I shared a HUMONGOUS Margarita style pizza.  Tom & I had plans to meet my brother for a buffet dinner later....when he called and I told him I was day-drinking he kinda figured the buffet plans were on hold!  I still was up for it!  Until we came back to the house to nap.  That was it.  I was done for the day!  

 As I type this, we're hanging out watching football in very comfortable clothing while Bob sleeps!  We're party animals!  Watch out!  Tomorrow we'll meet up with my bro Steve bright and early and spend the day with him! Hopefully my lucky streak will continue, too!

Talk to ya soon and thanks for coming along!

Oh yeah.....we went for a swim before the nap!  I almost forgot!  Ooops!  Damn Day-Drinking!

OK...that is all for today!  See ya!