More Travels 4--What Happens In...

What Happens in Vegas Stays

By tonight Flagstaff won't be Mecca. Weather forecasters predicted strong winds and snow there by evening with a low of 22 degrees. I believe it. As we headed west, the cirrus clouds swirled in patterns that swept across the horizon. Tops of the Ponderosa pines bent back and forth, and in Williams, Arizona, a gigantic American flag blew horizontally from the pole with barely a dip because of the strong sustained wind.
Six miles downhill on the western flank, the clouds stretched in stratus layers.
"That's probably what will bring snow to Flagstaff," said Andy, "but at least it should be warmer down there." The 49-degree reading on the car thermometer climbed to 57 degrees, and Utah juniper and cedar bush-trees took over as we descended.
The farther west we drove, the heavier and thicker the cloud cover became. "I understand why the high in Flagstaff tomorrow is 46 degrees," I told Andy.
"Durango will be just as cold," he replied, "so it's a good thing we decided to head toward Las Vegas. Forecasters did mention the possibility of a thunderstorm there, but the high temperatures will be in the 60's."

In the murky dustiness, not much grows
here except the bunch grass along the road.

The sun still popped in and out as we sailed past the exits for Seligman and Peach Springs and Valentine, all on Route 66. No one lives here. We passed mile after mile of hills covered with Utah juniper and cedar scrub trees but little grass. It looks greener than the high desert, but there can't be much grazing pasture opportunity.
"I think it would take more energy for the cows to climb up and down for the grass bunches than what they could get from their nibbles," I told Andy. By now some cumulous clouds with darker under sides piled up ahead of us over the road. Snow was coming to the hill country of Arizona.
Just about everything along Route #93 from Kingman to Las Vegas was for sale -- 5/10/20-Acre Tracts, 54 "Prime" Acres, Land for Sale...Call Us, Four Parcels--36 Acres.
"Back by Chloride, there were dagger yuccas. Now it's all creosote bush," said Andy. "This is really poor soil or probably just even drier conditions."
It wasn't a day weather-wise to help things look better either.
Thick dust in the air obscured our view of even the closest hills. Everything looked murky. Even though the car thermometer recorded 66 degrees outside, the weather looked downright dreary.

With grey skies overhead, all vegetation disappears
as the road winds toward Hoover Dam.

"It's the wind here that is causing the problem," said Andy. Strong gusts had picked up the dry, sandy soil and clouded everything. The thick stratus cover overhead didn't help much.Lake Mead National Recreation Area was closed. We expected that. Willow Beach was blockaded. "The only reason we are driving through here is that Route #93 is a major highway," said Andy. "We can come back here one day if the weather clears up," he added. Along the road even the creosote bush was having a hard time growing. "Vegas is very dry," said Andy. And that was evident from the land southeast of the city.
Since check-in at the Rio was not allowed before 4:00 p.m., we parked at the Flamingo garage to check out available shows and stroll along the Strip. Of course, walking with Andy has never been a stroll. We dashed through Harrah's, the Flamingo and Casino Royale, checked out Players' Clubs at Harrah's and Casino Royale to qualify for half price show tickets, jogged along the strip outside for a few blocks and still had plenty of time to make it to the 1:00 p.m. Mac King comedy magic show at Harrah's. For the price of a drink as admission, we were treated to an hour-and-a-half of mystifying magic interspersed with quips and jokes. King is a delightful showman. He even gave me an autograph.

From the Masquerade Garage parking lot on the fourth floor,
the view of Las Vegas at night is beautiful.

It took the rest of the evening to get registered at the Rio, find convenient parking and settle in. The 55-floor hotel boasts suites in every room, and the accommodations are luxurious, even if we overlook the dark swimming pool from the 21st floor.
Vegas is full of life with people everywhere, probably more so mid-week this week because of the government shutdown. But in Washington, D.C., no one is talking yet. And so with everything else closed down and blockaded, vacationers flock here. Just like we did! Viva Las Vegas!