We made it to Hoover Dam, and had to drive up to the other side, disconnect the trailer so we could park and see the dam. Once again the amount of people were crazy. 

Back up to the other side and did the "Aaron picture by the state sign" thing, got our trailer and headed to the motel in Vegas. Coincidently, it was one I had stayed at before when TDY there in about 1992, just outside the gate for Nellis AFB. While it was a holiday weekend, the nice thing was that most of the working world had to be to work on the third, and the forth was on Tuesday, so there were rooms still available.

Saw this cool semi- Have no idea what it was for but I liked it.

We drove to the Circus Circus and parked on the roof, the CB antenna dragging the entire way up. We entered Circus Circus and promptly got lost. I have been there many times before, but the added a huge kids area dome, really confusing. Try to find an exit in a casino. We finally made it out to the main drag and looked at some of the sights. It’s hard to grasp how big all the hotels are. We made it back to the Pirates show, but the high winds had canceled it.

4 July, 2000

States visited today: Arizona, Nevada.

Total states seen: 9

Day 14

We headed out of Vegas towards Death Valley. Stopped at ???? landing, really pretty! Stopped at the visitor’s center to pay the "National Park Entrance Fee". (Pardon me while I rant) Now, I understand the need for these fees; and have gladly paid the fees at many national parks, but, 10 dollars for Death Valley? It was OK to see and I drove that route to say, "I’ve been there", but I feel it was overpriced.

The most exciting thing I saw were all the test cars that stopped at the visitors’ center. (I think this was a prototype Viper) The rest of the drive wasn’t that exciting, just hot desert that you hoped you wouldn’t break down in.

We drove in the back way to Yosemite National Park, a very pretty drive. We came down to the main part of the Park… WOW! This is one of the prettiest parks I have ever seen, definitely worth every penny of the entrance fees. The only drawback is that it is located in California and there were a lot of people.

It looked like one big advertisement for every sport drink and athletic gear company ever made, and most of the crowds were gone. Aaron made up some thing that is you held your breath during the time you traversed a tunnel you got a wish. The first tunnel was really long, so I drove very slowly. No wish! The next tunnel was short, so I had to think of something else. As we entered the tunnel, I asked Aaron if he remembered the lady at the Grand Canyon with the Jell-O boobs. He had to laugh. After that it was easy, he never did get his wish.

Leaving the park we hit this road.. wow, two twisty roads in one area. Someday I’ll be back on a motorcycle!

We drove late into the night, a neat road with lots of twists and turns; a great motorcycle road. Lots of cute towns too. We made it to ?? and rented a room. I went and parked the truck and Aaron went up to the room. As I was about to go upstairs I noticed the door said "locked after 10 pm and Aaron had the key. well I tried anyway and it was open so I headed upstairs. I found the room and knocked on the door, no Aaron. I tried knocking again, thinking he was in the restroom, and here he comes up the hall with his arms dragging his suitcase. It seems as though he was being thoughtful and also saw the sign stating the hours and was waiting by the door for me. Well, I asked him what door, and did he try to see if it was unlocked? No he didn't try, and well, I guess we were trying the lottery system as to what door I was going to enter. But he did try!

5 July, 2000

States visited today: Arizona, Nevada.

Total states seen: 9

Day 15

Got up and used the GPS to find Sacramento Vintage Ford. Spent A lot of money on old truck parts. Aaron wanted the classic Marilyn Monroe picture over the grate, so we accommodated his wish (good taste). I finally met "Jerrie" the Sacramento Vintage Ford lady I call my orders into. We drove to I-5 and as we hit the Oregon border we ran into our first real rainstorm, how fitting.

We stopped at a rest area and I spotted a trunk of madrone where maintenance people had done some work. Madrone is a tree in the Pacific Northwest that is good to burn; and not easy to get. So after using the rest area. I backed my mostly empty trailer and tried to get Aaron to help. He was very doubtful at that we could get it (it was heavy); But after some serious grunting and leverage work (mostly from me) we got it in the trailer. Aaron needs to go to a gym.

We made it home a bit later, about dusk. We had spent 15 days on the road and driven about 5000 miles