Welcome to the desert - where it hasn't stopped raining since we arrived. The first raindrops of the year here in Las Vegas began to fall on Monday the 18th. We arrived on Tuesday the 19th. So far, 1.62 inches of rain have fallen over 4 days. The total rainfall for ALL of 2009 was just 1.59 inches. And just for the record - it's still raining.
We, however, are having a wonderful time. It's so nice to see friends and family, even if their city is underwater and flooding. I am not going to write much at the moment. I just wanted to check in while I had internet access. It has been intermittent to non-existent.
I'll try to fill you in soon - but know that things are going well and we are having fun.
~ Kass
Friday, January 22, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Greetings from Las Vegas
It's midnight here and things are good. We didn't hit much 'weather' at all on the drive here. There were a few areas of some wind but nothing to write home about (or here, for that matter). There was no snow at all and it didn't start raining until we were right outside of Las Vegas. It stopped when we pulled in so Ken didn't get soaked connecting everything. He did, however, get soaked when he came back from his shower. It was pouring!
We drove through the Hoover Dam to get here. They stopped us and searched the RV before letting us proceed. That was interesting. It is quite an impressive sight when you come upon it. I have never taken the tour, nor gotten out of my vehicle there - but it's a great drive.
We stopped for lunch in Boulder City, Nevada. We ate at a little place called Milo's. It is a combination wine shop and bistro. The sandwiches were lovely and we bought a case of wine and 2 wine glasses. The glasses say (I think I am remembering this correctly) 'The journey is the destination'. Pretty cool - huh?
We are staying at the Hitching Post RV Park where we have stayed before. Everyone here is very friendly and they have an enclosed dog area. After we got settled in, we went over to visit my Dad. This is the first time we've seen him since he and Leslie split up. He looks good and seems happy.
I got my mail that had been forwarded here. Ken missed jury duty and one of our cars is now in need of registration but other than that, things seem up to date. Our holiday cards caught up with us and we got a few things for tax season. There weren't too many surprises, so that was good.
We are trying to figure out a plan for this week. Thursday we are seeing friends. Tomorrow, we are having lunch with Leslie. In the later part of the afternoon we'll spend time with my half sister's 2 children. Friday will be my other half sister and her kids. At least I think that was the plan. Somewhere in there I hope to see my cousins and Ziggy may drive over from California.
I'll let you know how this all unfolds. I'm going to grab a bite to eat and call it a night. I'll write more soon.
I wonder what happened in the Massachusetts election today? I guess I'll go google that.
~ Kassidee
We drove through the Hoover Dam to get here. They stopped us and searched the RV before letting us proceed. That was interesting. It is quite an impressive sight when you come upon it. I have never taken the tour, nor gotten out of my vehicle there - but it's a great drive.
We stopped for lunch in Boulder City, Nevada. We ate at a little place called Milo's. It is a combination wine shop and bistro. The sandwiches were lovely and we bought a case of wine and 2 wine glasses. The glasses say (I think I am remembering this correctly) 'The journey is the destination'. Pretty cool - huh?
We are staying at the Hitching Post RV Park where we have stayed before. Everyone here is very friendly and they have an enclosed dog area. After we got settled in, we went over to visit my Dad. This is the first time we've seen him since he and Leslie split up. He looks good and seems happy.
I got my mail that had been forwarded here. Ken missed jury duty and one of our cars is now in need of registration but other than that, things seem up to date. Our holiday cards caught up with us and we got a few things for tax season. There weren't too many surprises, so that was good.
We are trying to figure out a plan for this week. Thursday we are seeing friends. Tomorrow, we are having lunch with Leslie. In the later part of the afternoon we'll spend time with my half sister's 2 children. Friday will be my other half sister and her kids. At least I think that was the plan. Somewhere in there I hope to see my cousins and Ziggy may drive over from California.
I'll let you know how this all unfolds. I'm going to grab a bite to eat and call it a night. I'll write more soon.
I wonder what happened in the Massachusetts election today? I guess I'll go google that.
~ Kassidee
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Leaving (for) Las Vegas
Good morning from a bright, clear, crystal day in Arizona. There was some snowfall overnight, but it is a beautiful driving morning.
We didn't have dinner out last night. I ate popcorn instead. I had called over to see what time they were closing and they said 9. We got there at 8 and they were just closing up. They didn't even bother to say they were sorry when I told them I had called and they said they'd be open. By the time we drove around the corner, the 2 other restaurants that had been open were closed as well. I guess it's a good thing I ate a lot of cheese and crackers on the train ride back!
I'll keep this short as we are Las Vegas bound this morning. We should have internet there - so I'll post from Nevada.
Happy Tuesday!
~ Kassidee
We didn't have dinner out last night. I ate popcorn instead. I had called over to see what time they were closing and they said 9. We got there at 8 and they were just closing up. They didn't even bother to say they were sorry when I told them I had called and they said they'd be open. By the time we drove around the corner, the 2 other restaurants that had been open were closed as well. I guess it's a good thing I ate a lot of cheese and crackers on the train ride back!
I'll keep this short as we are Las Vegas bound this morning. We should have internet there - so I'll post from Nevada.
Happy Tuesday!
~ Kassidee
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Grand Canyon in the snow
Ken and I took a lovely train ride back up to the rim of the Grand Canyon. Here is what it looked like today.
Needless to say, the view was not the same today as yesterday. It was still beautiful, but it was a very different kind of beauty. I am SO glad we brought my Mom yesterday!
I will put up a few more photos of the train ride and some trains. There was great scenery if you like snow!
We were in a train car with some loud and annoying people who were all but impossible to block out. Other than that, the train ride was great. There were muffins and fruit salad at breakfast time on the ride out and cheese and crackers and crudités on the ride back south. There was a Navajo man singing his people's traditional songs and other songs as well. It was a very comfortable ride and Ken and I are both very happy we did this - despite the weather.
It was cold up at the rim as you will see from the photos. We had lunch at El Tovar Hotel which is right near the train depot at the Canyon. It wasn't anything too special but it was good. We walked around for awhile and then sat by the fire at the hotel. I had a hot tea with a chocolate taco while enjoying the warmth of the fire. (Picture a taco shell shape made of hard chocolate, filled with chocolate mousse. Ken had a glass of red wine.
We took the train back into Williams, and now we are off for dinner at Rod's Steak House. I hope to write more later. Tomorrow morning (bright and early to beat the next storm) we are leaving for Las Vegas. If you don't hear from me again tonight, I'll type at you from the land of Lost Wages.
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
~ Kassidee
Needless to say, the view was not the same today as yesterday. It was still beautiful, but it was a very different kind of beauty. I am SO glad we brought my Mom yesterday!I will put up a few more photos of the train ride and some trains. There was great scenery if you like snow!
We were in a train car with some loud and annoying people who were all but impossible to block out. Other than that, the train ride was great. There were muffins and fruit salad at breakfast time on the ride out and cheese and crackers and crudités on the ride back south. There was a Navajo man singing his people's traditional songs and other songs as well. It was a very comfortable ride and Ken and I are both very happy we did this - despite the weather.
It was cold up at the rim as you will see from the photos. We had lunch at El Tovar Hotel which is right near the train depot at the Canyon. It wasn't anything too special but it was good. We walked around for awhile and then sat by the fire at the hotel. I had a hot tea with a chocolate taco while enjoying the warmth of the fire. (Picture a taco shell shape made of hard chocolate, filled with chocolate mousse. Ken had a glass of red wine.
We took the train back into Williams, and now we are off for dinner at Rod's Steak House. I hope to write more later. Tomorrow morning (bright and early to beat the next storm) we are leaving for Las Vegas. If you don't hear from me again tonight, I'll type at you from the land of Lost Wages.
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
~ Kassidee
Sunday, January 17, 2010
What car trouble?
Good evening from Williams!
We did indeed go to the Grand Canyon this afternoon. I think that the whole cause of our problem may have been a bad tank of gas. Ken doesn't know what he thinks it was/is. He had disconnected the battery this morning and reconnected it, filled the car up with gas, and after a little while, the service engine light went out. We drove the hour or so to the Canyon and all around and back again without incident. We had decided to 'risk' it since we have free towing with Good Sam. My Mom had never been to the Grand Canyon and this was probably her only opportunity to do so. We decided it was worth the risk. Call us crazy.
It was a beautiful afternoon. Sunny and pretty warm, but very hazy for photos. Upon entering the park, we saw a coyote trotting across the road. He met up with another coyote on the other side. That was very cool.
We drove the loop and took Mom out at some of the lookouts. Some of the overlooks Ken and I went to together, and some I went alone. There was one area that folks with handicap plates can cross into that everyone else has to walk or take the bus to. That was a nice surprise. Mom had a great time, and so did we. Of course, Ken and I are doing it again tomorrow - but that is more about the train ride itself than about sightseeing when we get there. We are talking about hiking it one of these years - but I doubt that will happen.
On the way out of the park we came upon another coyote. This one was having dinner - munching on the leg of a deer. He sure was beautiful.
Here is one more photo taken today while driving around the park.
Before heading to the park, Ken and I had lunch at my favorite Williams haunt: Pancho McGillicuddy's. How can you go wrong with a name like that? We watched some football there while we ate Mexican food. The rest of the game(s) we listened to on the radio on the way to and from the park. We came home in time to see the end of the Jets game. We had a lovely dinner of steak and rice-a-roni and string beans, cooked by my favorite chef - Ken.
It's supposed to start snowing here in about an hour (it's 11 P.M. here) and continue to snow all week. We are still planning on leaving here Tuesday morning for the last leg of our journey west. We will be Nevada bound. Look out Las Vegas - here we come!
Happy Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend to one and all. I hope it's everything you want it to be!
~ Kassidee
We did indeed go to the Grand Canyon this afternoon. I think that the whole cause of our problem may have been a bad tank of gas. Ken doesn't know what he thinks it was/is. He had disconnected the battery this morning and reconnected it, filled the car up with gas, and after a little while, the service engine light went out. We drove the hour or so to the Canyon and all around and back again without incident. We had decided to 'risk' it since we have free towing with Good Sam. My Mom had never been to the Grand Canyon and this was probably her only opportunity to do so. We decided it was worth the risk. Call us crazy.
It was a beautiful afternoon. Sunny and pretty warm, but very hazy for photos. Upon entering the park, we saw a coyote trotting across the road. He met up with another coyote on the other side. That was very cool.
We drove the loop and took Mom out at some of the lookouts. Some of the overlooks Ken and I went to together, and some I went alone. There was one area that folks with handicap plates can cross into that everyone else has to walk or take the bus to. That was a nice surprise. Mom had a great time, and so did we. Of course, Ken and I are doing it again tomorrow - but that is more about the train ride itself than about sightseeing when we get there. We are talking about hiking it one of these years - but I doubt that will happen.
On the way out of the park we came upon another coyote. This one was having dinner - munching on the leg of a deer. He sure was beautiful.
Here is one more photo taken today while driving around the park.
Before heading to the park, Ken and I had lunch at my favorite Williams haunt: Pancho McGillicuddy's. How can you go wrong with a name like that? We watched some football there while we ate Mexican food. The rest of the game(s) we listened to on the radio on the way to and from the park. We came home in time to see the end of the Jets game. We had a lovely dinner of steak and rice-a-roni and string beans, cooked by my favorite chef - Ken.
It's supposed to start snowing here in about an hour (it's 11 P.M. here) and continue to snow all week. We are still planning on leaving here Tuesday morning for the last leg of our journey west. We will be Nevada bound. Look out Las Vegas - here we come!
Happy Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend to one and all. I hope it's everything you want it to be!
~ Kassidee
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