Reno
The Biggest Little City in the World
Driving across California the flat and fertile green farming land starts to climb until we pass through the Yuba Pass where the roadside turns to snow. The forest vegetation decreases as the harsh alpine terrain takes over. As we descend through the picturesque Donner Pass the land turns to desert.
Driving across California the flat and fertile green farming land starts to climb until we pass through the Yuba Pass where the roadside turns to snow. The forest vegetation decreases as the harsh alpine terrain takes over. As we descend through the picturesque Donner Pass the land turns to desert.
Reno appears through the hills and is in complete contrast from the Californian flat lands.
We found a new and very inexpensive RV park, Sparks Marina RV Park, in Sparks, a suburb of Reno.
Reno sits high in a desert valley at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Our 25" van is dwarfed compared to the other RV's in the park. Most RV's are 35'++ either 5th Wheelers or A Class motorhomes. Each site has full connection to power and black water. Even the amenities blocks are heated.
This is a great park for us as we needed to furnish the van with the necessities. Crockery, cutlery, bedding, towels, etc. The RV park is a part of a huge outlet centre Outlets at Legends, and has all the discount stores such as Walmart, Target, Lowes, etc. These stores are huge. I lost Chris in Target and had to page her.
You wouldn't go on a trip without your Hog!
This one is gently lowered on it's hydraulic carrier. It wasn't the only one in the park.
The entrance to Scheels, the largest sports store in the world.
One entrance has this huge fresh water aquarium. At the opposite entrance there is an identical sea water aquarium.
In the centre of the store is a full size Ferris wheel.
There is a mountainous display of stuffed native animals.
The gun shop is massive.
The elderly white haired lady to the left was in the process of purchasing a pistol. After a demonstration of how to prepare the pistol for firing by the salesman she did not have the strength to cock the breach.
After buying your gun you can have a bit of fun in the Shooting Gallery.
This gives you an idea of it's size.
That's a real plane hanging from the ceiling.
This is cool. Here is the paintball store. You can buy a wide selection of air powered weapons as well as the paintballs and all the protective gear.
Oh! No! you say. They've been to another Car Museum.
I'm sorry but I just love them.
The Museum houses a huge collection of some amazing cars.
1938 Phantom Corsair
1935 "Sammy Davis Jr" Duesenberg
1927 Lincoln.
This Rolls-Royce, with a body from Brockman Coachbuilders, was assembled using full sheets of solid copper .065 thick in order to avoid welded seams and rivets on the body and fenders. Accessories are nickel and German silver. The beautiful wood trim is made from makash ebony.
The engine compartment is so polished it is hard to distinguish the parts.
The number plate says it all.
1926 Chevrolet.
Honest Johns Used Car Lot.
1937 Airomobile prototype.
Chris decided she wanted to drive the exhibit.
This is a part of the exhibition dedicated to the crazy vehicles that take part in the Burning Man Festival which takes place every year in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada.
Winner of the 1908 Great Auto Race from New York to Paris.
1948 Lincoln Continental
1941 Chrysler
1933 Cadillac.
My personal favourite.
Is this car sleek or wot!
Virginia City
Remember the old western cowboy movies.
This town is right out of that era.
Delta Saloon.
The Suicide Table
"So called because three previous Owners are reported to have committed Suicide because of heavy Losses over this Table. Originally a Faro Bank Table brought to Virginia City in the early 1860's. The Owner, supposed to be one "Black Jake", Lost $70,000 in one Evening and shot himself.""The second owner, whose name is lost in history, ran the Table for one nights play. He was unable to pay off his losses. One report has it that he committed suicide and another report has it that he was saved the trouble."
"The table was then stored for some years because no one would Deal on it. It was finally converted into a '21' Table sometime in the late '90s' and its black reputation seemed to have been forgotten, until one stormy night."
"A miner, who had been cleaned out in some other gambling house stumbled in half drunk. As the story goes, he gambled a gold ring against a five dollar gold piece, and won. He played all night Long... and by morning had one over $86,000 in cash, a team of horses and an interest in a gold mine. Everything the owner of table had in the world. That caused the third suicide." Extract from: Visit Virginia City
The street still has the old rickety boards.
An interesting store.
Red Dog Saloon.
"Stinky", an old miner and his mule, pose for a tourist gratis.
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is the highest alpine lake in the U.S. and the second largest alpine lake in the world! It is located between states of California and Nevada.Lake Tahoe has a surface elevation of 6,229 ft, is 22 miles long, 12 miles wide and a maximum depth of over 1,600 feet (wow!). Extract from Tahoes Best
We drove along the NE shore of the lake and were amazed at its size.
As we drove through Nevada we could not help but notice that on almost every corner, in every town there were establishments and Casinos with slot machines. Without exaggeration even Shopping malls, Supermarkets, Pharmacies, Restaurants, Service stations, etc. had slot machines.
Hwy 95 - Reno to Las Vegas
We set off on the 720 mile journey through the Nevada deserts to Las Vegas.
For me the drive was interesting as I like the wide open space and believe it or not the scenery continually changed from flat barren lands to sculptured colourful hills. Saw a couple of Coyotes. Most of the country was completely devoid of foliage. Chris found the drive boring.
The lake in the desert.
Luning
One of several desert towns on route. Most have pretty much closed down.
Along the road we passed deserted homes, gas stations and motels.
The dollar table above had been abandoned.
Goldfield High School
Circa 1907
Photograph from Goldfield Historical Society
The closed Goldfield High School today.
The Goldfield Firehouse,
now a museum.
Vehicles out the back of the Firehouse.
One of the many abandoned houses around town.
A long mural.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is like Australia's Surfers Paradise on steroids and about 100 times larger.
Every Casino has its own theme and identity. Most have some sought of attraction. For example Treasure Island has a pirate show with 2 full size square riggers in its pond, The Bellagio has a water fountain show that must be one of the best in the world and The Mirage has an explosive fire an water volcano show.
The whole city is alive 24/7. The streets are full of impersonators, spruikers, tourists and many unusual people. Both Chris and I were mesmerized by the place.
We checked in to the RV park at Sam's Town.
Not too far from "The Strip" and not too expensive.
Sam's Town Casino had its theme. A huge glass roof atrium with a rocky hill and a stream flowing off a waterfall. Around the display are mechanised animals. At night there is an amazing laser light show.
We went for a walk down "The Strip" (Las Vegas Blvd).
Of course you would expect to see Elvis's. Even a lady Elvis?
The Chandeliers in The Cosmopolitan
The Crystal Bar
Walking down The Strip we noticed a shop of M&M's.
We were fascinated how you could fill a store with M&M products until we discovered the store was 4 levels high.
Chris and "Red"
One of the roof top hotel pools.
Crystals at City Center has an impressive up-market shopping centre.
Has a 140 metre high Eifell Tower and 2/3 size Arch De Triumph replica.
Gordon Ramsey has a restaurant in Paris.
Interior view of Paris
Hilton Grand Vacations glass tower.
One of the most palatial Hotels/Casino's in Las Vegas.
Check-in with garden behind.
A ceiling of glass flowers.
The atrium with a floral Dutch theme.
A living masterpiece.
I took my camera and tripod in to film the massive Bellagio fountains at night but the wind was so strong they cancelled the show.
Picture from Visualist Images Photography
We had a break from the the bustle of Vegas for a
55 Km drive to Hoover Dam for the day.
Above is a photograph of the dam prior to the erection of the by-pass bridge.
The high voltage towers supporting the wires that drop to the power station below.
Bronze sculptures "Winged Figures of the Republic" are 30 ft high and stand on black polished bases.
A tribute to the builders.
Hoover Dam By-pass.
This street is the original "Strip" in Las Vegas.
The draw card of Freemont Street is the Viva Vision canopy and light show. The overhead canopy towers 27.5M above the ground and spans the length of 5 blocks. 460M long. Featuring more than 12 million LED modules and 555,000-watt sound system.
Note the Zip Line above which runs 1/2 the length of the canopy.
Serves huge, high calorie, hamburgers that have been known to cause fatal Heart Attacks.
The Night Shots.
The Canopy at night.
Ah, Yes. Another Elvis impersonator competition.
The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest at Fremont Street.
I Must say some of them were good and very entertaining.
One of the palatial stores in the Palazzo plaza.
One of Caesars Palace entrances.
This Casino has a street side Pirate and Siren show with plenty of action and big explosions every night.
In the Casino this glass cabinet houses an intricately carved 35000 year old Mammoth tusk.
"The Sirens" motorcycle.
The Mirage night show on the street is an erupting volcano which spills into a a fiery lake.
The Strip at night.
This guy followed me down an esculator. Scared the bejesus out of me!
A NOTE FOR THE PATRONS OF THESE MACHINES.
I HAVE TO SAY THIS AFTER SEEING THE ABUNDANCE OF THESE OPULENT CASINOS IN NEVADA.
ASK YOURSELVES HOW DO THESE BUSINESSES SURVIVE & FLOURISH AND STILL PAY YOU A WINNING?
THE ANSWER IS - THEY DON'T.
THEY SURVIVE ON THE OPTIMISTIC GREED & INEVITABLY THE MASSIVE LOSSES THE PUNTERS ENDURE!!!!!
THE ODDS ARE STACKED UP AGAINST YOU!!!!
IN THE LONG TERM
YOU CANNOT WIN!
