South to Las Vegas,NV & Yuma,AZ-- Dec.21,2010-Jan.5,2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011



After leaving lots of snow and -14 deg.C, Ralph and I were on our way south in our truck and 5th wheel the morning of December 21,2010.Our friends Sid and Carol followed us in their truck and travel trailer.We had three days of uneventful driving on I-15 except for heavy rain and fog.We arrived at Sam's Town RV Resort the afternoon of the 23rd to suuny skies and plus 16 deg.C.



Christmas Eve day Ralph was quite ill --vomiting and diarrhea--he may have had food poisoning.Christmas Day- Santa Claus arrived and Ralph was feeling better.In the afternoon the four of us took the free shuttle to downtown and enjoyed the Fremont Experience laser show in the evening.



Boxing Day we drove to the Las Vegas Strip--playing the slots,having lunch,riding the city center tram and Strip monorail and mainly having fun and enjoying the sights & sounds of the Strip.

Dec 28th We took a day long tour to Hoover Dam ( 1 hour from Vegas). It definitely is a impressive man made feat. The new sky bridge and highway (opened 1.5 months ago) spanning the mountain peaks over the mighty Colorado River far below is the 9th man made wonder of the world.

We found some good bargans at the Las Vegas Outlet stores on the 29th. Cool 4 Deg. C day.

On the 30th we rode to the top of the Stratosphere Hotel,had dinner at Planet Hollywood and enjoyed "The Vegas Show". A lot of people on the strip because of the holidays. Our friends the Brook's arrived in Vegas after a scary drive through snowstorms.

New Years Eve we had a delicious prime rib and lobster dinner at Billy Bob's Steakhouse.
We watched the fireworks from seven Vegas strip hotels from the top of Sam's Town parking garage with lots of others. It was spectacular!!!

Jan. 1st the Tolchinskys,Brooks,Ralph and I drove to Pahrump (60 miles west of Vegas)--
famous for the Chicken Ranch brothel and a couple of others. We had lunch and played the slots at Terribles Lakeside RV Resort and Casino.

We did laundry and packed up on Jan 2nd. It has been cold in Vegas the last 4-5 days-- below freezing at night and a couple of degrees above during the day. New Years Eve night was the coldest in recorded history. Ralph took the water hose off the 5 th wheel a couple of nights so it would not freeze.

Jan 3rd --Ralph and I are on our way further south in search of warmer weather. Six hours later we arrived in Yuma, Arizona(3 miles from the Mexican border). It is usually the warmest spot in the western U.S. It was +17 Deg. C and sunny. We were very fortunate to get into the new Palms Resort (3 year old with 450 sites). It is lovely. We booked for the month of January. Sid and Carol will join us on Jan. 7th.

Jan 4th we spent getting settled in and grocery shopping. We have internet connection now.

Jan. 5th we got up and went to the pancake/sausage breakfast at 9am($2.50). Afterwards we played shuffleboard on the 14 outdoor shuffleboard courts. We met alot of people. We hope to post pictures in the next few days.