It was here that I got a great piece of what we sailboat racers call local knowledge. A drunk guy at the bar (he reminded me of Doc McCosker, so I knew that the info was good) told me that if I crossed the Sierra Nevada's and headed south hugging the mountain range the rain would disappear. Incredibly the guy was right ... I high-tailed (is this a word?) it to Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, after dinner I drove back to the hotel that I had checked in at, which had about two hundred rooms, and apparently, I was the only guy there. The sign on the road said No Vacancy, and the office was closed. There were at least 15 cars in the lot when I arrived at 5 p.m. and that's why I picked the place (see paragraph one about my mother not raising any dopes). Now I felt as if I was in the middle of a Stephen King movie. I wedged the chair under the door handle, moved my motorcycle three doors down as a diversion, closed all the lights, and didn't sleep a wink.
It's times like these that you miss your own bed.
Next morning ... over the mountains, through the rain, and back in the desert. For the last three days, I have been avoiding the rain and in the desert. Now I must admit ... I have been no big fan of the desert ... but I have come to believe that it is an acquired taste. I have grown to like the desert. It is really hot, or really cold, it is stark, lonely, or beautiful. It is the land of extremes ... it is stunning. This picture is from a canyon in the Utah desert.
Saturday, I drove out to Hoover Dam. Check out this picture of a new bridge being constructed over the Colorado River, just south of the dam.
Gildo ... they left the middle out!!! Look's like somebody %$@&'d up the layout.
I then headed east into Utah. I pulled into Richfield, Utah (I was exhausted and parched) and discovered that there were only two restaurants in town. I ate at Steve's Steakhouse (I have been eating at the bar every night, but Steve had no bar, so I ate at a table for four). No problem. Best steak since NYC. Appetizer, salad, entree, three beers, oh and raspberry honey butter with hot bread (unbelievable) ... $32.00. The kid who served me did a great job and reminded me of Vivien so I gave her a $20 tip. She chased after me in the parking lot to thank me.
Today after nine hours on the road, and all kinds of beautiful national parks behind me (see picture above), I am in Durango, Colo. I had dinner tonight at Diamond Belle's saloon, which dates back to the 1800's, listening to live western music. The band had a yodeler, which was cool.
Next: Chris is my co-pilot
