Day Seventeen - Sonoma (CA) to Las Vegas (NV)

Long driving day, but not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. There was one point in there when I thought my calf would burst into flame spontaneously, but luckily that didn't happen. I don't have a fire extinguisher in the car. Do you? And speaking of car - anyone have a good mechanic? I am hearing some weird sound when driving that I don't like. I am not a car-o-phile, so have no idea what it is or what it could be, so please don't ask. And I don't really know how to describe the sound. It just is freaking me out a little. Just thought I would share.

Google said that trip would take just about 10 hours. My GPS said 9:30. With stops, google was right. Without stops, my GPS was closer - I think it took me 9 hours of actual driving time. Yes, I did exceed the speed limit here and there - not by much, most of the time. Usually 5 miles above the posted speed limit. But at times, when I was doing that speed, and I was in the slow lane, being passed by an older person in a shopping cart, I did up my speed to go with the flow of traffic.

The route we took was zig-zag-a-licious. Oh, I finally realized what GPS stands for: God Per Sonified. Ok, not really, but mom thinks I worship the thing a little too much. Perhaps she is correct...Anyway, mom routinely says things like: I am amazed at how you seem to know where you are and how to drive around. I point out the GPS (an acronym that often escapes her - it is the EPS, PSG, GSP etc...). This time it sent us to Interstate 5 for a longish time. We stopped for gas and food for the first pit stop in Santa Nella, CA. Mom had Wendy's food - I had a bit of her burger and a few of her fries.

Back on the road, which was still in progress, we headed to our first turning. Some small road that took us due East. Then a small freeway (99 again, I think) that took us South. Then East again, through a mountain range, where we stopped at a town called Tehachapi (accent on the ha). Gas was expensive and the pee place was not the happiest I have seen. The people clerking the store were college kids who would have rather lived anywhere but there (one of them looked like Noelle from the Raleigh Saucer).

Back on the road, we eventually hit Interstate 15/40 - though 40 left us pretty quickly. I don't know that I have ever done this road before. It didn't look at all familiar. And the 15 miles up and 10 miles down (almost straight roads) didn't feel like something I had done. Oh well - we did finally make it to Las Vegas and the motel - a TravelLodge not that far from the strip. I didn't know that TravelLodge was part of the Wyndham family of hotels. I think I have a Wyndham card. But since I used priceline to reserve the space, I don't think I can also get points. I don't know. It doesn't hurt too much to ask...

The place is ok - though the pillows are bizarre - little teeny rock like things. Weird. Oh, and I swear there is a mat on the bed like kids who wet their beds use...

After getting the car unpacked, we headed out to dinner. It was time for us to get to a brewpub since the last few dinners mom and I have had together have been fishy (Thai food one night and sushi the other...). I did a search and came up with a few in the area. I chose Big Dog Casino and Cafe.

It was further than I thought it would be, in a part of town I had yet to visit. Let me state here, if I haven't stated it elsewhere, that I enjoy places like Las Vegas (not that there are many, but still...). I just like the amazing amounts of people watching that is (are?) available. And I do like going to see some of the shows. I don't really have the funds to gamble, but I do enjoy what little I can do. Basically I gamble $100 once and see what happens. But I do it in $0.25 increments so it takes a little while. 4 bangs (so to speak) for each buck. :) This is not a place that I would like to own a home (SF yes, NYC yes, Paris, yes etc.) when I am richer than Croesus, but I will probably visit here off and on until it is no longer enjoyable...

So, anyway, we made it to the place. The door was intimidating - looked like the door to a strip club or a private club in a bad part of town (which this didn't seem to be). But upon opening, it looked much like any other bar - except of course for the gambling machinery. And the smoke. I am just not used to smoke indoors anymore. Glarg.

Overall, I enjoyed the place. Decent beer, good food, nice server, Kristan, who didn't spend much time with us, but that was ok, we survived. More on this in my new blog - Brewpubs and Such. Yes, I decided to start a blog about brewpubs - and maybe eventually that will morph into a book. Or not.

Wendy's!

Nice

A windfall of Wind Turbines - mom was thrilled

Dog House