More Fun at the Las Vegas Speedway and a Wedding

Wrote this Wednesday p.m.

Don’t know what was wrong but it took me hours to get the last post done. First couldn’t get on AOL at all. Then IE kept telling me “error on page” and Firefox said it needed to download something to make page work. GRRRR – pulled out what little hair I have left. But as The Driver says I’m nothing if not persistent. Finally got it done – but will wait to post this one. (Waited until Friday evening - more about that later.)
After taking my ride we walked over to the Neon Garage area where there was a big “FanFest” going on.

They gave out a really nice poster of the Chase Drivers. Several of the cars were there. The 48, 99 and the 11 to mention a few.

Then we found out that the Chase Drivers were going to be there. So hung around for a couple of hours – I really, really have to thank The Driver for his patience ‘cause he can’t stand crowds or loud music and there was plenty of both there.
Got lots of pictures. Here are a few.

Carl Edwards

J Johnson - The Champ



Jeff Gordon

 

Denny Hamlin

And last but not least KYLE!!!

Kyle Busch the #18 M & M Car

To complete our exciting day – our oldest son got married. And his daughter, who we haven’t seen in years was here too.

A really good day!
Tomorrow I'll catch up to today.

A ride at 165 Miles Per Hour - WOW

Wednesday p.m


Today was a great day. This will be more pictures than writing.
Went out to the Las Vegas Speedway and took a ride in a race car.
The Richard Petty Experience. Three laps in a car at 165 mph

Signing up to take the ride.

Putting on my shoes after putting on the fire suit.

All suited up – helmet and Hans device around my neck.

Heading towards the car

Getting in the car. “Just swing your left leg up and over the door then put your other leg in.” Yah easy for them to say.

In the car getting the seat belts fastened.

Time to go.

There I am.

It was over way too fast.
Getting out – much worse than getting in. Couldn’t even get my head out the window. This old body just doesn’t bend that way.

Oh Yah – that was great. Finished too soon. I loved it.

Taking the suit off.

Strutting my stuff.

My Plaque – will go in a place of honor at home.

Next sky diving and parasailing! Oh Yah!

More time strolling The Strip - Lions and M &Ms

Tuesday a.m.

Another cool but at least not windy day here in Vegas.
Satellite guy came yesterday with 2nd new part – the replacement antenna and all is well with the dish – finally. If you’re ever in Vegas and need a satellite system, new or fixed, he is a good person to deal with. – Satellite World, Inc. http://www.satworld.biz/ Very nice people.
Watched soccer game yesterday – two of the best teams in Europe. It was a disaster – 5 -0. Between the two teams 10 of the players are from Argentina.
Oldest son called us a while ago. They got into town with out any weather problems..

Tuesday p.m.

Today we went to The Strip again. Parked at the MGM Grand.
Saw this in the parking area in front of the hotel. Gee that’s what I want to do in my spare time. Only in Las Vegas.

Went to the lion habitat in the casino. Munch. Munch.

I wonder if these guys really read their job description? IN with the lions? I didn’t sign up for this!

You want me to do WHAT?

A good shot of the New York skyline Vegas style.

And the Statue of Liberty surrounded by palm trees. It’s a whole different world here.


Palm Trees? Where's the snow?

One of the many characters we saw while walking up the boulevard.

Read the Sign

Also saw Superman, Batman and one of many Michael Jacksons. Wake me up I must be dreaming.

Then we went to the M & M Experience. I wanted to get a #18 M & M t-shirt. They didn’t have any! One of the clerks took pity on me and gave me a Kyle Busch cardboard cut out – I love it. Me, my cutout and Red.

Also got to look over the car.

Doesn’t take much to make me happy. Yesterday the burros and today the M & M car.

Went out to dinner with our son and wife-to-be. Really enjoyed that. Tomorrow they get married.

Scenery, Snow and Burros

Still Sunday p.m.

The Driver is watching an exciting soccer game so I’m working on this. Posted the item on the ride/jump before I managed to lose it. Now I’ll continue on about our drive. It was much nicer and safer.
As I said we headed to Red Rock Canyon. (Remember you can click on the photo to make it bigger – some of them are worth the effort.) The entrance to the area – we saved $10 by being able to use our “old fogey” pass.

Some of the rocks that gave the place its name.

The sky was so blue and the air so clear.

Just interesting formations.

A storm in the desert towards California – weather report says “frozen precipitation.” Wouldn’t that be snow?

More rocks – love the colors.

A white one behind the red ones.

The wind and rain and time sure shape the rocks and wear them out

Several years ago a big fire went through here. So many of the Joshua Trees are burned.

But time heals and there is new growth all over.

There were more people in the area today then I’ve ever seen there. The trailside parking lots were full of cars. Some climbers out on the rocks. See the guy up there by himself? He was swinging on a rope just before I took the picture.

Different colored stripes in the rocks.

The storm clouds were getting more menacing, but still a long ways away.

Standing alone – so majestic

The colors of the desert. I love the rocks, the mountains, the vegetation and the views. Here it is around 4500 feet.

Yes that is snow along the road in Las Vegas in November

There was quite a bit of it.

The area is known for its wild burros. As many times as we’ve driven through here we’ve never seen them when I had the camera with me – only when I didn’t have it. Today we were lucky. Three of them were walking along and checking out all the people jumping out of their cars with their cameras.

Stopped at Silverton Casino and the big Bass Pro Shop there – could wander there for hours. There now is parking so people can stop and take their pictures with the sign.

Then back to civilization? The building is pretty but the canyon is beyond description.

I love the desert – all the wide open space.