May 8 - Thursday - Hoover Dam/Las Vegas

Happy Birthday to our daughter-in-law, Ebbony!

After a full brekky at the Best Western Plus - great value for little money - we headed off bound for Las Vegas.

We hit I-40 at 10 am and drove through Yavapai country bound for Las Vegas passing a sign that read, "11 acres for $9,995". Cheap as chips, but what would you do with the land?  It's parched and rocky and where's the water?  Many, many shanties lie out in the paddocks, some are fairly old and run down caravans, others have built their caravans in and created a "room" in front out of timber.  What do they do all day? Maybe they're workers at the nearby Hoover dam? Who knows.

We got to Hoover Dam and did a tour of the plant and saw the workings of the dam after watching a film showing how the dam came about and how it was built.  When we brought Josh here four years ago the bypass highway was being built - a huge bridge stretching right across the canyon.  It has been worked out that equated to today's dollar, the bridge cost more to build than the dam itself; it took longer to build; the dam was completed two years ahead of schedule, the bridge took longer to build, and one span of the bridge collapsed during the building process.  When the dam was built they didn't have computers or GPS systems yet it was all built to precision.

The "new" bypass highway.

It has been worked out that equated to today's dollar, the bridge cost more to build than the dam itself; it took longer to build; the dam was completed two years ahead of schedule; the bridge took longer to build; and one span of the bridge collapsed during the building process.  When the dam was built they didn't have computers or GPS systems yet it was all built to precision.



The huge turbines that provide power to several States.


After two tours of the facility, the second one deep into the dam wall, we headed off to Las Vegas and our accommodation at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.  John  had booked the room several months ago, and I asked if it was possible to have an upgrade (I meant a free one), but we could get a suite for an extra $30 a night or $20 to have a Strip view.  We decided to take the strip view. "That will be $295 per night, plus tax", said the check in bloke.  "No, we've got a rate of $105.30 per night."  He couldn't believe it, asked for our paperwork, had to check with his manager, and they nearly had to get the defibrillators out to resuscitate her!  We've got a lovely room, two queen beds and a separate loo in an all-granite bathroom.

There are two fabulous pools, a wave pool and a Lazy River where we float on blow-up rings and are pushed around the river by water currents.  Bliss!

We unfortunately ate at the "Border Grill" - if you're ever in Vegas - don't bother with this joint - expensive and very, very ordinary food.



We hope you're enjoying the blog - till next time - 'ooroo!!!