North Las Vegas, Nevada, Monday, April 18th, 2005. Fifth wedding anniversary today and we're back in Las Vegas where we got married 5 years ago. It's been a fast five years and Las Vegas has done a lot of growing over that time period. Not far to ride today, so we didn't leave the motel until around 10:00AM, first stop was at the Mother Road Harley Davidson in Kingman. New store from the last time we were here, nicely stocked with plenty of motorcycles for sale, including some brand new 2004 models left over from last year. Got some free 'dip dots' and Peggy got a new T-shirt and we were on our way. Out of town on Interstate 40 North, getting off at Exit 48 and following Highway 93 North toward Hoover (Bolder) Damn. No gasoline stations along the way, so it would be an 80 mile run into the mountains and over the damn. Shouldn't be a problem, but you never know with all the high mountains and two up with luggage. Had no problem though, but we did fill up at the first gasoline station past the damn. Commercial traffic is not allowed over the damn anymore, so the traffic was not too bad. A lot of road construction going on at the damn. Looks like they are trying to put more space between the traffic and the damn. Plenty of tourist though, taking a tour of the damn. It is a beautiful drive but just too windy today for me to really enjoy it. The road into Las Vegas is new, too wide, too many lanes and I really didn't know where I was going, just followed Highway 93 until it crossed Interstate 15 and then headed North on I-15. Motel for tonight is a Comfort Inn at 910 E. Cheyenne Road, nice motel, but not the big rooms and not as clean as we had in Kingman. They did have Wireless High Speed Internet and in addition we could access the Flying J Travel Plaza's Wireless network. Off Interstate 15 at Exit 46 and into the motel at 1:00PM, after a nice ride of 116 miles today, 3,787 miles this trip, 152,679 total miles.
View from the Rear by Peggy:
It was 5 years ago today that Mac and I got married in Las Vegas on the Sporty in our leathers... Can never forget that great occasion.
We're leaving Kingman, Arizona this morning - 69 sunny degrees - SSW winds at 18MPH - hanging jackets as it'll be 10:00 before we leave and stopping at the Kingman Harley Davidson on our way to Las Vegas.
Got gas at the Chevron in Kingman - $2.45; $2.57 and $2.69 for premium.
This Kingman Harley shop has only been in this location for about three years, we had previously visited the older store. Wasn't too impressed - the store was longer than it was wider but did buy a sleeveless top. There were a number of other riders/locals who stopped in too.
So glad we put our jackets back on before leaving the Harley shop - caught I-40W then exit 48 to Hwy 93N. Headed for Hoover Dam - no commercial vehicles allowed near Hoover Dam (sign said 57 miles) and to Las Vegas (100 miles)...
Cool riding with a pretty strong wind. We passed a number of other bikers - it's a great place to ride as many, gorgeous prairies/plains which are surrounded by mountains.
Just a comment on Kingman - a really nice town - it's larger than what I thought it'd be but it's spread out nicely so everything/everyone is not on top of each other - Our motel 'Best Western' was fantastic - top notch - a definite place to go back to and recommend it for everyone.
Riding through a beautiful mountain range - heck the Grand Canyon is only 50 miles away - it's AWESOME!!!!! Construction signs ahead for the Hoover Dam - can see the Colorado River winding through the mountains below us - and we are climbing - mile marker 11 - sign 'Watch out for Animals next 10 miles' - another sign 'Advisory Road Block Ahead' (that's a new one on us) - next sign 'Police Check Point ahead - all vehicles must stop' - we were in the car lane and the cop just waved us on through.
What scenery!!!! Dropping down out of the mountain range - getting warmer - 4 miles from Hoover Dam - sign with picture of Mountain Goat on it - SPECTACULAR!!! What technology - can you imagine the men and women who built the Hoover Dam so many years ago and they didn't have all the tools and equipment that is available today? The people/tradesmen were great. If you haven't been here, it's a 'must visit' place. Just passed an area where 3 huge power poles were somehow attached to the ground but extended out leaning over the mountain side - unbelievable... This is our second time but because of 9-11 commercial vehicles are banned from the area although there is a number of construction and vendor trucks, etc.
New Motel/Casino coming out of the Hoover Dam - 'Hacienda' - gas at small Chevron station - $2.47; $2.57 and $2.67 IIRC - we rode 80 miles before getting gas - not something Mac likes to do - don't know how much further we'd have to ride and Sporty tank is not too big and there wasn't much of an area to 'coast'...
Riding through Boulder City - all the new houses - passed St. Judes Car Museum; Stage Stop Salon, etc - so much to see of the new and the old. Passed 'Railroad Pass Hotel/Casino' - speed limit 65MPH - through town of Henderson - could see Henderson Harley Davidson off the highway but too conjested to get off - many, many, many new houses all packed in together - a big town with 7 exits...
Can see Las Vegas in the distance - WOW...!! Besides the magnificent gambling places the land riding into Las Vegas is COVERED with house upon house... Boy, has this area grown and I'm not thrilled about it... too many vehicles and huge highways...
Comfort Inn is nice but much smaller after the suite we had in Kingman... but they do have wireless and it was hard to book a motel room here (couldn't get one actually in Las Vegas) supposedly their second to the largest convention going on this week - and I don't know what company it's for but will find out, lol...