Out of the Sand, Into Vegas

Tuesday, May 24th – Hurricane, Utah to Las Vegas, Nevada to Lake Mead National Recreational Area – Day 103 

 In the morning we assessed the situation. We probably weren’t pushing or pulling our way out. Even if we got the car out, the trailer would be tough. We searched for other tow companies and Casey’s Auto Repair and Towing. Check them out on youtube here: Casey's Off Road Recovery (https://www.youtube.com/c/CaseysOffRoadRecovery). He did not have a review less than 5-stars. We phoned and he said he’d be right there. When Gen asked him when his rate started, he said post to post but “Don’t worry, I won’t dally”. We got the kids up and started to pack up. 

 Casey pulled up in his raised Jeep Cherokee with big tires and 200,000 off road miles on it. His dog was running along side. The kids went right for the dog, Casey looked and said he’d have us out in no time. He took the time to set up a few cameras; we probably won’t make his youtube channel but he gets an insurance break for recording all of his work. He pulled the Santa Fe out of the sand using a rope to the frame near the front left wheel. Fifteen metres in front of us was solid ground. I turned around while he hooked up the trailer and pulled it out. Nothing to it. On the way out he went first, and he advised me to drive it like it’s stolen. It was so much fun ripping through the sand as fast as I could. When we reached pavement, he pulled over to change over the trailer. He charged us his rate for a minimum time of one hour; $175 and we were free and clear. 

 Before he left, we chatted about a bit of everything. He loves working in Utah because it is so scenic. Pulling people out when they are stuck is a ton of fun. He has a tracked machine that he’ll take out into the desert, and it will pull tractor trailers out of the sand. They have a lot of desert racing and a lot of tourists that try to go places and get stuck so business is good. Also, he talked about how his family has a water deed that is 200 years old. He is entitled to that amount of water and if he doesn’t get it from the waterway near his house, he can issue a complaint and newer water rights would have to reduce their use. This helps support his pecan trees and hay. The megadrought that has water scarce everywhere is a constant theme in the desert. 

 The spirit was good now that we were on the road. We were debating going to the Valley of Fire State Park to do a hike but everyone, Gen and I most of all, were exhausted. We decided to drive 3 hours straight to Vegas and get a swim. The drive was open; mostly desert with mountains in the background. 

We arrived at the Municipal Swim Complex. The first thing John does is swing the door open to hit the car beside us and leaves a dent. The person in the car and I exchanged information. Finally, we got a swim after days in the desert. We stayed in the pool for a long time. John loves riding my back as I swim in the pool. The girls both got butterfly floaties that they could swim around with. Finally, we got showered and were getting ready to explore Vegas. 

We tried to get a BoonDocker’s spot (someone's driveway) in Las Vegas to stay but the owner, Pops wasn’t getting back to us to confirm. We killed some time letting the kids play in a park while we laid down for a few minutes. Pops got back to us and asked for my number but when I replied, he didn’t. We decided we might as well head for the strip and see what happens. 

 We drove up and down the strip, Gen took the first length before I took over. If you are ever in Las Vegas with an RV, go to the Treasure Island parking garage. The parking is free, and they have a huge oversize lot. Big win. 

The kids finally got their first taste of a casino. They were enthralled by the lights. We went out onto the street and started to walk around. A treat was in order so headed to CVS for some ice cream. We watched the boats in the canal at the Venetian, admired Caesar’s Palace and finally, saw the fountain at Bellagio. This is the perfect place for John and Charlotte, they love playing in fountains. I’m sure it’s a terrible habit from a cleanliness perspective. By the end, the strip was lit up. 

 Gen has dreamed about the Cirque de Soleil performance ‘O’ for 20 years. There are synchronized swimmers, acrobats, and divers performing in a water show. Right up her alley. We investigated tickets at Bellagio for the next night. The tickets would cost way too much for the entire family. I had wanted to take the kids to Meow Wolf since Santa Fe, New Mexico. I was only vaguely familiar with what Meow Wolf did, but I received a recommendation and it sounded amazing. They are a group of artists that focus on an immersive experience for their audience. Gen would fulfil her dream of O and the rest of us get to go see some immersive art. 

 We finally got back to the car, Pops had not come through for us and we started towards our free campsite. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is about thirty minutes east of Las Vegas. We drove out to a pull out with a view of the lake. The lot wasn’t that level, and the road was noisy so it wasn’t perfect but it was home for a night.