Las Vegas , continued

Friday October 16 2015

We drove to the Hoover Dam today. There was a long line and a $30 per person charge to take the complete tour of the dam and we opted not to do that. We walked out on dam and took in the sights and the obligatory pictures at the Arizona/Nevada border at the midpoint of the dam. I was surprised to see that they still allow vehicles to cross the dam top roadway. After 9/11 we the people funded a bypass bridge just downstream of the dam, it is used but a lot of people chose to ride over the dam, mostly tourist I suppose. 

 Notice how low the water level is, that can't be good.

On the way to Hoover we took the business route through Boulder City, which by the way has it's origin as a construction camp for the dam workers. The main street is an active mix of shops, restaurants and businesses. We plan on returning before we leave Vegas.

 Lake Mead above the dam

Saturday October 17 2015

First thing we did this morning was move to a new site in the campground. As I said in the last post we are packed in here tightly. Yesterday we got a new neighbor and when he put his slides out there was barely enough room to walk between our RV's. We selected a 50 amp site which is much wider and gladly paid the $3 a day extra charge for it. 

We are still close enough to the adjacent RV's to notice whats going on and our new neighbor is a bit intriguing. She wears revealing clothing, sans brassiere, and has visitors come and go at all hours of the night. She seems like a nice lady. ;-}

We went to the movies and saw the new Tom Hanks movie “Bridge of Spies” We both liked it, but anything Tom Hanks is in is going to be good. He is one of our great American actors.

After the movie we drove the length of Las Vegas Blvd aka the strip. About half way between the newer lower part and the old part of town (Fremont Street) we passed the Gold and Silver Pawn shop, the setting for the reality (or more accurately, absence of reality) shop called Pawn Stars.

We parked at Fremont street and walked its length taking in the sights. No gambling for us here, but we did enjoy a good lunch at Denny's.

 The zip lines are new since I was last here.

Sunday October 18 2015

We did our normal Sunday routine, read the newspaper and relaxed.

Monday October 19 2015

First day of SOAR, the Special Operations Association Reunion. Millie elected to stay home and read while I went to the Orleans Hotel. Besides registering and getting our reunion credentials the only activity on the first day is the hospitality room. This is mostly occupied by us old guys doing guy stuff; reminiscing of days long ago, ragging on one another for most any reason that will get a laugh, telling lies and some truths, comradery at it's finest. 

It was interesting that surrounding our large round table we had representatives of every aspect of our mission; pilots, aircrew, recon team members, even the launch site commander and there were no hero's, no inflated ego's, just mutual respect for all those who had a difficult job to do and did it well.

For the curious, google MACV-SOG 

In the evening Millie and I went to the Mirage Hotel/Casino to see Terry Fator the Ventriloquist. The theater was fully attended and judging by the laughter and applause, the audience enjoyed the show as much as we did. 

Afterwards we walked the strip, enjoying all the lights and sights. The night brings out all kinds of people, you have to experience it yourself, it's beyond description.