Starting Mileage: 7,088
Ending mileage: 7,376
Gas purchased in Victorville, CA $6.79 per gallon
Arden loves riding in the car. This is his first long car ride since he rode with Lisa and me from LA to LA (Los Angeles to Louisiana) and back. It’s different traveling alone with a dog, especially when it’s hot since I can’t leave him in the car. My early travel observations are bathroom related. Going forward, I will always choose the handicapped stall since it better accommodates 2 beings and 6 legs. I will also take napkins or towels into a Rest Area bathroom since they supply neither and Arden hates the blowers.
When gassing up in Victorville, the Chic-fil-A next to the gas station sucked us in. I purchased in the Drive Thru, parked the car and we ate in a shady picnic table. I had a Number 1 – original chicken sandwich, waffle fries and a drink. I order 5 grilled nuggets for Arden. Mine was good. The grilled nuggets sucked!
With a full tank, we made our way to Vegas to our motel, the LaQuinta Inn and Suites on West Sahara Avenue. I thought about getting a hotel on the Strip, but decided a motel is a better option when traveling with Arden, especially in Vegas where I would have to carry my stuff and his through a crowded lobby and maneuver the slot machines to get to an elevator bank to get to our room, and then repeat in reverse every time I needed to take him out. This LaQuinta Inn, in the Summerlin community of Vegas, was an excellent choice. I took LaQuinta up on their offer to upgrade my room for $10, and it was well worth it. I had a king-sized bed, sitting area and kitchen on the first floor. I could park near my room right beside the small pet relief area.
I took a shower and washed off the day’s travel in time to meet friends from our Vegas office for dinner at the Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar. It was great to spend quality time with Marie and Stephanie. We’ve been colleagues for 10 years, but have met in person, maybe 5 times, not counting Web-Ex meetings. We talked less about work, and more about family. Stephanie was preparing for a weekend camping trip with her family. I learned Marie and her husband come to San Diego frequently, so I’m looking forward to meeting up with them when I’m back in California. The predicted 102 degree weather had me worried, but the temperature dropped and there was a nice breeze on the patio. That breeze became rain, so we changed tables. There was talk of monsoon season which fortunately did not pick tonight to materialize.
After dinner we walked around the outdoor mall and happened upon a stage performance of Grease on the lawn. One can never get enough of “You’re the One That I Want” ooh ooh ooh. We parted ways for a wonderful night. My only regret is that I didn’t get a picture of the 3 of us.
Marie asked me to join her for a morning hike in the nearby canyon. I suggested 7:00, and she countered with 6:30. I declined but changed my mind when I got back to my room and saw the website she texted me with pictures of the Calico Basin Trail.
