When I left you last time we were planning to head to the strip at Las Vegas for the evening.  That is exactly what we did.  Wow was that ever exciting.  This was the first time for us both and we were like little kids in a candy shop.  Everyone should experience this at least once even if you do not gamble.  We parked the car and started walking.  Our first stop was at MGM to visit with the lions.  It is a habitat with 35 foot glass walls which gives you wonderful viewing capabilities.  Tim took a few pictures of them - they are such beautiful animals.  I found out from the movie about them that they are bathed each day before being shown.  I enjoyed this greatly.

We then walked the strip stopping in at the New York, New York; Paris Las Vegas; Caesars; and Bellagio.  We had dinner at Mon Ami Gabi - sat outside and enjoyed the view and the dinner.  It sits across the street from the Bellagio where they have dancing water which soar 240 feet.  It was just beautiful to watch - plus the dinner was just fantastic.  After dinner we went into the Bellagio and I put $5 into the slot machine.  When I cashed out I had over $100 - paid  for our dinner. 

The fun of Vegas is seeing all the lights, the shows and watching the people.  Remember this is a place where anything goes and I mean anything.  It was a fun night and so different.

Saturday morning we left the base and headed to Kingman Arizona.  We got all set up and called our friends Dan and Pam whom we had not seen since 1976.  We enjoyed talking and then all went to an early dinner.  On Sunday Tim and I rode along old Route 66 in KIngman and saw alot of the old buildings.  In parts of this town it looks like 1950 again.  Sunday afternoon we went over to Dan and Pam's to play pinocle and have dinner.  Very enjoyable day.

Monday morning they picked us up and we headed to Oatman, Az along Route 66.  This is a living ghost town, it used to be a mining town and is located in the Black Mountains.  In 1915 two prospectors struck a 10 million dollar gold field in this town.  The mines were worked until 1941 when they were shut down.  Colonies of wild burros, direct descendants of the pack animals used by gold miners, roam the hills and town.  You can feed them carrots and film them as they stop next to your cars.  It was a definite different experience.  We walked around the town and went into a few stores. 

We left town and headed to Bullhead City, Az for lunch.  We had a nice lunch and then headed to Laughlin, NV to the casino.  We stayed about 30 minutes and I put in $20 and cashed out with $20.  All in all it was a wonderful day.  Thanks Dan and Pam for the wonderful hospitality.  We enjoyed every minute and hope to see you again sooner.

Tuesday morning Tim went to UPS to pick up the part for the camper while I did my WII.  We traveled from Kingman to Tucson and stopped at Beaudry RV Resort.  A very nice park but kind of expensive for us.  We had full hookups, a nice pool, and a really nice restaurant.  Great food at a resonable price.  On Wednesday am we brought the camper to Beaudry RV to have the slide fixed.  While that was being done we toured the Air Force Base and then looked at motor homes.  We saw one that we really loved but it cost $450,000 - that is more than our home cost.  Yikes.  We will stick with the home we have now - serves us well and it is paid for.  We did have fun looking though.

Thursday morning we left Tucson Az and headed to Van Horn Texas.  We stopped at a nice campground for the evening and had a nice dinner to end a long day.

Friday morning we headed to Abilene Texas thru really strong winds and boring landscapes.  Tim and I really do not enjoy the dessert - we like the green grass and trees not the brown sandy soil.  Abilene is doing lots of construction and the campground we headed to was alful.  Tim got alittle annoyed so we headed further east.  We stopped for the night at a really nice campground called Cactus Rose - super people also. 

Saturday morning we hit the road again and arrived in Bossier City at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.  We will stay here until at least Wednesday to get laundry done - clean the camper - and just relax.  This base is huge with a very nice campground with full hookups.  They allow you to wash the camper so Tim is delighted - has not been done since Petaluma, California back in August. 

Today is Sunday and our youngest daughter's birthday.  We talked to her this am and hope she has a wonderful birthday.  Happy Birthday Amanda and hope you have many more.

Until next time