Viva Las Vegas

Wednesday 27^th November

Peter and Monique had the day off work so we relaxed and had a great catch-up. We cooked food for Thanksgiving which was an absolute treat in a great kitchen. Later Peter and John and I went to REI and Trader Joe’s organic supermarket and bought lots of Thanksgiving yummy food.

Thursday 28^th November

Thanksgiving. Had a wonderful day cooking and eating and drinking nice wine and chatting. Made Xmas morning rolls and Jerry and Joel arrived and Jerry cooked the turkey and then Gordon and Sue arrived. Had dinner about three o’clock and it was really lovely and yummy. Peter had bought a beautiful cake at the French bakery which we had as well as Lucy’s apple and blueberry pie and the lemon meringue pie I had made with fresh lemons from their tree.

We all went for a walk with Lance around the neighbourhood then and the boys sat around the fire outside while the girls chatted inside. Peter and Monique’s neighbours called over for a drink with their girls, McKenna and Miranda. Farewelled everyone and went to bed. Really nice day.

 

Monique and Bridget kicking off Thanksgiving - and Monique's birthday!

Jerry wrestling with the turkey

Lucy and Hugh having Xmas breakfast rolls

John, Lucy, Hugh, Bridget, Peter

Monique with Thanksgiving turkey

Girls - Sue, Jerry, Bridget, Monique
and Boys - Gordon, Joel and Peter

Sue, Jerry, Bridget, Monique in the kitchen

Monique's Birthday Cake!

 Friday 29^th November

Organised ourselves and were away to Ely at 9am on the dot. The long drive of five hours flew by and we had a nice stop eating turkey sandwiches – called bobbies the day after Thanksgiving apparently – and were in Ely about 2pm and at Peter’s soon afterwards. The barn is great and Peter lit the fire outside and he and Hugh went for a ride in the ATV with Hugh driving, which he took very seriously. Sat around the fire for a good couple of hours – very beautiful with the sun setting – and then had eggs and ravioli for dinner and relaxed around the fire inside for the evening talking. Very pleasant.

Friday 29^th November by Lucy

After a five hour drive in the RV we were welcomed to Ely. We grabbed groceries and took off up the hill. Up the gravel road we struck some deep snow, Peter grinded the motor and we ploughed on through. At the gate Monique jumped out before slipping and sliding on the ice/ snow to open the gate.

We pulled in next to the barn, hopped out and got to work, not only lighting fires but also exploring the property. Hugh jumped at the opportunity to drive the ATV and drove off up the hill with Peter.

By nightfall the temperature had dropped to -5 degrees C (15 degrees F). We sat around the bonfire before parting in opposite directions – half to the barn and half to the RV.

Hugh in the RV

Hugh and Lance in the RV

Lance, Hugh and Lucy in the RV

 Saturday 30^th November by Lucy

We woke up to a freezing morning. Quickly we lit the fire and made a breaky of porridge and toast. We mucked around all morning with lots of rides in the ATV. Lucy, Hugh and John got to drive on multiple roads, all different terrain.

At midday we went down to the Northern Railway and booked tickets for the Polar Express. At 1.00 we boarded the train to the “North Pole”. The ride was bumpy and full of fun, with a lady reading the Polar Express as we went along. The carriage was decorated with Christmas bells, tinsel and lights. When we got to the “North Pole” Santa came on board for photos and behind him an elf gave out bells to every passenger.

We then rode on the train back to Ely where Peter and Monique were waiting. We reached the barn and cooked dinner after a busy day. We had roast chicken cooked outside in a Dutch oven – it was delicious and amazing how it cooked with just some charcoal bricks sitting under and on top of it.

Kids in the ATV

View from the barn at Ely

Lucy trying to outrun Lance

John relaxing by the outdoor fire

Hugh and Peter loose in the ATV

Sun going down over Nevada Mountains

Polar Express Train, Ely

Lucy at the Ely Station

Big Snowman

View from train

Lucy, Santa and Hugh

North Pole

Lucy, Hugh and Ely train

Ely train station

Ely train workshop and the 93 Steam Train

John carves the Dutch Oven chicken

 Sunday 1^st December by Lucy

The day started with a walk down to Cave Lake. We slid through the slushy, muddy snow.

When we arrived at the lake, Evan, the Ranger’s son, came out to meet us. He took us down to the frozen lake where we broke the ice and threw it out into the middle of the lake. We continued round the lake before turning back to the barn.

We packed up after a few last rides in the ATV. We then had a quick but big lunch and turned towards the city – Vegas bound.

Frozen tussocks in stream at Ely

Frozen Cave Lake

Hugh, Lucy and Evan at Cave Lake

Throwing ice on frozen lake at Ely

Walking back

 Monday 2^nd  December

We basically spent the day catching up with ourselves and shopping at the strip malls – walked to Boca park and visited Office Max, Sports Chalet, REI and had lunch at a nice sandwich place. Nice evening with Peter and Monique.

Tuesday 3^rd  December

We hit the Las Vegas Strip on Las Vegas Boulevard and went to Circus Circus Casino. It had the Adventuredome where Lucy and Hugh decided that the ride they would go on would be the Roller Coaster. Mum was very worried but Hugh was keen and Lucy agreed to go with him. They did two loop the loops and a corkscrew and then returned safely. Lucy was beaming but Hugh’s comment was “I liked it but I wouldn’t do it again.”

We then walked down the Strip looking at the huge skyscraper casinos and crossing many escalators and seeing lots of limousines. We arrived at The Venetian Casino which is just like Venice with canals and gondolas and Italian buildings and a huge white Christmas tree outside.  We had coffee and some tiny Italian cakes and walked back to the jeep at Circus Circus. We bought some of the tiny cakes and took them home for desert.

Circus Circus Adventuredome Roller Coaster

Ahhhh!

Afterwards...

In front of roller coaster ar Circus Circus

On the Las Vegas Strip 

The Venetian Casino

John, Lucy and Hugh at The Venetian Casino

Winter in Venice in Las Vegas...?

Should we get one?

 Wednesday 4^th December by Hugh

We went to a deli called “Jim’s sandwiches” for pizza and free icecream.

We went to the Las Vegas Strip about 3pm and saw the Cirque du Soleil show called “Mystere”. We had dinner at Le Café in the Paris Casino. The acts I saw in Cirque du Soleil were acrobats and magic. My favourite part was the baby in the golf cart because it was funny. Other amazing things that I saw in Mystere were magicians and acrobats, trapezers, two men standing on each other’s hands and the music was live. My day was great.

Lucy across from huge Christmas Tree

Lucy on the Strip before Cirque du Soleil 'Mystere'

Dinner at Le Cafe before 'Mystere'

 Thursday 5^th December

Went out to Red Rock Canyon after and early lunch and just loved being back there again. Called into the visitor centre and then went for a great walk in the Calico area – gorgeous red rocks and walk up through the canyons. Then went on the Lost Canyon walk which was cold and the waterfall at the end was frozen but it was great and so amazing. Great plants. Back into the jeep and around the loop road and back to Vegas as the sun set which was lovely. Really great to get out and have a good walk.

Calico Rocks, Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Lucy at Calico Rocks,Red Rock Canyon

Hobbits

Lucy

Lucy and Hugh at Calico Rocks

Hugh dreaming of westerns

Red Rocks

Hugh and sharp desert plants

The jeep

Red Rock Canyon

Looking back to Calico Rocks and Vegas beyond

Children with camera

Desert Cactus

Lost Creek - frozen

Red Rocks in late afternoon

Driving in the jeep on the loop road

 Friday 6^th December

Quiet day. Went around to Boca Park and did schoolwork in the afternoon before Peter and Monique came home. Relaxing evenings watching docos on Netflix. What a treat! Kids watched “Dad’s Army” of all things.

Hugh and his friend Lance

 Saturday 7^th December

Relaxed in the morning and then Peter took us to the Mini Grand Prix which was awesome. We had an hour to go on as many rides as we could. We started with go-carts and then went in the Grand Prix racing cars and it was all such good fun. Had lunch there. Later we went to the Harley Davidson shop where there were endless classic bikes – lots Italian and just incredible. Home later and went out to a Mexican restaurant which was really fun. 

Lucy in action at Mini Grand Prix

Hugh with wind in his hair

That famous sign

Hugh at the Harley Davidson Megastore

Lucy ready for Las Vegas

Dinner at Mexican restaurant

Sunday 8^th December

Had the best day mountain-biking at Red Rock Canyon.  Seemed a better day so we left at 9.30am and went to the bike shop at Blue Diamond and rented two bikes for Lucy and Hugh. Left the carpark at 10.30am and biked up to Badger Pass and it was a struggle in the altitude but beautiful in the snow. Rode trails for four hours – gorgeous in the desert- and then returned the bikes and had potato chips and chocolate milk from the shop and came home to get in the spa pool and relax. Turned into a gorgeous sunny day and even though there was an effort to finish at the end, everyone loved it.

Red Rock Biking by Hugh: (coming soon...)

Getting ready and trying out the bikes

A steady climb up to Badger Pass

Heading into snow

Us at the top

Brothers on bikes

Kids on bikes

Descending gingerly through snow

Red Rocks

Lucy on Viagra Trail

Largest Yucca tree in the world

Large Joshua Tree

Monday 9^th December

Spent the day getting ready for our trip to the Grand Canyon.  Went to the car rental places and did some messages and then had a blissful time in Sambalatte having coffee. Came home and tidied up and the kids did some school work. Hugh and I made a lemon cake out of Monique’s fresh lemons and then we packed up some stuff and then Peter and Monique came home and John cooked dinner. We have had a great time in Ely and Las Vegas.