Traveler Bill of Country Victoria
An American's Adventure Raising Chooks and a Child on an Acreage in Australia

Day 22: Viva Lost Wages

Nevada – Day 2

Sunset from Traveler Bill on Vimeo.

Today was another rest day. The Chief has been getting over a 24 hour stomach bug, if you catch my drift. Who knew Montezuma made it to the Grand Canyon.

So we kept it quiet today. We walked up to the Tropicana to pick up Traveler Nell’s ticket to Rock Vault. Staying in a non smoking facility I forgot the stink of a Las Vegas casino. By the time we were done I felt like we had back when we visited Naples. The smell of stale cigarettes and fresh desperation.

And the award for least surprising celebrity bar in Las Vegas goes to Pete Rose
And the award for least surprising celebrity bar in Las Vegas goes to Pete Rose

Afterward we stopped by the MGM Grand for a greatly overpriced buffet and a swing through the slot machines for me. As mentioned previously I have had a little luck at the “pokies” as they say in Australia. Not so much today.

Big Winner!
Big Winner!

Then it was back to the hotel for a couple messages offering us the wonderful opportunity to buy a timeshare and some quiet time with The Chief and Daniel Tiger

Quiet time with the Chief
Quiet time with the Chief

Tomorrow it is off to Bakersfield on our way to Yosemite.

Road Trip Tally

April 20

  • No driving today

Gas Stats

  • No gas today

Food Budget $50/day

  • Today’s expenditures: $77
  • Today OVER Budget: $17
  • Food expenditures to date: $1,190
  • Grand total OVER budget: $90

Daily Expenditures (Food/Fuel)

  • UNDER Budget: $123.31

Day 21: Viva Las Vegas

Arizona Day 4 – Nevada (Pacific Daylight Time)

Today we bid farewell to the Grand Canyon and headed to one of the only places I’d put lower than NYC on my list of places in America I’d want to live.

Las Vegas.

The Last time (the only time) I’ve ever been to either the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas was almost exactly 11 years ago when my oldest friend Tony and I made the journey for a guys weekend. It was a great time. I won over $600 on the slots, had a buffet lunch, had a Grand Canyon day trip, and basically had a great time. We had no idea that two years later cancer would take the healthier by far of the two of us.

Tony preparing to eat an ungodly amount of buffet.
Tony preparing to eat an ungodly amount of buffet.
Two of My Big Winners
Two of My Big Winners
On the road to the Grand Canyon '05
On the road to the Grand Canyon ’05

Heading out early in the morning we stopped at the Hoover Dam. Back then it wasn’t a side trip as the bridge bypassing the dam was not yet open and the trip was at least an hour longer. We opted for the quicker drive today with the Chief in the back seat.

The route to the Grand Canyon as it used to be
The route to the Grand Canyon as it used to be
At Hoover Dam
At Hoover Dam in 2005

On our way back from the Grand Canyon in ’05 Tony and I stopped in Kingman, Arizona to eat dinner. Mind you it was almost 10:00 PM. The people of Dambar & Steakhouse sat us for a steak dinner even though they were closing moments later. This time we stopped at the Dambar for lunch today and I had the same meal I had back in 2005.

Dambar & Steakhouse, Kingman, Arizona
Dambar & Steakhouse, Kingman, Arizona

I often wonder what Tony would think of how my life has turned out and where he would be.  I’m sure he would love Traveler Nell and the Chief and am convinced he would be the first friend to visit us in Australia.

Road Trip Tally

April 19

  • Distance Today: 285.0 mi/458.7 km
  • Percentage of Day Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%
  • Total Distance: 4,486.6 mi/7,220.5 km
  • Percentage of Total Driven by Traveler Nell: 1.31%
  • Driving Time: 5:34 today/87:00 total

Gas Stats

  • Gas purchased: 15.960 gal/60.42 L
  • Gas price: $2.459/gal-$0.605/L
  • Mileage for leg: 33.87 mpg/14.40 km/L
  • Mileage for trip: 31.98 mpg/13.60 km/L
  • Cost of fill-up: $39.25
  • Amount budgeted: $34.45
  • $10.95 UNDER budget for leg
  • $185.59 UNDER budget for trip

Food Budget $50/day

  • Today’s expenditures: $70
  • Today OVER Budget: $20
  • Food expenditures to date: $1,113
  • Grand total OVER budget: $63

Daily Expenditures (Food/Fuel)

  • UNDER Budget: $150.31

 

Day 20: Continental (Holiday) Divide

Arizona Day 3

Sunrise from Traveler Bill on Vimeo.

Sunrise at Bright Angel Lodge

It was a down day today. Traveler Nell and I calculated it was our first day of just relaxing since last autumn. We had breakfast, napped, looked out our window listening to the Beach Boys and Bill Withers on our Bluetooth speaker and just relaxed. It was really nice. Also, knowing that we have a bunch of these over the next three weeks is good to know.
But tomorrow we head to Vegas through Kingman. On Historic Route 66.

Sunset at the Bright Angel Lodge.
Sunset at the Bright Angel Lodge.

 

Road Trip Tally

April 18

  • No driving today

Gas Stats

  • No gas bought today

Food Budget $50/day

  • Today’s expenditures: $94
  • Today Over Budget: $44
  • Food expenditures to date: $1,043
  • Grand total OVER budget: $43

Daily Expenditures (Food/Fuel)

  • UNDER Budget: $142.59

Day 19: Leave it as it is.

Arizona Day 2
Today was a full day of driving going from the outer reaches of Tucson to the Grand Canyon. Before we left Tucson Traveler Nell suggested we stop by the Airplane Graveyard as we only 4 minutes away.  Unfortunately the GPS led us to the front gate of Davis-Mothan Air Force Base. The heavily armed guard politely allowed us to hightail it out of there.

The scenery from Tucson to the Grand Canyon is amazing.  You start in high desert, descend to Phoenix and the all the cacti. Then you climb into the mountains and before you have a chance to take photo of a cactus you’re in the mountains!  Hopefully when we go by Joshua Tree I can get that photo I wanted.

Then it is up and down the mountains until you reach Arizona Rt 180 which is essentially flat and straight road for 40 miles or so and you are here.

When we decided to take this trip Traveler Nell set forth trying to get the best room available on at the park.  Well we got it.  A rim view cabin in Bright Angel Lodge.

Photos of the Day

One last look at Tucson
One last look at Tucson
Arizona High Desert Rest Area
Arizona High Desert Rest Area
Gentle Suggestions
Gentle Suggestions
Road side photo of Arizona.
Road side photo of Arizona.
The locals came out to greet us at the Grand Canyon
The locals came out to greet us at the Grand Canyon
image
Traveler Nell and I arriving at the Bright Angel Lodge
The Chief enjoying his evening meal
The Chief enjoying his evening meal
Enjoying the view with our evening beverages, and each other's company
Enjoying the view with our evening beverages, and each other’s company

Today’s title refers to President Theodore Roosevelt’s quote about the Grand Canyon.

“Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it. What you can do is to keep it for your children, and for all who come after you, as the one great sight which every American… should see.”

Road Trip Tally

April 17

  • Distance Today: 362.9 mi/584.3 km
  • Percentage of Day Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%
  • Total Distance: 4,201.5 mi/6,761.7 km
  • Percentage of Total Driven by Traveler Nell: 1.39%
  • Driving Time: 6:28 today/81:26 total

Gas Stats

  • No gas bought today

Food Budget $50/day

  • Today’s expenditures: $22
  • Today UNDER Budget: $28
  • Food expenditures to date: $949
  • Grand total UNDER budget: $1

Daily Expenditures (Food/Fuel)

  • UNDER Budget: $185.59

Day 18: But Its A Dry Heat

Texas Day 6 – New Mexico – Arizona (Mtn. Std. Time)

image
El Paso from our hotel

Not as long a day today but another exhausting one for the Travelers Three. We left El Paso relatively late which threw off both The Chief’s nap time and lunch plans. Traveler Nell as always saved the day finding us the El Camino Real restaurant in Deming, NM. It was there I finally got to try a New Mexico hallmark, the green chile cheeseburger.

image
El Camino Real’s Green Chile Cheeseburger
It was great. And even better was the people who work there. A real treasure we found.
Then it was back to driving. A lot of it. Made bearable by all the sights along the way.

imageFrom a Rest Stop in New Mexico

imageSign Warning of Dust Storms on the Highway in New Mexico

imageWhat You See When You Cross Into Arizona

imageAlmost My Vantage.

imageSigns For “The Thing” Appear 180 Mile East on I-10

imageThe Chief (El Jefe) Has No Time to Model Sombreros

imageI’ll Reveal That “The Thing” houses “Hitler’s Rolls”

imageAbout 20 miles from our exit we were caught up in a traffic jam for nearly 40 minutes. The crash that caused it looked devastating so we prayed for the passengers.

Tomorrow we’re off to the Grand Canyon. Service may be spotty.  I’ll be drafting as a normal but it maybe until we arrive in Las Vegas next Tuesday before they will post.

Road Trip Tally
April 16

  • Distance Today: 330.0 mi/531.1 km
  • Percentage of Day Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%
  • Total Distance: 3,838.5 mi/6,177.5 km
  • Percentage of Total Driven by Traveler Nell: 1.53%
  • Driving Time: 6:22 today (40 stopped on I-10 due to a pretty nasty wreck)/74:58 total

Gas Stats

  • Gas purchased: 11.874 gal/44.95 L
  • Gas price: $1.979/gal-$0.522/L
  • Mileage for leg: 29.89 mpg/12.71 km/L
  • Mileage for trip: 31.73 mpg/13.49 km/L
  • Cost of fill-up: $23.50
  • Amount budgeted: $34.45
  • $10.95 UNDER budget for leg
  • $185.59 UNDER budget for trip


Food Budget $50/day

  • Today’s expenditures: $64
  • Today OVER Budget: $14
  • Food expenditures to date: $927
  • Grand total OVER budget: $27

Daily Expenditures (Food/Fuel)
UNDER Budget: $158.59

 

 

 

Day 17: Up From San Antone

 

Texas Day 5: Into Mountain Time

Today is my brother John’s 55th birthday. Or it would have been had he not passed away after a brief courageous battle with cancer in early 1990. I’ve been thinking of him a lot on this trip. We only drove any distance together once, to our cousin’s wedding in Boston. But before we left each way he bought a bottle of Pepsi for us both.

image

THIS IS FOR YOU JB.

So, for the last week or so I’ve have a joke stat in the Road Tip Tally. “Percentage Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%”. Well that changes today when Traveler Nell drove a good portion of the morning drive on the longest leg of our trip. New percentages in today’s tally.

 

image

TRAVELER NELL DRIVING

 

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MY REACTION TO TRAVELER NELL’s DRIVING
It’s been another long day so I’ll post some photos and end by saying I have really enjoyed Texas. I expected it would be nice but seriously, I had no idea. So good on the Lone Star State.

 

image

EVEN THE ROADS IN TEXAS FEEL LIKE A JOHN FORD FILM

 

image

WHY THE MPG’s ARE DOWN TODAY

image

A GENUINE AIR STREAM TRAILER

image

 

FAMILY PORTRAIT

When we were planning the Great American Road Trip™ we thought it would be a hoot to hop over the border to Mexico.  Luckily we came to our senses.  Didn’t mean we wouldn’t come close-but not TOO close.

image

 

RUNFOR THE BORDER-THEN HIGHTAIL IT OUT OF THERE

 

image

I KNOW ONE HOTEL GETTING MARKED DOWN ON THEIR TRIPADVISOR REVIEW.

Road Trip Tally

April 15

  • Distance Today: 563.1 mi/906.2 km
  • Percentage of Day Driven by Traveler Nell: 10.41%
  • Total Distance: 3,508.4 mi/5,646.2 km
  • Percentage of Total Driven by Traveler Nell: 1.67%
  • Driving Time: 9.25 today/68.36 total

Gas Stats

  • Part 1
  • Gas purchased: 11.435 gal/43.286 L
  • Gas price: $1.899/gal-$0.501/L
  • Mileage for leg: 27.33 mpg/11.80 km/L
  • Part 2
  • Gas purchased: 7.220 gal/27.330 L
  • Gas price: $1.959/gal-$0.517/L
  • Mileage for leg: 30.709 mpg/13.09km/L
  • Mileage for trip: 31.93 mpg/13.09 km/L
  • Cost of fill-up: #1-$21.72 #2-$14.14 Total-$35.86
  • Amount budgeted: $70.06
  • $34.20 UNDER budget for leg
  • $174.64 UNDER budget for trip

Food Budget $50/day

  • Today’s expenditures: $88
  • Today OVER Budget: $33
  • Food expenditures to date: $863
  • Grand total OVER budget: $13

Daily Expenditures (Food/Fuel)

UNDER Budget: $161.64

 

Day 16: Deep in the Heart of Texas

Texas Day 4

Short post with regard to text tonight. We had a long day exploring San Antonio and an even longer day tomorrow. So just a couple photos of our day with the updates Road Trip Tally below.

image“Alright, alright, alright!” Traveler Nell’s a movie buff

imageAt the San Jose Mission in San Antonio

imageRemembering the Alamo

imageA cactus flower for Tom Doniphon

Road Trip Tally

April 14

  • Distance Today: 106.1 mi/170.8 km
  • Percentage Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%
  • Total Distance: 2,945.3 mi/4,740.0 km
  • Driving Time: 2:43 today/59:11 total

Gas Stats

  • Gas purchased: 4.318 gal/16.345 L
  • Gas price: $1.759/gal-$0.464/L
  • Mileage for leg: 33.40 mpg/14.20 km/L
  • Mileage for trip: 32.55 mpg/13.82 km/L
  • Cost of fill-up: $7.60
  • Amount budgeted: $13.82
  • $5.76 UNDER budget for leg
  • $140.44 UNDER budget for trip

Food Budget $50/day

  • Today’s expenditures: $51
  • Today OVER Budget: $1
  • Food expenditures to date: $775
  • Grand total UNDER budget: $25

Day 15: The Stars at Night Are Big and Bright

Texas Day 3

I’ve been to over 10 Fairfield Inns. I can’t even count the number of times we’ve stayed at the East Greenbush location. Every one of them has a waffle maker. In all those times I’ve never made a waffle. Until today that is.

imageI had to make these waffles
A quiet day in Austin today. We relaxed in the morning and drove around a bit in the afternoon. We stopped at Via 313 for lunch.

imageVia 313

It is a Detroit style pizza joint. It’s been 38 years since I’ve had this style pizza and it was as good as I remembered.

image
They even had the right kind of pop

imageDelicious, Greasy

Before heading back to the hotel I called Traveler Nell’s bluff about getting a pair of cowboy boots. We stopped at the local Cavendar’s.

image
Since I’m going to be working on a farm it just made sense that I would have a pair of boots. I didn’t want to go nuts and asked my clerk Kayce to recommend a pair of reasonably priced boots that would be appropriate for working.

image

Road Trip Tally
April 13

  • Distance Today: 40.8 mi/65.7 km
  • Percentage Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%
  • Total Distance: 2,839.0 mi/4,568.9km
  • Driving Time: 2:10 today/56:28 total

Gas Stats

  • No Gas Today

Food Budget $50/day

  • 4/13 expenditures: $30
  • Today UNDER Budget: $20
  • Food expenditures to date: $724
  • Grand total UNDER budget: $26

Day 14: Austin City Limits

Texas Day 2

Texas night one was eventful with an unexpected storm that caused billions in damage. Luckily Tyler was at the southernmost edge of the storm.  

After a wonderful night we were heading out of the Tyler Fairfield Inn. In my opinion the best FFI we’ve stayed at and in the top 10 of hotels I’ve visited. 

 The Authors Opinion of the Tyler Fairfield Inn
 A rare sight on this trip. Traveler Nell in the drivers seat. (She was setting up the GPS.)

It was a relatively short drive today, only a little over 200 miles. We decided to risk the rain today and forge ahead with our picnic plans. Traveler Nell ran into the Waco Piggley Wiggley and bought a delicious rotisserie chicken. The local park we stopped at had under cover tables that were the perfect size for The Chief’s travel chair. 

  

Traveler Nell can put out a spread. 

 
The Chief enjoying his lunch. 

When we were planning the Great American Road Trip™ we envisioned stopping at all sort of crazy roadside attractions. Carhenges, Bonnie and Clyde’s death spot, Jell-o Museums, et cetera. The reality of traveling with an 18 month old hit us early and many if not most of these stops have been tossed.  

One we determined to keep was a stop in Blevins Texas. A dot on the map Traveler Nell and I didn’t think we’d find a marker. But we decided to go anyway as it was 15 minutes from park where we ate lunch. 

Then we saw this…  

Needless to say our hopes were buoyed.   And much to our delight, we found this.  

  

And this…  

And this…  

A worthwhile detour.  


Road Trip Tally

April 12

  • Distance Today: 237.4 mi/382.0km
  • Percentage Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%
  • Total Distance: 2,798.1 mi/4,503.1 qkm
  • Driving Time: 5:00 today/54:18 total

Gas Stats

  • Gas purchased: 6.787 gal/25.691 L
  • Gas price: $1.769/gal-$0.467/L 
  • Mileage for leg: 35.17 mpg/14.95 km/L
  • Mileage for trip: 32.50 mpg/13.82 km/L
  • Cost of fill-up: $12.01
  • Amount budgeted: $36.20
  • $24.19 UNDER budget for leg
  • $134.68 UNDER budget for trip 

Food Budget $50/day

  • 4/12 expenditures: $60
  • Today OVER Budget: $10
  • Food expenditures to date: $694
  • Grand total UNDER budget: $6

Day 13: I have been advised to not mess with Texas

Mississippi – Louisiana – Texas

Today was a day of crazy weather and a long drive that ended up feeling much shorter than it was.  

We were on the road out of Jackson before 10 and was looking forward to our second picnic of the Great American Road Trip™. 

Unfortunately a hard driving rain scotched that idea by mid morning. Had we prepped by stocking up before leaving we could have eaten at the District 5 Rest Stop on Interstate 20 in Louisiana. It was immaculately maintained and had covered picnic tables. 

 The Chief checking out the flora of the Rest Stop

Instead we forged on to Minden Louisiana where we stopped at “Johnny’s Pizza”. A regional chain I have seen over the last couple days. We opted for the lunch buffet which was better than we expected. 

  Hungry Travelers

The back seat crew opted to nap from Minden to the Louisiana-Texas border. As such they missed out on the Vegas-y skyline on Shreveport. We initially planned to spend the night in Shreveport but Traveler Nell suggested we drive until Tyler, Texas so we could dine at a well regarded local BBQ restaurant.  

Which is what brought us to Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-BQ restaurant in Tyler, Texas. 

 Getting Ready for some genuine Texas Hill Country Bar-BQ.  
 It was better than it looked. 

The it was back to the hotel for the night. And hour or so after we had been in a park letting The Chief play off his dinner we were watching a torrential downpour out or hotel window. 

  Traveler Nell lives to post radar images.  

The crazy thing is that Shreveport and Jackson were hit way worse. Roads in Shreveport were under water after 3.5 inches of rain. Luckily Traveler Nell has a knack for scheduling. 

Road Trip Tally

April 11

  • Distance Today: 343.4 mi/552.6 km
  • Percentage Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%
  • Total Distance: 2,560.8 mi/4,121.2 km
  • Driving Time: 6:01 today/49:18 total

Gas Stats

  • Gas purchased: 11.296 gal/42.760 L
  • Gas price: $1.759/gal-$0.464/L 
  • Mileage for leg: 30.50 mpg/12.97 km/L
  • Mileage for trip: 32.27 mpg/13.69 km/L
  • Cost of fill-up: $19.87
  • Amount budgeted: $48.79
  • $28.92 UNDER budget for leg
  • $110.49 UNDER budget for trip 

Food Budget $50/day

  • 4/11 expenditures: $36
  • Today UNDER Budget: $14
  • Food expenditures to date: $634
  • Grand total UNDER budget: $16


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