A view from Furnace Creek Ranch

To the right you see a picture taken during sunset on Thursday evening. The view is gorgeous, and I was really impressed by the variety of landscapes that I saw. The roads I drove are the ones that Humbert would have driven, and so these are the scenes he would have viewed as well.

Staying at a "swank" hotel

Lolita would approve. Because of some flight problems, I am staying at the Grand Hyatt in Dallas, TX. Although I am not happy to be in the land of TO, I am glad to finally be IN a hotel room and have eaten a proper meal. It's a beautiful hotel, and the room is the best I've stayed in during my research trips. I also had room service, or as it's called here, private dining. I just didn't want to go downstairs to the restaurant - or whatever they call it here.

So, it's been an adventure in CA/NV. I arrived Wed evening and stayed at the Excalibur in Vegas - there were some flight problems, which caused me to actually arrive SOONER in Vegas than I imagined, but also caused me to fly out of CVG and with a return to Dayton. Thankfully, today's flight problems took care of that, and I'll be back at CVG tomorrow. The Excalibur is where I stayed with my parents last time I was in Vegas. It's just an overwhelming experience to walk into a casino. Hard to explain, but there is a LOT of noise, lights, and general chaos. I must have looked lost as a woman asked, "Can I help you honey?" I would have preferred "young lady" as an address, but at least I didn't get the southern "ma'am."

After dropping stuff off at the hotel, I decided to wander. I wanted to goto Lance Burton's show, but it had already started. Eventually I found myself eating at the House of Blues - had a HUGE rack of ribs - and then at the Howie Mandel show. Some guy named Mendoza - I forget the first name - opened for him. It was fun. Although I really wanted to stay up late, I did try to get to bed at a decent hr - for Las Vegas.

The next morning I was off to Death Valley, CA. Before heading too far west, I picked up a six pack of WATER as I didn't want to break down and die of dehydration. It IS called Death Valley for a reason.

I took the shorter route - 190 to 160 or whatever it's called. It was through Pahrump? When I did hit the ranch I was a bit surprised at how bleak and desolate it seemed. I shouldn't have been surprised. And I should not have been shocked that my cell didn't work. I WAS surprised at no internet as it said on the Web site that there was internet. So here I was in the middle of the desert staying in a cabin much like what Humbert and Lolita would have stayed in back in 47 or 48 with no real amenities. Hmmmmmm... I truly was on the road with Lolita. On a sidenote, I forgot my copy of Lolita, which is the first time I've ever traveled without Lolita on a Lolita research trip. Oops.

Before I could check in, I had to kill a few hours, so I drove around for a bit. On the way in, I had stopped at Zabriskie Point, and of course I thought of Dave Z. To those of you NON-CYCLYING FANS, Dave Z. is one of the best cyclings in the world and one of the top time trialists in the world. I love that guy.

I also stopped off at the Visitor Center in Furnace Creek, which was a very good move as I picked up some books.

I did talk with a NPS ranger who told me I could speak with a woman, Blair, who is the curator for DVNM. I drove out to the station where she was located, and I got a chance to look at some materials in the library. I actually got a lot of information, which was great. I'm going to write her to see if I might get some more materials in the mail - such as old brochures, etc.

Dinner was at the Ranch at something called the Steakhouse Saloon? It was ok. I had a glass of wine - a Macmurray? Pinot Noir. After dinner, I went back to my room, did some writing, and watched some tv.

I got up pretty early - 6am - so I could go to Scotty's Castle, which was about an 1 hr drive from Furnace Creek. Breakfast was a buffet and it was disappointing.

The next morning I headed out very early for Scotty's Castle. I'll write about that soon, but I suppose I better post this before something happens to my computer and I lose everything I've typed!

Destination Death Valley

So, I am writing this from my room in the Excalibur, where I'm spending the night before driving out to Death Valley, CA.

The scenery from the plane was all the cliches you can imagine - I remember the first time I saw landscape that looked like what you see in the western US; I was blown away because I had never seen anything like it in the East. It still impresses me. I saw snow-topped mountains. Although I didn't see THE Grand Canyon, I saw A canyon, and that was enough for me.

The strip itself and the casinos are full of energy and chaos. I really had that deer in the headlights look when I first walked into the Excalibur, but then you quickly become comfortable - even energized - by the environment.

I don't yet have any pictures to post, and I'm really too tired - it's nearly 3am Ohio time - to write much, but I wanted to be certain to "check in" here.

I had some initial travel problems with flight arrangements that had me leaving Dayton for CVG AFTER my CVG to Vegas flight would have departed. How does Expedia/Delta manage to accomplish that itinerary change?

Anyway, everything worked out if by "work out," you mean I left from CVG and return to Dayton.


More soon. I hope to have internet access from Furnace Creek.