California 2006

Death Valley and Vegas

We've just done TOO MUCH today! It started with me trying to take pictures of the stars at 5.20am (no street lights!) and then, as I was awake and had woken up Hannah, driving into Death Valley to watch the sun rise. Realising that we had no water, under half a tank of petrol and 60 miles to the viewpoint we stopped and turned around. Instead we headed to Topeca Springs where Hannah enjoyed the natural mineral baths while I went for a wander.

Then, with water and fuel, we headed into Death Valley. It really is a strange place, full of cracked mud and salf flats. But, true to the form of this holiday, it started to rain while we were there. They only get an-inch-and-a-half a year, so I suppose we should be honoured.

After visiting such sights as Badwater and The Devil's Golf Course we drove out the other end and towards Las Vegas. The landscape changed completely as we went, and soon we were driving through canyons of red rock where Joshua Trees were growing.

Vegas appeared out of nowhere. It's just bang in the middle of the desert, with its towers coming into view around a mountain. After hours of desert driving the city streets weren't much fun, but we found The Golden Nugget where we're staying and checked in. Checking in included the hard sell for a coach tour that would take us to see some prime Nevada real estate (free lunch and tickets to one Las Vegas show), but sadly we're going to the Grand Canyon. I know it's obvious to say, but it's all about the money here. Still, we enjoyed an all-you-can-eat buffet for dinner and a wander round some of the casinos. Now Hannah's filled in the joining form for the "24 Karat" slots club which apparently gives here $10 free gambling. We're off to find out!

Death Valley at 5.45am

On a hill, above Topeca Hot Springs

No jobs going, sadly

David, alone in the desert

Death Valley is also home to Oompah-Loompahs. This one looked like Hannah

Now in Nevada, with some Joshua Trees (not the things that look like telegraph poles! They're telegraph poles)

This is our hotel in Vegas

Hannah, doing a Hello style pose in our room

An Elvis wannabe

The man himself (just don't say the word "impersonator")

Hannah and the pirate ship at Treasure Island

Hannah and the actual Golden Nugget, inside our hotel

The slots, which we will shortly be losing on

I didn't see any fluffy creatures today, but here's a cactus

UPDATE: We took Vegas to the cleaners! Hannah signed up for the slots club and got her $10 free play. We won $7.75, got two complementary cocktails, and then she found another quarter on the casino floor. Luck is definitely with us. Tomorrow: roulette.