USA - Cruising The West Coast & Vegas

The gaming arena
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Deciding to do the drive down the West Coast we choose the all American classic Ford Mustang. This would allow us to cruise through LA onto Vegas in true style.

Following telephone discussions with rental companies we settled with a company who assured us we would get our prized Mustang for the journey.

When it came to pick up the car, we were shocked they had somehow 'forgotten' we requested the Mustang, and booked us with a Ford Taurus. With much frustration and disappointment we left heading towards the rental parking 'lot'. When we saw the cars remaining we saw a car we hoped wasnt ours.I tried the alarm and the brown turd-tank-like car flashed. Adding insult to injury the interior was brown too. So even if you tried to forget the horendous exterior, you were constantly reminded of its colourfullneswhilst your in the car! Thankfully the company said they had multiple depots along our journey path allowing us to swap it if they had stock.

And yes, it is a boat suspended from the ceiling over the slot machines!!!!
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With our iPods fully charged and over 10,000 songs we cranked up the music and cruised (thanksStu for the musicyour a legend) down the Highway 1.

The cruise down wasspectacular. Driving along sheer rock faces with, whatseemed inches from sudden death. From one of the hostels we met a couple of Scottish girls who were going our way. They seemed pretty friendly enough so they joined our crusade. Stopping by various rental depots we thought we would never get the Mustang. Eventually we did 300 miles south of San Fran. It was a squeeze for the girls in the back, but for Rich and I driving it was the best feeling in the world. It was a dark red, 6litre 130Bhp super machine, automatic, air con and just the auora of power. It was a dream to drive and when set at cruise control you rarely had to do anything! We attached a Union Jack flag to the aerial to complete its final touch before we set off heading to LA.

MUSTANG BABY!!!!!
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Arriving into LA, we breezed down along the beaches checkedout Malibu beach made famous from 'The Hoffmeister' aka David Hassilhoff and Baywatch, dropped the girls off before heading onto Vegas.

The drive across the Nevada desert was certainanly an experience. Driving at pretty much any speed you liked on a road 6 lanes deep, dedicated to getting 'feel lucky' gamblers to the casinos as quick as possible.

I had been driving for whatseemed like eternity in the dark, with Rich in the passenger seat catching flies when suddenly over a brow of a hill I saw an amaze of lights. Driving closer and closer late on a sunday night, our carwasnt alone. Expecting to be little traffic we were actually enguffled in a platoon of many thousands of cars racing to the same destination. All anticipating the same hopes, dreams and sights of beating the casinos. On the opposite side of the road were cars heading home at a fraction of the speed we were. Clear casulties of the war.

Approaching the lights I saw the sign 'Las Vegas - Welcome Park'.....eh? Welcome park? What I had arrived at was just the welcome center which warmed travellers up with casinos, designer stores, supermarkets etc. Something which even Lakeside/Bluewater would have been proud of. Wecontinued for another 30 minutes in darkness until I saw more lights. This time the lights spanned the horizon and beamed high into the sky. It was a dramatic sight. Driving down the strip lights were still a blaze, despite it now been 2am monday morning. No shop was closed, no bulb was out and certainly not empty of people.

We rolled up at the MGM Grand, the biggest of the hotels and checked in. Our reservation number was #4988 out of a meere 5000 rooms. Checkin was as smooth and quick as ordering a'Go Large' at a fastfood joint. With over 50 receptionists and at least30bellboys we didnt think we would be hanging around! After a quick refresh we decided to hit the tables. As it was a cool 38' outside we utilised the air-conditioned car. Greeted by valet at the Belagio we hit the tables and partied all night on free booze stupidly (but wisely) from the casinos. Belagio, MGM Grand, Treasure Island, New York New York, Mandalay Bay no casino, bar, nightclub, pool bar was spared over the next 48 hours. Lights were blazing, cabaret shows in full swing, swarms of people gathered every casino table and bar until morning. Vegas is an experience everybody should have. But be prepared....either expect to loose lots of money, or play casinos at their own game. In 48 hours we managed to only spend $99 on accommodation, $40 gambling and $5 food. But we ate, drank, slept, partied with high rollers and 'local girls' the whole time. It was all about playing them and working the system to get the free perks. It works if you do it right and we somehow managed to do it!