LA

Up to the counter I went, handed over my ticket to be informed that the flight had been canceled. Fixing my iciest stare at the clerk, I asked what was I supposed to do now?? I was offered two choices.....a flight later in the day, or, there was one almost ready for take off and if I ran, they would open the plane door for me. Putting aside my plans, after all, it would be the first time that doors had been opened for me, I ran.

    The rain and cold was left behind, a beautiful day greeting me when I arrived in LA. Here I was to meet Mac, an Alaskan who was in LA visiting his daughter. As the timing was perfect, Mac had offered to be my tour guide around LA. Mac was an older man with many names, and personalities to match each one. Some might remember the chatter who seemed to be missing a space bar. Although not all saw humour in it, a few became adept at deciphering postings, asMacwouldposthismessagesinthisway. This personality would express his admiration for me, and, as I was chastising him, he would often have those in the room sympathizing with him. Another personality was the "young boy" who questioned everything and become indignant when it was suggested that it must be his bedtime. Then there was the one that was the cause of anything that wasn't working properly, namely Mac's computer. All in all, it made for interesting chatting, never boring when Mac was around..

    Contacting Mac late in the evening, we made the arrangements for the following morning. Mac would be at the hotel at 10am, and I was to be ready to go!! True to his word, Mac was there at that time and in minutes I was checked out of the hotel, and being ushered to his car. While Mac put my bags in the boot, I had to pass inspection by Jake, a small terrier, and, he thought, owner of Mac. Having claimed squatters rights on the front seat, Jake was reluctant to move and appeared to glower at me as he slunk to the back of the car. With the seating sorted out, (until I moved and then Jake snaffled the seat again) we set off for Las Vegas.

    Another long drive, another long straight road. Apart from seeing trees unlike any I had seen before, there didn't appear to be much else of interest. I was intrigued to see an Outlet Centre in the middle of nowhere though. Despite there being no apparent community to support such a centre in that isolated location, the carpark was well populated. Was it just from passing traffic?? Offering to take over driving for awhile, I think I heard Jake agree. If I drove, then he could sit on Mac's knee! Pulling over to the side of the road, we changed seats and, with Jake balanced on Mac's knee, I cautiously joined the traffic heading to Las Vegas. As my confidence grew, so did my speed. Mac gave me a couple of reminders and I would slow down, but in some cars the speed just sneaks up, and this car was one of those. Saying that I was forgetting that I was driving in miles, not kilometers, was a reasonable excuse, don't think Mac bought it though. Glancing in the rear vision mirror, I was puzzled as to the profusion of lights. Asking Mac what they were, he turned to look then quietly told me that it was a police car. Uh oh.... I was waiting for an "I told you so" but that didn't happen. Being pulled over didn't happen either, the car flew past us, much to my relief. I had been working on excuses for my speed, luckily, one wasn't needed. A little further on, we saw the car, lights still flashing, at the scene of a minor accident. No wonder he wasn't worried about my small misdemeanor, he had bigger fish to chase.

    I drove until we came to a gas station where we pulled in for cold drinks, and to give Jake a walk. Getting out of the car was like walking into a furnace. The heat was oppressive and Jake showed sense in making his walk a very short one. Back on the road again, this time with Mac at the wheel. I hate to admit it, but I had wussed out of making a turn across both lanes of traffic. Before long, we were driving into Las Vegas. I knew that is where we must be, even without the benefit of signs. Calling into a gas station, the first thing I saw inside was a row of slot machines! Nobody at home was going to believe it!! With the gas tank full again, we headed for the bright lights. Mac drove down the Strip, pointing out different sights. My head was on a swivel, so much to look at! Before we could do anything though, Jake had to be housed for the night. A few phone calls located a kennel and, shortly after, Jake was safely deposited, despite his protests.

     Locating space in a carpark, we parked the car and continued our sightseeing on foot. The sights started before we left the car park! A roller coaster, it's path winding around a casino? Mac had already pointed another atop a tall building. Shaking my head, there was no way that I could be coerced into going on either of them. My feet were going to stay firmly on the ground. We wove in and out of the casinos, playing a little in each, neither of us being very successful. The attire of the staff was extravagent and would have made Auckland's casino staff look rather bland. At times, I would stand back and watch other players, the variety of expressions was amusing, ranging through intense concentration to frustration, sometimes even boredom, and of course, smiles on the winners faces. Noting the time, we went to get the car and head downtown.Going back to where we had started from, we found the car park soon enough, shame we couldn't locate the car so easily! With every floor looking the same, finding the car took us over an hour! In Freemont Street, under a canopy covering the length of 4 blocks, we joined the throng and waited for the show to begin. Soon, sounds were heard overhead, and a little over 2 million lights played out a story. What planning it must take to program the lights to tell just not one story, but many, as the story changes frequently. With the show over, we checked out the downtown casinos with the same amount of success as earlier.........zilch!

    Now late and, with our day of traveling catching up with us, we called it a night. After checking into a small casino on the outskirts of town, I discovered that my room was on the first floor and there was no elevator! No way was I lugging those bags up a flight of stairs, and I couldn't ask Mac to carry them either, so, in the boot they stayed. I just hoped that the car would be in its place in the morning. It was. Back on the road early the next morning, collecting Jake on our way out of town, we were headed for the Hoover Dam. After about an hour of leisurely driving (one of Mac's sensible personalities must have been in control this time!) we arrived at our destination. The car parked and with Jake on a leash, we were ready to join the hordes walking around the top of the dam. Strolling in the sun, we came to the Nevada-Arizona state line. I walked back and forth a couple of times.....my first crossing on foot, of a state line. Intrigued at the realisation that one moment I was standing in Nevada, a few steps further on and I was in Arizona. With NZ having no state lines, this was a novelty. I declined to take the tour of the inner workings, content to stand at the top and peer over the side. The place is huge!!! After studying the monument, dedicated to the 96 men who lost their lives while working on the dam, we made our way back to the car and soon, were on the road again, a long drive facing us before we would be in LA again. As the rocky hills receded behind us, the landscape became monotonous, very little to see apart from the occasional small town we passed through, and some of those I missed if I blinked at the wrong time. There was a brief moment of excitement when a cloud of dust was seen in the distance, appearing to race along the ground, twisting as it went. I convinced myself that I would be seeing my first tornado, or, at the very least, be in the middle of a dust storm. Wrong! As we got closer, there was nothing to see apart from some tumbleweed gently rolling along the ground.

     Stopping in Laughlin long enough to stretch our legs, get a quick lunch, and let Jake have a walk then back to the driving. There was still some distance to LA. Hours later, I knew we were getting closer by the increase in the traffic. Soon, we were on a busy highway, and Mac's relaxed driving changed. Time for me to close my eyes! Mac kept up a running commentary as to our location, also about other driver's ignorance in trying to cut us off and the fact that he wasn't going to move for anyone! I silently apologised to Caro, I think she might have just been preparing me for the LA traffic.