Part 8 Welcome to Nevada

While at the Grand Canyon we met a couple that told us there were restrictions on motor homes driving over the Hoover Dam. So, we plotted our course accordingly. While on the way while fueling up, we wanted to verify exactly what restrictions applied to vehicles going over the Dam. We called the Hoover Dam information number and found out that motor homes ARE allowed to cross over the Dam; they are just required to undergo a vehicle inspection. That helped shorten our expected drive very nicely!
The drive into, across and out of the Dam area was our first experience with the motor home on twisting, and (relatively) mountain type road. There was a good deal of traffic and congestion in the parking areas so we decided to return by car once we were camped in Vegas.
We were welcomed to Las Vegas by record high temperatures. Our five night stay just happened to be a heat wave that topped the charts. We arrived on Thursday with the temperature over 105’. Friday and Saturday the temperature “baked” us at 115’. Sunday we “simmered” at 108’. They say it should get back to normal at around 100’ just in time for us to leave. But fear not… IT’S DRY HEAT! … BULL!!! We’re thinking of “ditching” Gnorm and leaving him in the motor home so we can utilize the space in our knapsack for water bottles!
We “sweated” our way into the Circus Circus KOA campground and when we stepped out of the camper, the twenty-five foot walk into the Registration building was all we needed to know about “dry heat!” Once into the air conditioned building it took a second or two for our throats to gulp the cool air so we could talk to the receptionist.
It cost us a few more dollars but the receptionist wisely suggested she put us in a site where the sun would not be directed into our expansive front windows… the five bucks extra per night is worth every penny!
Realizing we were in an “oven without a door” we had to deal with the heat. We headed out on foot to experience “The Strip!” The short walk to the Circus Circus Casino put us almost in the mid-section of the 12 mile “Strip.” We learned early on to take the “Duce” bus system up and down the “Strip.” But, for our first evening in Las Vegas, we introduced ourselves to the Circus Circus, Slots of Fun, Riviera and the Sarah Casinos on foot. Judging by this "really big" slot machine, you know Vegas is serious about it's slot machines!

Fortunately, most of that was done in the “cool” of the night temperatures of just under 100’!
Tomorrow, Hoover Dam!