Through the Mojave

After three nights in Vegas, it was time to check out. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay with our two shows and good dining and we especially enjoyed the Vdara with its central location. We opted for one more kick at Mon Ami Gabi for breakfast. We sat outside immediately opposite the Bellagio and had delicious eggs bene and perhaps a wake up cocktail. By 11:00 we were on the road heading back to Cathedral City. Bill Fraser offered a more interesting route home through the Mojave Desert. So once we entered California we headed out on secondary roads across the desert. We find that desert topography has a special magic, so the camera was pretty active. Our first stop at the historic train station at Kelso, the heart of military training for WW2. Further down the road, we passed a totally retro gas station on the short stretch of the original Route 66 that was also part of our route.

Next, we passed an extinct basalt crater and then drove through the salt flats of a dry lake bed where they sucked up water to allow the salt to be left behind after evaporation. As we passed through Yucca Valley, we headed up into the hills to Pioneertown for a fabulous lunch of ribs at Pappy and Hariettes, a favourite hangout for locals. The day finished by returning the rental and sucking up some California juice chez Fraser.