Weightshifting

S2E25: Viva Las Vegas.

Oct 4, 2023

A small, light-colored Chihuaha dog on a large, neatly made bed with plush pillows against a textured wall with a framed picture of a paper plane.

Day 25: Oct 4, 2023
Apple Valley, UT →
Las Vegas, NV
Miles: 148

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Today’s 8:30 a.m. Zoom motivates us awake. I’m fortunate to be able to work from the road, though it does require some planning and commitment. Planning in being present with reliable cell service, and commitment in doing the work I’m paid to do and to execute well.

We break camp post-call, with Nevada as the goal. Vegas, baby. The driving is smooth, and we make decent time to Flower Child, a fast-casual restaurant with a few locations that we frequent on the road.

Water, food, and propane supplies are low. Today is resupply day, better known as “road chores.” We swing by Trader Joe’s for a few basics. Mothership Coffee is in the same shopping complex, and a bit of work beckons, so we post up for a bit.

Customers stand in a modern cafe with vibrant cosmic-themed wall art, under a ceiling with recessed lighting and hanging pendant lamps.

Water and propane are next on the list. I can’t find a propane refill station nearby, so I switch my attention to water. A search reveals a spot called The Water Bottle. We’ve used similar services before, but this particular one has some real character.

A water bottle refill station with a filtration system set into a bright blue wall, offering various payment options and water amounts.

A large blue water bottle-shaped structure housing a water refill station in a parking lot, with clear skies and a mountain in the background.

We have two potential campsites to investigate. However, Jen and I also discuss a hotel for tonight. We debate our options and check our credit card points. I have yet another meeting tomorrow, so stable internet is imperative, and cell service is unknown at these spots. Before we labor further on the subject, Jen hits “Book now,” and I drive towards the Strip.

A long, symmetrical hotel corridor with decorative carpet, framed by dark walls and lit by ceiling lights, creating a perspective leading to a vanishing point.

The Four Seasons is our destination. We stayed at the location in Malaysia, which was superb. We joke about our near-geriatric status, which necessitates a quiet atmosphere and attentive service, thus justifying our pick. Plus, we like to put those amassed credit card points to good use.

A man, Naz, is standing by a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the Las Vegas strip, holding Barb, our Chihuahua dog.

It’s located within the Mandalay Bay on the top four floors. We’re sort of Vegas Strip curious. We’ve been to the Strip once before, but didn’t fully immerse ourselves. We ponder the acronyms YOLO and FOMO.

We enter the concourse level of Mandalay Bay to get to the tram, which ferries visitors to the main part of the Strip at the Excalibur or Luxor. We leave the calm and maturity of the Four Seasons and literally open a door into the immediate madness of what Vegas is known for.

It’s another world.

An opulent casino interior with slot machines, ornate columns and ceilings, and vibrant carpeting, conveying the lively atmosphere of a gaming floor.

The smell of fake-flavored drinks, suntan lotion, and what is that… cigarette smoke(!) permeate the air. The flashing lights of slot machines assault our eyes, and otherwise dim lighting cause bewilderment and a bit of claustrophobia. Wandering families (what do kids do here?), dolled-up ladies ready for a night out, badged conference-goers, and enchanted others confident of their luck. But the house never loses, right?

We eventually find the tram station and step into a car, a cross-section of America surrounds us.

“Are we really doing this?”

We retreat just before the door closes, and immediately make our way back to the peaceful confines of the Four Seasons.

phew

We are not the target market. This part of Vegas, at least.

A nighttime view of the Las Vegas Strip, illuminated by the lights of famous hotels and casinos, with a clear view of the city's vibrant life and attractions.

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

What doesn’t happen in Vegas, makes us much happier.

A cozy hotel room interior at night with warm lighting, comfortable furniture, and a large window offering a view of the Las Vegas city lights outside.