Donald's Vacation 2011 - Day 18

Awoke early this morning and then after the ablution process, found Rich in the kitchen busily engaged in a concise cooking effort which later resulted in my being presented with a marvelous breakfast of bacon, eggs over easy and American style round toast, washed down with Cranberry Juice and coffee.

Rich then showed me some of his inventions. I was intrigued with his device for waking sleepy car drivers. It relies on the driver constantly pushing a button when feeling he or she may be fatigued. If that driver fails to press the button within a certain time, an alarm sounds. I could immediately see the practicality of such a device if it were to be fitted into the steering wheel. Simple but effective – much easier to get working than a rather more complicated computerized arrangement that monitors the eyeballs.

Adrienne greeted us with her presence at the sensible time of 10.00ish and I found it very easy to converse with her on a myriad of subjects. We fed off each other very well.

Rich then presented me with a floppy hat to wear knowing it would suit me, and another surprise. He was going to take me for a spin in his prized MG sports car. I knew he had one and drove about in it – but I didn’t know that I was going to be offered to be seen floating about in it.

We went for quite a long drive through back roads with little traffic. Most were tree lined with the branches forming an arch over the road. Lush greenery everywhere, both in open fields and lush lawns in front of interesting and picturesque houses. I was taken aback out how neat everything was. Pride was evident in the presentation of each household – none had rusting old cars or other debris lying about. A lot had Old Glory proudly flying. Why not? Why not be proud of your country and display its colours.

We came then upon a dairy farm which sold direct to the public. Whilst Rich had to see a man about a dog, I went and talked to the cows, who although weren’t all that pleased to see me drop in on their meal break, they nevertheless weren't all that perturbed.

Rich had brought me to this place to cap of the excursion with home made ice-cream. He warned me to just order a single cone. Just as well I did as it was the obligatory jumbo size.

On arriving back at the house, Rich showed me some more of his movie collection and I saw some of his various photographic efforts. He also took the time to show me how a simple idea could save time and money. It was a cardboard box with a much simpler clipping together methodology. I would not have noticed, but Rich told me that such an idea would save thousands in tooling costs. You live and learn.

Soon my brief sojourn in my friend’s home was to end and I was whisked off to the airport to continue on my way, happy in the knowledge that I had been given such wonderful and warm hospitality. I hope that one day I can return their hospitality in Oz.

The journey to Las Vegas lasted 4 hours - but it wasn't all that bad considering i got to put the clock back three hours. I was sitting next to a Canadian women and we engaged in snippets of conversation. On my other side was a middle-aged Chinese woman who assisted us both when the Canadian woman wanted to get out to go to the lavatory, by remaining in her seat. I did by best to trample on her.

Las Vegas airport was choc-a-bloc and there was a queue a mile long to get a taxi. Eventually I made it to the end of the line and was taken on a relatively short ride to the hotel which passed all the sights I needed to see in Las Vegas.

To say the Venetian Hotel is over the top would be an understatement. For one thing it must have over 2,000 rooms. To get into your room you have to queue up to even get to reception.

The lifts to the rooms make you walk past the gaming den. A place where people seem to gather at all hours of the day to give all their money away.

My room, or should I say suite is on the 25th floor overlooking the famous "strip". I have a huge marble bathroom, a bedroom and a step down living room and office.

Due to the fact that I have to be up early tomorrow and have had a long journey - I hit the sack rather early.