Laughlin, NV

Well, this is night two in Laughlin and we have covered some territory since leaving Pahrump.  Even though it’s a short drive if you take the big roads, we don’t like that option.  After checking out of the Pahrump Nugget, we went to breakfast at Mom’s Diner (Our food is so good, you’ll think we stole your Mama).  We really enjoy the diner and make it a point to have breakfast there whenever we pass through.  Our next stop was Lakeview Executive Golf Course which is mostly par threes, but has a few par fours (and a lot of water, unusual in the desert, but it’s been a wet year).  Had fun and we both did well, so that was a plus.

Leaving Pahrump, my superior sense of direction led us to a multitude of dead end roads and turn-arounds.  One of the interesting dead end roads took us to the Chicken Ranch and Stella’s Little Bordello (tours available – women welcome).  It never ceases to amaze us what goes on in the less populated parts of this state.  Finally resorted to checking WAZE to find the proper route.  It’s a beautiful drive through the desert along the old Spanish Trail to Tecopa, CA and then to Baker, CA where we hit I-15.  Stayed on the Interstate for a while and then cut off at Nipton over to Searchlight, NV, then south to Laughlin.  Except for the short stretch on I-15, it’s all two lane roads through the desert and mountains.  Not much traffic, except for the occasional RV and off-road vehicles.

We’re staying at Harrah’s in a room overlooking the Colorado River which is running really full.  This Spring is an anomaly in the desert because of the heavy rains and snowfall in the mountains – rivers are running full and there is even water in some of the washes which are normally dry. Flowers, cactus, and Joshua trees are in full bloom.  Monday morning we drove up to Kingman, AZ which is a major tourist attraction based on Route 66 history.  Lots of tourist traps capitalizing on Kingman’s location on the Mother Road from Chicago to California.  On various trips, we have followed some portions of the old Route 66.  If you’ve ever seen Cars (the movie), you get some idea of the area and how various towns were bypassed when the Interstates were built.  Still fun to see the area.  We played golf at the Cerbat Cliffs Golf Course, but didn’t have as good an experience as we had the day before.  Not because of the course – it was beautiful, just one of those days when nothing seems to go right.  Didn’t help that there was a healthy wind blowing.  But the weather was warm and it was good to be out on course. This is Hole #4, long par 4 to the base of the cliffs.

There are some fascinating geological mountains on the road down from Kingman (elevation 3300’) to Laughlin.

Stopped in the Tropicana for lunch at Brew Brothers.  The Eldorado Corporation has really expanded their casino operation, including buying the Tropicana and its’ associated operations in various cities.  We had had dinner at the Brew Brothers in Erie, PA (another of the Eldorado expansion spots) and it’s kind of fun to see how they each are run differently, but with the same ambiance and similar beer/food menus.  Originally planned to play golf tomorrow (Tuesday), but the weather forecast is for more wind and rain, so I think that plan is out the window.