I researched track schedules and tried with all my might to line up two events in one vacation. I had seen that Elton John was performing in Vegas and wouldn't it be SO cool to see BOTH! Alas, luck was not on my side. Elton would be taking a break until October. No concert for me.
Mark and I both love the motorcycle. Not too many things in our marriage bring such joy and togetherness than jumping on the bike and going. Anywhere. Around the block is as satisfying as around town, around the state, or (soon to be) around the nation. I love this time together and hope beyond all hopes that my motorcycle-riding-extravaganza lasts for many years.
Upon scouring the internet for racetrack events in Vegas, I ran across "The Night of Fire". They were doing races and fireworks would follow and complete the fun-filled evening. Mark said (in January when I bought the tickets and it was snowing and cold and felt like it would NEVER be warm again) "We'll take the bike." I agreed. It would be so wonderful, right?
OHMY GOSH it was so hot I thought I might die. No lie. You don't get away from the sun and heat on a motorcycle and 108˚ is pretty dang hot.
In 2005, Cameron Crowe directed Elizabethtown starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst. IMDb states that "After causing a loss of almost one billion dollars in his company, the shoe designer Drew Baylor decides to commit suicide. However, in the exact moment of his act of despair, he receives a phone call from his sister telling him that his beloved father had just died in Elizabethtown, and he should bring him back since his mother had problems with the relatives of his father. He travels in an empty red eye flight and meets the attendant Claire Colburn, who changes his view and perspective of life."
Kirsten Dunst is the stewardess. She is cute, quirky, super nice and fun to be around. Every time Claire wanted to memorialize a moment, she lifts her hands to hold an imaginary camera and "clicks".
That's how this trip went for me. I've been fortunate enough to ride with Theresa and Jan. Let me tell you, those two sit on their bikes with the hubbies, see something cool, reach up and snap HUNDREDS of pictures in a day. It is so fun to go back through the pics and re-see our experiences. However, because I shake so dang bad, I don't take picture and have relied on others to rise to that task.
Sunday morning, Mark and I donned our riding gear. After riding to the Pepsi store to see Pam and get my Lifesavers for the road. We were off.
Neither of us enjoy freeway riding, so routes are mapped through small towns on highways with open fields and plenty of kids to direct our waves. When we stop for gas or food, we talk to the locals and hear stories that are intriguing and entertaining.
When I was diagnosed with this interrupt-your-life brain disease, dad and Arlene told me that I should apply with the government and get an Access Card to all of the National Parks. I did. I got a pass and have used it immensely! This trip we traveled through Zion National Park (yes, it's a must-see) and stopped in St. George for fuel and food. That's when we started heating up. Hot. So hot.
After 12 hours on the bike, we made it to Vegas. Cool showers followed by motel television and snacks. What a great night.
Morning began with Bagels at Einstein Bros. and off we went to check out the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. We rode to the dam and headed for Lake Mead. I was beginning to heat up. We brought ice water along and our cup was running out of ice and the water was luke warm at best. I was so hot I thought I might melt. So what did we do? Trudged a few yards fully clothed out into the lake and sat down in the water. Click. Click. Click. My camera was going nuts.
I clicked away as I visited with my I-love-her-so-very-much mother-in-law that isn't married to my father-in-law any longer. Time progressed forward and all-too-soon it was time to go, shower and head to the race track. The hotel was maybe 20 minutes away and in that short amount of time, we heated up beyond our maximum capacity.
No way was I sitting in the sun and heat to watch cars go around in circles. No amount of up-in-the-sky fireworks could entice me to leave the air conditioning of the hotel room. No way. Nuh-uh. Ain't gonna happen.
After cool showers and full bellies I was flipping through the channels when I landed on MTV in time to view Adelle in concert. She is so talented, isn't she? It was so fun to watch and I was kinda sad when it ended. I began to think that I wanted to brave the heat and head to the racetrack. After all, that was the whole reason I was there. Right?
The television was still on MTV when Elton John began to play. OHMYGOSH! I absolutely LOVE him. Heck with stupid fireworks. We watched him and loved every single minute of our up-close-and-personal air conditioned concert. More clicks from my camera.
The following day found us homeward bound. Nearly 9 hours into the adventure the sun was perfect. The sprinklers were watering the fields. The air was cool but not cold. Mark leans back to say "I love riding like this."
My camera is full. Full of pics and memories and plans to see Elton John and the races "for real". Aren't we fortunate to have memories? Click away. Don't forget to click on the simple things. Just click. And fill up the "memory" card. And, yeah, he's my favorite click....
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