Vegas Baby!

With my left hand continuing to remind me of the events of the previous day, it’s time to leave Death Valley and hit the road to Vegas. UFC 194 is only a week away!

Death Valley has been everything but its name – it’s a place of life, of beauty, of wonder and grandeur, a place of achievement that will long live with me.

I’m sad to see it fade in the rear view mirror, but lingering here would be a mistake and might start to erode the esteem I hold it in and the joy of the moments it has brought me.

I don’t want to depart the valley the same way I entered it so I head, somewhat counter intuitively North to Beatty, before turning east for the haul to Vegas.

Yet another climb into the surrounding mountains is required, indeed I reflect that almost nowhere here do you drive on level ground – you are always ascending or descending, even if the road looks flat it will be gently sloping up or down.

Charlotte makes it out, handling the ups and downs with ease in Cruise Control mode, which keeps her from speeding downhill or slowing uphill.

We turn right towards Lathrop Wells and Chugg along at 70 mph on the interstate.

The only point of interest this morning is the appearance of  the following entreaty in the middle of what looks like an abandoned truck stop near Armagosa Valley.

You can’t blame a girl for trying I suppose.

The trip to Vegas is only about 2 hours, and I’ve been told to drop into the Pahrump Winery on the way. Its one of only 3 wineries in the Nevada valley, but has awards coming out of its proverbial.

Its a pretty place, tastings are free – and delicious. There is one particularly strange wine – their 2013 Nevada Syrah. Planted in the shade of Eucalyptus trees, the grapes took on their flavour to the chagrin of the winemaker, who still managed to turn it into an award winning wine. I’m not sure about it – I just can’t get past the genuine eucalyptus after taste – it feels like I’m brushing my teeth and drinking wine at the same time.

My visit here has further reward than mere wine.

In conversation with the pourers, I’m told that the Mosconi cup is starting in Vegas tomorrow – I would probably never have found that out on my own. And as a massive fan, I add this to the must do list – hoping tickets are not already sold out.

As I hinted at the start one of the reasons to head to Vegas is UFC194 – Aldo v McGregor. Tickets are prohibitively expensive – 800 USD for bleachers where you can only see a screen, up to 2 and 3 grand for decent seats.

Out of my budget, but then had come up with a cunning plan – I’ll just ask the UFC to give me one. So I had started to tweet (yes finally at my late age I understand social media) “Melb boy trekking US in van. Missed RondaHolm. Will do ANYJOB for ticket #ufc194, #thankmelb, #request1 @danawhite #persevere”

My idea was to bombard the UFC and the twitterverse with the so many requests that they might feel pity or me and grant me a boon.

As I leave Pahrump I’m up to request #50, when a new idea comes to me – I’ll suggest jobs I can do.

Over the next few days those will range from “commonsenseadvisor to Reebok” to “whitecaneminder for the judges” to “Spitoonwasher”

I’m getting some support – re-tweeted by a few people, but still nothing from the UFC.

#perserve though, so I will continue.

But I digress.

I arrive in Vegas and head to the Tropicana Casino, where the Mosconi cup will be held.

It’s one of the older less fashionable Casinos,  a little way down the strip but I find a park out the back in a quiet spot. I go in and find that tickets are available for tomorrow’s opening session at $40.

Of course I buy one, before heading out to investigate the strip.

<EDITOR’S INTERRUPTION>

Valdis arrived Sunday Dec 6. UFC194 was Sat Dec 12. Valdis departed Vegas Tuesday Dec 15.

In keeping with the time honoured tradition that what goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas, much of the week’s activities can not be revealed here.

After independent examination by a panel of arbiters, the following comments alone can be made public:

• Mosconi Cup Day 1 was brilliant. (Europe eventually defended their 5 year reign defeating the US)
• The tweet barrage stuttered to a halt at request#77 and did not result in a free ticket. McGregor KO’d Aldo in 13 secs for the win though.
• 3 fabulous hours were spent at the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum playing machines from the 50s through to the 2000s
• The Wicked Spoon buffet at the Cosmopolitan is better than the famous buffet at the Bellagio
• A shout out to Patrick Schaeffer – all round good guy and Vegas hustler – enjoy the Bison shooting in the new year!
• The Boys at Banger Brewing rock – thanks for the tour and fine beer.
• Valdis had a good time in Vegas!

Vegas baby!