The Long Way Back
On the third day, we went east of Vegas in search of open road and donkeys.
We drove to Kingman, Arizona, and hopped on Route 66. It was relaxing and peaceful as we wound our way down this desolate road of dry beauty.
No hurry. Just the road.
Midway through, we arrived in Oatman, Arizona — an old ghost town filled with trinkets and gift shops.
Some of the shops were a little less than desirable, but it didn’t matter because the main attraction is the donkeys.
The real locals of Oatman.
They come right up to your car. And if you’re inside a gift shop, they’re usually right behind you, expecting a treat.
It’s cute.
It’s fun.
If you’re nearby, stop in and say hi to Julie at Judy’s Saloon. She’s the new owner of this historic watering hole.
She was quite possibly the nicest person we met on the entire trip.
Julie at Judy’s Saloon — pure kindness, no strings attached.
My sister Sara had been admiring an old clock that had hung on the wall behind the bar for years. Julie reached up, grabbed it off the wall, and handed it to her.
—But no. That was too much. Sara couldn’t accept her kindness.
Julie, you’re all tops in my book. 👍
Oatman doesn’t take itself too seriously — neither did we.
Up Next
We drove on to Laughlin, Nevada, for a little gambling. It’s a stretch of casinos that sit right next to the Davis Dam.
Of course, I lost — imagine that! 😃
Where’s Stu? Right there.
Still, it was a great day. The sunset on the drive back was more than we deserved.
The Finale
On the fourth day, we relaxed in Vegas. I didn’t do much — slept in and gave the casino a few more of my dollar bills.
That night, we saw Mad Apple. A group of insanely talented people from all over the world — acrobats, dancers, musicians, comedians, and athletes — all packed into one amazing show.
Exactly what you’d expect from Vegas.
I enjoyed it very much.
The curtain call — a good way to end the night.
And then the last day came.
An Uber ride.
A couple of airplanes.
And a quiet drive down the mountain from Asheville.
Up next:
I Wanna Go — Episode 5
