For the most parts generally people I have come across either love or loath Marmite (a savoury spread you generally put on buttered toast). However if forced to confess that I really love marmite but only in small amounts & not particularly often & I think this is probably how I feel about Las Vegas.

Having visited once with my daughter on a previous trip I had been slightly overwhelmed by the noise & bustle yet somehow compelled to explore the place. We had fun & the place sort of leaves a mark on you but I was generally in no hurry to return.

So when it transpired that the only place it seemed in the whole of the USA we could pick up a C19 for the dates we wanted was Las Vegas I was of mixed feelings. My road trip buddy had never been nor it seemed was very keen either but I felt it was somewhere that everyone should try to visit at least once.

Which is how we came to find ourselves booked in to a Hotel with a Casino & 72 lane bowling alley. An overnight stop is a requirement of the hire firm before picking up the van so we made our way on a gloriously hot day to spend some time by the hotel pool. I was still suffering from a ‘post festival virus’ so sadly didn’t venture in despite it looking very tempting.

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We then decided to give the 10 pin bowling a go & had great fun slinging brightly coloured balls down the slippery tracks to knock over the little white pins. After winning a game each we retreated to sleep in preparation for collecting ‘Martha’ the next day.

Trouble with the mobile phone meant we couldn’t call & consequently flummoxed the staff by turning up earlier than they expected. In their rush to get the van ready they nearly managed to leave a few vital items out so we were glad our previous experience meant that in the pre leave checks we were able to alert them to this! 

Still once aboard we set the sat nav for the short drive to Sams Town KoA where I had booked us in. I had stayed here before & knew it was close to a supermarket for stocking up & was near a shuttle bus service that we could take down to The Strip. I am brave but I didn’t fancy driving the van in the crazy city traffic. 

Part of the joy of our trips is going to do very American things that we have only seen or heard about in films or tv. So when the opportunity to ‘go to a ball game ‘ presented itself we found ourselves in an Uber going across town to watch the Las Vegas Aviators at home to Tacoma Rainiers. I admit to knowing nothing about the game other than it involved whacking a ball & running to various posts akin to the game of rounders I had played as a kid. In the UK the only sport I had watched in a stadium was rugby that involves sitting in the cold for what seems like hours while two teams run about getting muddy so I was not convinced I was in for a good time.

However it turned out to be a brilliant evening. For one it was warm and balmy & the atmosphere was very welcoming. We discovered that our ticket meant we could wander & sit pretty much were we felt like & you could get refreshments easily. The grounds were well lit, clean & the service great & despite our non existent knowledge of the game I loved the relaxed family atmosphere. I have made a mental note to try & brush up on the rules incase I am lucky enough to get to go again.

The next day we ventured to the heart of Vegas which was pretty much the same busy mad place I had been to last time. My buddy I think was truly relieved to leave after a pretty full day roaming around exposed all manner of bewildering things designed to tempt you into parting with your cash.

The next day we fired up Martha & headed for the first of the National Parks we intended to try & visit.