Kara's Update!!!

DAY 4 Thurs Nov 8th:

Woke up at six for the sunrise. We all rushed around, still half asleep, until 615 when we ran off to the bus. We ended up stopping at Powell Point which was a lot less crowded than Hoapi (where we watched the sunset last night) and still had an amazing view. It rose at 658 and we were able to catch the 718 bus back to our hotel. Somehow we all showered and got the car packed in two hours!! Thankfully this is the last time we have to put the car top carrier on Dante. As useful as it is, it sure is a pain in all of our bums to get it on and off the car. Pretty sure we all have battle scars from it!!

We got on the road around eleven (only ten in Vegas) and headed to Kingman!! This was the place where turquoise was originally found. Samm's mom told us to stop there to get some jewelry so we did just that! We both got really pretty rings and the clerk was delighted when Miles got pumped about a squirrel necklace they had in the case. From there it was on to the Hoover Dam!! We had to go through a security check point and I think we all had mild heart attacks when they told us we had to pull over so they could look in our carrier. Now I guess I didn't properly explain how it works. This carrier is a large bag that zips shut and is held in place by four straps, three running from the front to back of the car and one running from side to side. Sounds simple enough but these straps are a pain to get on in off, not to mention moving the bag itself. The guys got out to take care of business but thankfully the officers decided they only needed them to unzip it a few inches. After the delight of not having to deal with that carrier again we found a parking spot and got out to explore the Dam!!!! It sure was something to see... We got more awesome pictures and were actually able to be in two places at once (the border of Arizona and Nevada).

After that it was less than an hour to Brandi and Jeromy's where they were making us homemade lasagna and pasta. Eric was there too so the eight of us had a nice family style dinner. It was nice being with a lot of my island friends, but this time in nicer accommodations! We headed to the pool and hot tub after all the dishes were done and hung out there until Greg and Miles left to pick up Jen from the airport. We were all exhausted but decided we wouldn't waste any time in Vegas. Jeromy was nice enough to drive us to meet a friend of Miles' at an outside mall just outside the strip. We hung out there for a bit before splitting ways. Katie, Miles and Samm headed back to the apartment while Greg, Jen and myself went to the strip. I think if it weren't for Gregory, Jen and I would have been perfectly content hanging out in the convenience store with the clerks Danny and Frank all night! We were so excited that we could crack open our tall boys in the store and walk out onto the street with them that we got several pictures in that place. After Greg finally got us out of there (yes he had to try more than once) we ran across the street to the Mandalay Bay. There we gambled a little (or rather Greg and Jen gambled while I mostly just sat at the slots) and got some free drinks before heading back to crash. After a very long ride with a cabbie who was more lost then us, we scaled the fence to get into the complex where Eric let us into the apartment. So pumped to sleep in tomorrow!!