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It was one of those "let's go, it'll be fun" trips -- so it was off to Vegas for New Year's.
Now as most of you know, Vegas is always a difficult non-rev destination, add to that the New Year's holiday and we didn't even bother to look at loads; it was road trip all the way.
Vegas is about 280 miles from L.A. Normally it takes us about 5 hours, with a halfway rest/food/gas/ stop in Barstow.
The road to Vegas
-Desert- Barstow(In-N-Out Burger) - desert-Baker(the world's largest thermometer) - desert-Primm(Primm straddles the California/Nevada border 3 casinos) - still more desert- Vegas.
I suppose I should mention there's an enigmatic road sign, ZZYZX ROAD, and a lot of signs advertising the Mad Greek roadside diner. I have never investigated the road or the diner, although it is my intention to one day turn onto Zzyzx Road and see where it takes me, besides of course, to the end of the alphabet.
The idea was to leave a day or two early and beat the other 300,000+ out-of-towners heading for Vegas. So we left on the 29th, we still ran into heavy traffic, in fact it was bumper-to-bumper from Primm right into Vegas. The only saving grace being we weren't drving a stick. Although the guy driving the silver BMW M6 convertible in front of us for 50+ miles didn't seem particularly unhappy shifting gears.
Finally we came up over a rise and before us Vegas; the light from the top of the Luxor pyramid piercing the night sky. Vegas was packed but we scored a nice holiday package at the LV Hilton, which is right off the Strip.
Red Rock Canyon
We weren't exactly enthusiatic about the plan---biking out to & through Red Rock Canyon. Somehow we're friends with a group of cycling nuts, who think bicycling for miles and miles and miles is great fun. Sooooo, when the fanatics put on their helmets and gloves and headed off into Vegas traffic, RJ and I jumped into the car and drove out to Red Rock Canyon. The Canyon is beautiful, and there's a 13-mile scenic drive loop which is great. By the time the bicycle brigade showed up, we had finished driving the loop and were in major relax mode. We waved a sandwich salute as the fanatics pedaled off into the Canyon. I have to say they did look happy, but trust me, no happier than RJ and me munching on sandwiches & pickles from the Carnegie Deli (in the Mirage Hotel)- I stop by every time I'm in Vegas--m'm m'm good!
New Year's Eve-Fireworks over the Strip
Fireworks launched from the roofs of seven hotels along the Strip. The Strip is shut down to traffic, wall to wall people.
My group skipped the hordes in the street and enjoyed the hotel's celebration on the pool deck. We could see the fireworks just fine from the lounge chairs. There was singing, some dancing, plenty of champage/hot chocolate and a crazy newlywed couple in tuxedo and wedding dress--it was great.
Brake Lights
The trip back to LA was slow. And I have to tell you, those electronic games with audible music, beeps, tweets and chirps, that normally don't bother you, will drive you absolutely crazy on a car trip. Take my advice, ban all musical instruments and audible electronic devices from the car, it will save your sanity and probably someone's life.
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) to make it in and out of Vegas at will. 
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