More than a
year has passed since RaeRay’s Great Adventure, but memories never fade. We’ll
keep passing along stories of the more intriguing moments from time to time. Here’s
one that came to mind while looking over photos of places we stayed.
RaeRay’s
return trip from the Pacific took a frenzied pace as we realized time would not
allow us a visit to the Grand Canyon. In fact, getting home on the appointed
date was looking doubtful. So, after putting toes in the ocean at Coronado
Island, RaeRay raced toward Las Vegas, expecting to spend the night among its
bright lights. We visited Hoover Dam before entering the city that never
sleeps.
The first
few slots were unkind as we walked the strip from the dancing fountains of
the Bellagio to the rollercoaster atop New York New York. We took an
exciting ride on the coaster, before being disappointed by a Nathan’s Famous hot
dog. We’d seen enough by then. The road was calling again.
RaeRay left Vegas intent on crossing Nevada; however,
the next state line would be draped in darkness. We’d have to wait before the
border for morning to arrive. We made it to the town of Mesquite, home of the
Casa Blanca Hotel & Casino. We always looked ahead on the iPhone to find
lodging and other interesting information, so we knew that Casa Blanca was
full. But it also handled one wing of the closed-down Oasis Casino across the
street for runover rooms. That’s where they booked RaeRay.
Lights were
dim around the tattered hotel, and RaeRay was housed on the second level at the
rear of the building. It seemed safe enough, though, so father and daughter
settled in to recover from the day’s 417-mile drive.
Upon
awakening about 8 a.m., Dad couldn’t find daughter anywhere. Every dastardly
thought flashed through his imagination. He saw in his mind the headline: “Young
Woman Disappears From Mesquite Hotel.” Fear gripped him. He went to the door
and looked over the balcony. There she was smoking a cigarette next to the car.
RaeRay hit the road again about an hour later with
only a short drive to the Utah state line. The blood pressure was subsiding
slowly. Today’s drive would cover 669 miles. RaeRay needed to be relaxed.
Denver was waiting.
