After getting up at 6am we arrived
bleary eyed at Gatwick. Out flight looked as though it was on time so we grabbed
a couple of bacon butties and wandered round the airport until it was time to
board. There were a few groups of scooterists hanging around. A grueling 16
hours later we arrived in Las Vegas. Shared a limousine with some other Brits
and checked in at the hotel (The Riviera). Totally spaced out we grabbed some
food and headed to the bar. We only managed to stay up until 2230 hours local
time (we had been up for over 24 hours!) before we crashed out in out room.
DAY 1 – Friday 18th
Bloody body clocks – we were wide awake at 0510 hours. We decided to get up and
wandered up “The Strip” to find some breakfast. We didn’t realise how far The
Strip went and it looked as though we went right to the other end – about 3.5
miles – and had some breakfast in Denny’s. Denny’s is not recommended for those
who have a weak stomach. We got back to the hotel (my feet are now a bit sore
from the walking) and chilled out for an hour or so before heading downtown to
have a look at the old strip. It started to rain just as we got to the corner –
who says the desert is always hot? We jumped on the next bus and went downtown
to the old Strip. We were soaked through and decided to take refuge in a casino
bar (as you do!). Had a couple of pints to let ourselves dry off and then headed
back to the hotel as there appeared to be nothing much happening. Bumped into a
few Brits back in the hotel bar. Andy went back to the room to get some more
money so we could get down to the Gold Spike (where the American contingent were
staying) to pick up tickets for tonight and tomorrow. He came back with John
Foskett (AFSC) who had told Andy he was getting married that afternoon and could
we be witnesses cos the people he had asked the night before were so pissed up
that he didn’t think they would remember. So we got a cab down to the Gold Spike
to get our tickets (didn’t even need any for the Friday night – it was pay at
the door) had a quick beer and then dashed back to the hotel wedding chapel to
witness John and Sarah’s marriage. It was a lovely ceremony and as soon as the
happy couple had their photos done it was off to the bar (again!). John & Sarah
went off for dinner with parents and we had some fast food before heading off to
the all nighter Vegas Shakedown in the New Frontier Casino (we missed out on the
Brits pub crawl!). Met loads of American scooterists and got thoroughly pissed.
Also bumped into Tetley (AFSC). Last time I remember looking at my watch it was
0530. John tells me he and Sarah left when everyone was getting chucked out and
went back to the hotel bar until 0830!!
DAY 2 – Saturday 19th
When we eventually managed to prise ourselves off the bed and had taken some
Paracetamol to cure the headaches we fancied some nice breakfast. Everywhere was
packed so we ended up in McDonalds (not the first time nor the last I suppose)
for Big Macs! Then went to the Westward Ho Casino in search of the scooter show.
There were a good number of scooters there so I decided to head back to the
hotel to get the camera. As soon as I got there the heavens opened up again and
it started pissing down. Oh well – nothing for it but to find another bar! A few
bottles of beer later and a snooze it was time to head down to the Sahara for
the evening Vegas Scoot Do. There were 2 bands playing – The Unsteady who
weren’t too bad and then the All Mod Cons who were really bad. Never mind the
beer was flowing at a steady rate and the DJs were playing cool tunes which was
good until they started running out of beer! One of the biggest hotels in Las
Vegas and they start running out of beer? Hey ho we were knackered anyway so I
think we left around 0230 and headed off to bed – it was raining again!
DAY 3 – Sunday 20th
Slept much better and longer last night (thank god) and when we got up it was
sunny – yippee no rain! Donned tee-shirts and headed off up the strip for a look
at the Vegas sites (better in the dark when all the lights are on but in the
sunshine it was nice too). Everywhere was really busy with tourists! All you can
hear in Vegas is the sounds of the slot machines. Not much scooter stuff
happening today but we did go down to Skinny Duggans Pub where they had a BBQ,
DJs, raffles and gymkhana. We arrived just as the gymkhana was on and grabbed
some beer. The gymkhana suddenly ended when one guy trashed his scooter and
busted his leg. I’ve never seen an ambulance arrive so fast. Then a fire engine!
Then a copper on a bike! The live band playing were the Aggrolites who were
really good. Got back to the hotel bar later that night and had a drink with a
few of the brits there. Most people were going home tomorrow so not many were
out. Really good day today – it helped that it didn’t rain much.
DAY 4 – Monday 21st
Its raining again – persistently! What to do? Hired a car and went to have a
look at the Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon (which is supposed to be
spectacular). There was so much rain and flooding on the roads the canyon was
closed so we handed the car back early afternoon and went to another bar (had to
get out of the rain!). Later on we went to the Double Down Saloon which is a
punk bar and had a great time. Had to get up early to catch our flight so
couldn’t stay too late or get too drunk. I think we managed to prise ourselves
off the bar stools at around 2ish and crashed out as soon as we got back to the
hotel.
DAY 5 – Tuesday 22nd
Feel like crap and we have to get flight home today – never mind we slept a lot
on the flight home and got back to Gatwick to the snow and ice. Good to be home.
Vegas was great for a scooter do and I can’t wait until the next one.
Mo Collins
