From White Owl Canyon
So, the plan was breakfast at 9:00 AM and get to White Owl Canyon at 10:00 AM. Well, we were up around 9:00 AMish and we could see the runners going by for the Vegas Strong 5k/1mi. There were some street closures, but they probably wouldn't have affected our trip. But, we were still running late. (what else is new, right)?
Good luck to all of the runners!
We did make a reservation the previous night (they apparently only take reservations for breakfast). Scott was around and asked to join us. Even though it wasn't crowded, the issue is that there aren't many people working. The hostess was also bussing tables, and I think there was only one server working. I did start the day with a good breakfast (as typical Vegas breakfasts should be).
Farmhouse breakfast!
We had comps to use, and we used them! We then headed off for White Owl Canyon, and we arrived there close to noon.
The start of the trail!
So, one thing Kip didn't realize was that the start of the trail was a bit of a scramble. From the NPS page, "The Owl Canyon hike starts out with a 70-foot (21-meter) descent along an unmaintained path near the middle picnic shade structure". The map says, "Steep 45 ft drop". Kip was a wee bit nervous about the descent, but with encouragement from me and getting her confidence, she made the decent. Once at the bottom, we kinda lost the trail and went up another hill.
I knew we should have made the left at Albuquerque!
So if I had read the NPS page, I would have known to follow the left path, which we finally figured out. One strange thing I saw were all of the seashells.
Odd seeing seashells in the desert!
From the NPS page (if you didn't already go to the link I provided):
Once in the canyon, the steep sides provide a shaded area. Look closely for animal signs, including droppings from birds on the ledges above your head. The sculpted conglomerate rock provides convenient perches where owls have been seen nesting.
The narrow canyon opens just below Lakeshore Road where a culvert provides easy access under the road. You may continue up the wash and pass through a second culvert. Return the same route you came.
On the correct path now!
In the canyon.
Culvert One.
Second culvert.
Nearing the end.
This is the end!
A look into the valley.
A look back at the canyon.
Kip surveying.
The last scramble up!
It was still a bit warm, although not blazing hot. I meant to take an extra bottle of water to leave in the car but I forgot. I did have a large water bottle with me. We also didn't realize that it was 2.2 miles out and back, we thought it was 2.2 miles out. So I set a timer for us to go out for an hour and come back, but once we realized that it was only 1.1 miles out, we decided to make it to the end of the trail. Still, we are not in peak form, so it was a bit tasking. It was a fun hike, though, I'd do it again, but I'm not so sure Kip would want to take the scramble again.
Since we were down that way, we were going to do a bit of couponing in Henderson, but we were pretty tired, so we just at least decided to go to Emerald Island for lunch (using an LVA BOGO entree coupon). We got there around 3:00 PM. In addition to the restaurant comp, they had a promo where if you earned 100 points, you got to spin the Wheel of Cash to win up to $100.
We got cleaned up as best we could in the restroom, checked out the casino, got our slot cards and then were trying to figure out the wait for lunch. There was a line and they were calling names, so I asked how long the wait was. She said it wasn't too long, so I put in our name and we were deciding whether to start playing or not when we got called up.
The restaurant has a very diner feel to it I got the steak and shrimp, I believe Kip got salmon.
I thought this was my salad, but it was Kip's, but I already took a picture of it.
My salad!
Steak and shrimp!
Yes, the portion was huge and yes, I didn't finish it all, but it was good and I'd probably come back here.
So, Emerald Island is apparently famous for being the "All Penny Casino". Seems that almost all of the machines are penny machines. And an interesting thing is that some (if not all) of the penny VP machines have a better paytable than the 25c+ machines. But, you can play 100 pennies, so you can play a full pay machine for $1 a spin, or a lesser machine for $1.25 a spin. We found some 1c Not So Ugly Deuces machine that had a progressive royal. We didn't hit any natural royals, but I hit three dirty ones and Kip hit one. I managed to be even, I'm not sure how Kip did.
So we earned our Wheel of Cash spins and went back to the slot club to get our vouchers. We went to the wheel area where an attendant met us. Kip gave the first spin and it around and around, and finally stopped on a space that said, "Spin Again". The attendants were getting excited though, excited about another spin, we weren't sure what that was about. But then the attendant removed the "Spin Again" label to reveal $100! Kip won $100! Woohoo! Now it was my turn, and that was a hard act to follow, and sure enough, I ended up winning $10. But $110 between the two of us, that's pretty good!
Emerald Island is a cute, little casino, but very smoky! That might be the one reason not to go back. . .
We had to take Scott to the airport, so we told him we'd pick him up around 6:45 PM at the valet at The D. We dropped him off at the airport and headed back to El Cortez for a little bit of play before headed back to Starboard Tack for dinner with Bob. Back at The 'Tack, I got a Starboard Taquiri and a loco moco.
Starboard Taquiri!
Loco Moco!
I did need to fill up the car with gas, so GasBuddy found a "cheap" place for me to fill up at a Rebel station out on E. Bonanza. It was $73.75 for 13.535 gallons ($5.449/gal)! But, I did save $1.07 using my GasBuddy card. I always remind myself not to complain about gas prices back home. . .
We got back to El Cortez and put in an hour or so more play in. . .
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