After being refused a late check out, we were given 5 minutes to vacate our room or face the wrath of some Latina maid. Okay, so in their defense it was 2pm when we asked (check-out was at 11am)!
Once we had checked-out, we were real keen to get out of Vegas as quick as possible but Chot found a couple of hundred dollars in chips in his back pocket. This was going to be fuel and food money for the day. We were saved! Vegas takes takes takes and gives back a little! The plan was to go get some chicken fried rice and then go up to Treasure Island to redeem the chips.
It was another scorching day and after food we picked up the car from valet – with a flat tire!! After trying to pump it and failing, we needed to find a joint to have the tire replaced quickly – realizing it was Sunday afternoon and places would likely already be closed. Vegas would not let us go. It was looking likely that we would have to spend another night here. An hour later we found a place that was soon to close and they kindly replaced the tire – for $200!
So we left Vegas at 17h to make the long 280-mile trip across to Santa Monica. We decided to go straight onto the I-15 and ride it for as long as possible.
It was an eventful trip, which saw us reminiscing about our Vegas antics and laughing about the nights before. At the same time we knew that our adventure was coming to an end. Chot would fly back to Chicago tomorrow and I would fly back to London the day after.
We were in for an experience as soon as we entered California. Drivers are so aggressive and crazy – swerving in and out of lanes, almost going bumper to bumper with others. They know no fear and it got us a little nervous. It was certainly different from the quiet lanes of the Mid-West.
We arrived in Santa Monica at 21h30, valeted the car and went straight out for some food – eating the best chicken wings known to man himself! We contemplated whether to have one last booze up but after checking out a few bars we decided to save energy for the last day tomorrow.
Tomorrow we will go and check out the Los Angeles area. I still cannot believe we are here. It is something I have dreamt about since I was a kid.
Today’s drive was 281 miles. That takes the entire trip up to 2800 miles. Click here to see the route traveled so far.
