Frogman goes to Vegas . . .

Frogman · September 24, 2010, 11:14:52 PM

My wife got to go to Las Vegas for a banking conference. I got to go too! We spent the week before the conference at her sister's place near LA. I posted about the two predator club meetings I attended while there in another post. I had been to Las vegas several times before to attend the Diver's Equipment Manufacturers Association (DEMA) Convention as a representative of my dive shop. My wife had never been there. Her expenses were covered. Mine were not?? She got to stay at the Venetian Resort. I did too!

Her room (I got to stay there too!) was really nice . . .

Everything is really expensive in Vegas. One day while my wife attended exciting banking meetings, I went out in front of the resort and caught a cab to the Bass Pro Shop which was about 10 miles away. The one way cab fare was $25.00 dollars. Including tips it cost me $60.00 just to go to Bass Pro Shop???

I did see a couple of coyotes there . . .

I almost begged the guys at Bass Pro to hook me up with someone who could take me out for some predator stands. I offered to pay for the gas and buy the meals!! I even offered to call the coyotes and let them shoot them! One of the guys in the hunting section was really nice. He took me down to the returns desk and introduced me to a girl whose husband was an avid predator hunter. He really tried to get me out, but his only day off was Wed. and his truck was broken down. He even tried several friends, but it was just too short notice and those coyotes in the store were the only ones I saw. I think I might have seen one from the plane from about 30,000 feet just after we left Vegas, but I'm not sure???

Vegas is just way over the top. Each resort and casino is trying to outdo the others to get people to attend and come in their casino. Here are some photos from our walks on the strip . . .

Above is a Las Vegas tree stand!!

The Las Vegas strip on a Friday evening.

Here are a couple of casino shots . . .

We put maybe $60.00 bucks or so in the slot machines?? The casinos is what pays for all this oppulance I guess.

I was very dissapointed that we could not find the Pawn Stars pawn shop. I probably walked further looking for it than I would have on a coyote stand?? I really wanted to see Rick, the Old Man and Cory and Chumlee?? Oh, well, guess I will just have to go back. Maybe the bank conference will be in Las Vegas again next year???

We did get to see a show called, "Jersey Boys". It was a musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Very good!

I never did get out for a coyte hunt??? I was really happy to get home where it is easier to go coyote hunting and there are trees!

Jim

Tikaani · September 24, 2010, 11:44:50 PM

Never been to Vegas, hotel sure looked nice. Now I have been to a Bass Pro Shop, they are pretty amazing, funny all that stuff to see in Vegas and its the BPS that has me intrigued, LOL.

John

KySongDog · September 25, 2010, 06:24:50 AM

I've been to Vegas many times. Over the top is a good way to describe it.

All casino games are called "Negative Expectancy" games. In other words, they are weighted in favor of the house. Some more than others but all of them give the edge to the house. So over millions and millions of throws of the dice or hands of cards or spins of the wheels, probability theory will ensure the house ends up with all of the money.

So they can afford to go "over the top".

iahntr · September 25, 2010, 11:08:25 AM

Thanks for puttin up the pics Jim. Like you said, it ain't huntin. But hey, a guys gotta
experience other things too. I've never been to Vegas, I'd like to go sometime
to check out all the sights too. Looks like a pretty nice place you were stayin in !

JohnP · September 25, 2010, 11:54:22 AM

I'm surprised that they let you take pictures inside the casino. We get out there three or four times a year, not to gamble, although I do indulge on occasion. We have a niece and nephew who live out there and we go to visit them. Our nephew is a pit boss and he can usually comp us a room and at times a meal or two.

coyotehunter_1 · September 25, 2010, 12:02:29 PM

Jim, glad to hear you all had a good time. This is a good time of year to visit Vegas, it gets really warm out there during the summer months. The next time you get a chance to go back and want to do some sight seeing you may want to check out one of the bus tours to the Hoover Dam/Grand Canyon. Another local excursion is the Red Rock Canyon... especially when the desert is in bloom.

Silencer · September 25, 2010, 12:02:46 PM

never been their either, I did have a bud go there and he was showing me the deck of cards he brought back that they were handing out everywhere. Let me say they sure were "Playing and Paying" cards lol.. I guess you could call em slots pending where the coin went

Thanks for sharing the pics, not sure I'd feel comfortable there but I have been to NYC a few times and made it back home.

Frogman · September 25, 2010, 11:44:59 PM

coyotehunter_1 ,

Yes, we did do the dam tour. I just ran out of room in the previous post. The dam is awesome!!

The new bridge they are building just downstream of the dam is also quite a feat of engineering!! Here is the wife with the bridge behind her . . .

They have been having drout conditions for several years now and Lake Meade is way down by about 80 feet as you can see from this photo . . .

I had a good time. Still regret that I couldn't get out for a few stands??? Just have to go back I guess!

Jim