I had the chance last last week to take a quick trip out west with CodyHollowFarm. She was heading out a couple days early for a combined rabbit show / family vacation. I'd never actually been west of the Mississippi, except to go to Hawaii as a teenager, and had some leave available, so I said I'd be glad to join her.

We flew out seperately and met in Las Vegas. We did a little caching that evening - mostly virtuals along the strip. The next morning we drove out across the Hoover Dam so I could pick up Arizona, then made our way down I-15 toward San Diego.

For me, it was a trip full of "God sightings" juxtaposed with a few hours on the Las Vegas strip. I don't fly much, so still find the view out the window to be inspiring - even if most of the country was covered in clouds. When we over Arizona, though, the captain came on and announced that we'd be able to see the Grand Canyon soon. That was pretty awesome. I'd still like to visit it on the ground some day, but seeing a large section of it from above was a good start.

After meeting up and getting our rental car, we did one quick cache where I learned not to stick my hand into what look like harmless, dead bushes. That is, unless I want to be pulling out 'thorns' from my hand for a while. Once we had gotten checked in, we hit the strip for some virtuals.

While the adult Disneyland aspect of the architcture on the strip was interesting, it was really kind of sad to see such a largely "Godless" place. Apart from the gambling and general party atmosphere, there were groups of guys every couple of blocks handing out cards to have "girls delivered to your door in 20 minutes" and they weren't discriminating in who they offered the cards to.

Even before having listened to this month's Daily Audio Bible wrap up on human trafficking and modern slavery (listen now), it really bothered me. All in all, being in Las Vegas made me feel like an early Christian in Rome or at least like I was in some alien place. And to think my home state of Maryland it trying to get gambling going.

I was glad to head out across the Mojave Saturday morning and back in to God's creation. And I can't wait to go back.

Scince Las Vegas (lost wages to sin) is so close to our home base I can not defend the strip area one bit. If you can get away from the strip it is diffrent world. Next time we as a Family can show God's wonders that is right half block from the strip there is natrual springs that still flow today. Less than hour away to the north Valley of Fire State Park to west Red rock cayon. If you want to see the true the real nature side of Nevada we galdly show anyone. Native las vegen avoid the strip at all cost also.

I've been to Vegas twice, both times before I was saved. The first time I enjoyed the spectacle of it but my favourite part was driving out to Hoover Dam, seeing the desert and the massive results of the dam itself.

If I ever go again, I will probably avoid the strip all together and go out to Red Rock Canyon and other natural areas. Now that we know there are local GC4C members in the area, it makes it even more enticing...

thanks for the post v=brats.

Wish we'd have let you know were coming. If I come back, I definitely will.

We really only did the virutals on the strip since it was dark once we'd gotten settled. Then in the AM, we headed out to and across Hoover Dam and then toward CA.

I really can't convey enough how much I felt I was in a foreign land. I was moved to pray for everyone who was there for or involved in the various vices, even as we walked between caches.

Oh right, there's virtuals on the strip. Guess I won't be avoiding it totally. The second time I went I knew about geocaching but I wasn't into it yet so missed all of them.

Thinking back on it, I do recall how uncomfortable I was with all the stuff I saw. It did feel like a foreign land.