Going for a Ride, and last Day Downtown

With no further luck gambling that day or evening they had retired early and just relaxed in the room.  Kodi had had a couple of coffees with Baileys when she knew she was sitting at the same machine for a while, so could safely be left on her own, LOL.  Tom had a large ice cream cone before bed, as they had just split a Clubhouse sandwich at Magnolias Veranda for dinner , paying with comp points on Kodi’s card.  They had plans for the morning, so Kodi used extra eye drops and gels and was determined to get a full night’s sleep.

They woke on April 12th knowing it was their last full day Downtown.  They were actually leaving the hotel for a while, and realized when looking at the weather report, that once again they would have to wear their jeans and jackets.  Kodi added a scarf 🧣.   It was cool and very gusty, and they’d be hanging out on a street corner for a while.  No, the gambling hadn’t been so bad that they needed to start soliciting, but when waiting for public transportation, man-made time is irrelevant, so …

They had bagels and cream cheese, with Kodi adding strawberry jam to hers..so yummy!  They brushed their pearly whites ( have you ever noticed that real pearls are not always white? 

At least theirs weren’t green, or purple…) and headed out on Fremont Street, walking  towards the Plaza.

Once they got to the corner, Kodi was very glad for that scarf!  She actually had a thin pair of stretchy gloves in her suitcase, and wished she had them with her now. 

It was cool in the sun, because of the wind, but downright cold in the shade, unless you were moving.

The stood in the sun as much as possible…waiting for the free Downtown Loop Shuttle.  They had discovered that it would make a stop at the Bonneville Transit Center and the hoped to be able to get their Senior Bus passes.  In retrospect, it would be a great day to ride around inside a bus! 

The bus stop was just after you turn the corner, at the side of the Golden Gate Hotel.  They stood back from the stop, both for the sun and to lessen the strong smell of Weed around them. 

The fellow sitting legs tucked under him, at the base of the pole, did not acknowledge their presence, nor change position the entire time that they were there.  A delivery truck pulled up a few feet from him, and security guards came out, other employees assisted the driver in unloading the goods on handtrucks for about 10 minutes, and he remained invisible.  People walking by them all, looked everywhere but at him. He was invisible.  Because he never looked their way, they avoided anything but an occasional glance as he lit another, and the movement caught their eye. He remained invisible . It was sad.

They both put the hoods up on their nylon jackets, and Kodi wrapped her scarf around her face and adjusted it according to which way the wind swirled. 

It was heartening that the sign indicated the bus would arrive in 5 minutes.

 A couple of others arrived to ride the shuttle, 20 minutes later. They all watched multiple city buses pass by , and strained their eyes 👀 peering far behind those. Four more people arrived.  Kodi knew that if any of those others  elbowed in front of them when the shuttle arrived, she’d have to give up her Canadian Citizenship and knock them on their asses.  It pulled up after a total of 55 minutes.  Perhaps 🤔 a number had fallen off the time sign? 😉.   There was room for everyone, and no-one objected when the politely smiling Canadians brushed the icicles off their noses and climbed on first…well Tom did, and then dragged Kodi up the step.  The invisible man did not move.  Kodi had wondered if he might get on, to warm up.  

They took a double seat and settled in for part of the tour…phone in hand Kodi hoped to get a few photos on the way. They weren’t sure how long it would take to do the complete route, but they didn’t have a time limit, and it was nice to be out of the chilly weather. 

  At this time there was still a mask mandate on public transportation in Vegas, and all but two of the passengers were complying.  Pluto had mentioned that on their bus ride from the strip, the driver had twice denied entry to people without masks when they started to climb on.  The driver mentioned to people that if they were only headed to the Outlet Mall, it would be much quicker for them to take a certain city bus, as he had it at the end of his route.  Two people thanked him and got off.  He told this to people waiting to get on at the next two stops as well, with another couple choosing to find the quicker city bus.  

 

They saw some interesting sights in the Arts District, and Kodi missed a lot of shots because of vehicles in the way, or too much movement, but it was an enjoyable ride.  

One stop that surprised them was at the back of the Stratosphere.  This meant that if you stayed there you now have a way to easily and cheaply (Free!) get down to Fremont Street.  

 Two young women herding 5 youngsters got on there,  with the kids running down the aisle to the back of the shuttle, and another 4 young men and women waiting to climb on. They all seemed to be together.  None wore masks. One gal said to the driver. “This bus is free, right”.  

“Yes, it is.  Where are you headed?”  

“Where do you go?” she asked. “ We have a lot of stops on the Route.” he said . 

“ Where do you want to go?”

“New York, New York” she answered .  The driver explained that she would have to get a city bus out on Las  Vegas Blvd. to go there, because he didn’t. She waved her arms at the people still on the steps.  “ No good…it doesn’t go there.”  They backed down the steps, and the gals got off ,  calling to the kids who reluctantly headed back down the aisle, and exited. 

They passed the Brewery District, and lots of antique and second hand stores . Kodi loves these types of shops but flying with full suitcases, going into them would surely make her cry.  It was scary enough wondering how she was going to squeeze anything in that she bought at ROSS on the strip, in the next week.

They soon arrived at the Bonneville Transit Center, and the driver said he’d be parking for 15 minutes before continuing on.  They got off the shuttle and were nearly blown over. The wind and chill was worse here than it had been an hour before on Fremont!  They hurried towards the closest door…the wrong one of course, and had to backtrack around to the front of the building.  

The bright clean interior wasn’t too busy. 

They got in a line behind 2 people, and were soon talking to an extremely pleasant fellow who took all of their information and then asked them to step down around the end of the counter and meet him, so he could take their photos for the Bus Pass.

They both had their turn and were told that he had to assemble everything for them and he’d meet them back at the counter.  They returned to the front and stood at the same wicket, waiting for him to come back.  There were a couple of people waiting in line who looked questioningly at them.  

They heard a stern voice say “ Please go to the back of the line!”  A moment later they saw that it was the woman behind the next wicket.   Then she repeated it even louder, and Kodi realized she was talking to THEM.  Apparently everyone in the room knew it but them, and thought they were line-crashers . She turned to the couple at the front of the line, and started to apologize and explain that they were in the middle of a transaction when their clerk returned.  They got the passes and a couple of maps and left, with red faces.

Amazingly their original shuttle had just finished loading to continue the journey, so they waved and hurried towards it.  

The driver opened the doors, and they gratefully climbed on, as they had no idea when the next one might have arrived. When they arrived back at Fremont street, after returning from the Outlet Center, not even two hours had passed.  They now would be able to ride the city buses for $1 a trip.

They headed home to the 4QUEENS and played for a while, before heading to Magnolias for tasty pork chop dinners, one of which they paid for with points.  

Kodi got the rest of her free play from the April promotion, and worked hard to lose it all as quickly as she could 😂. 

The headed up to the room to get ready for their move to the Strip the next morning.  The plan was to check out as late as they could and get either an Uber or Lyft for the first time.

Magnolias was closed for the night ….as it hadn’t returned to  being open 24 hours a day yet.  They were going to miss the great meals and reasonable prices.