Hockey Road Trip, Fall 2004

Week One - Southwest - Sat, 10/16 - Fri, 10/22
Week Two - Texas - Sat.,10/23 - Fri, 10/29
Week Three - Southeast - Sat, 10/30 - Fri, 11/5
Week Four - Southeast - Sat, 11/6 - Fri, 11/12
Week Five - Mid Atlantic - Sat, 11/13 - Fri, 11/19
Week Six - Long Island - Sat, 11/20 - Fri, 11/26
Week Seven - Midwest - Sat, 11/27 - Fri, 12/3
Week Eight - Midwest - Sat, 12/4 - Fri, 12/10
Week Nine - Las Vegas - Sat, 12/11 - Fri, 12/17
Week Ten - California - Sat, 12/18 - Fri, 12/24
About Me

Tuesday, 12/14

Las Vegas

Today, we drove the enitre Strip. I drove one way, John the way back. We visited the Star Trek Experience and saw the Greenville Grrrowl vs. the Las Vegas Wranglers.

We started at one end of the Strip and drove all the way down Las Vegas Blvd to Freemont Street. John snapped lots of photos on the way. There's a new monorail in place in Las Vegas but it wasn't operable. They were performing test runs while we were there. There're also buses and taxis to get around.

We stopped at the Hilton and went to the Star Trek Experience. I'm not into the Star Trek series or movies so was kind of just tagging along with John (like he does with me for baseball games). Needless to say, I had a great time.

The Star Trek Experience has two simulated rides: Borg Invasion and Klingon Encounter.

The Borg Invasion is a 3D type movie where the chairs move, creatures come in front of your face, the chair pokes you, and water is gently sprayed in the room. Sweet.

The Klingon Encounter is something similar but even better. They were bringing us back to earth from space and the future to save Jean-Luc Picard ancestors. We 'rode' in a space ship (transporter?) through galaxies and stuff. It was like you were on a roller coaster. I gave out a yelp a few times.

There were, of course, costumes and exhibits purchased from the TV series and movies, as well as a timeline of the Federation.

We ate at Quark's Bar and Restaurant.

We headed back to the hotel, had dinner dinner at Al's Oyster Bar, then headed over to the Orleans Arena to watch the hockey game.

Game/Arena Notes:

• U-shaped arena (couldn't walk around the concourse on the top of the U).
• Was an intimate arena, seats about 7,000.
• Although both teams were coming off long road trips, the play was decent. The refs let the players, play. Very few penalties called.
• No center scoreboard and 'puck in play' rule was enforced.
• Many different jerseys in the stands. Saw and visited with Lee and Marilyn for a few moments. They attended all 5 of the Grrrowl west coast road games.
• The mascot was called The Duke. A green cow with yellow horns wearing a Santa hat. He even knew to sit when play resumed.
• Attendence was 3,912.

Here's the Orleans Arena. It was adjacent to the hotel and casino




The inside of the arena. Two levels with the second level only containing the sky boxes.



The Grrrowl win this one 1 - 0 in regulation. Their record is now 11-11-3.


Game Twenty Six - Orleans Arena
Las Vegas Wranglers vs. Greenville Grrrowl
Score: Grrrowl 1 - Wranglers 0

After the game, we went in to the casino and did a bit of gambling. I stayed at the nickel poker machines.

Wednesday, 12/15

We packed up, did a bit more gambling. Me, on the nickel machines; John on roulette.
I dropped John off at the airport a little before noon then headed to San Diego for a Gull's game.

Didn't make it to San Diego in time for the game (California traffic). That was okay. I was exhausted from the drive.

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