Travel Log 23: November, 2010 - Tired of Tires

We had a great time in Las Vegas visiting family and doing some sightseeing. Here we are out for Adrian's birthday with cousins Kim and Syd.  

 

Kim has a new job working for the philanthropic department of the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas. She wanted so much to show us the building in which she works. I thought "you've seen one building you've seen them all" and I wasn't too enthused. How wrong I was! The Cleveland Clinic building was designed by an artist and it is, without a doubt, the most unique structure I have ever seen.

 

The entire building is a sculpture, or piece of art, all its own. The crazy swirls are like a facade in front of the regular building which contains the treatment centers and offices.  The crazy swirls themselves house an open-air cafeteria and an enclosed ballroom which is used for fund raising galas attended by celebrities and the who's-who of Nevada. We went into the ballroom and although the ceiling height was more than a storey above our heads the room felt intimate and quiet. 

 

The clinic itself is focused on diagnosing and treating ALS, Alzheimers and Dementia. There is an MRI machine here which can predict if the patient will develop Alzheimers within the next 10 years. Amazing! Kim…thank you so much for insisting on showing us your office!  I know I sound a bit like an ad for the Clinic, but I was just so impressed with the unique facilities here.  To learn more go to www.keepmemoryalive.org .

 

While in Las Vegas, Adrian organized a new tire and wheel rim to replace those which were destroyed during our unfortunate foray to the Grand Canyon North Rim.  Also turns out that Clyde needed new shoes -- meaning the truck tires needed to be replaced as well.  Replacing the truck tires required Adrian to make three trips back and forth to the tire shop as he felt the vehicle wasn't tracking properly.  After checking and adjusting the wheel alignment, he decided to also upgrade the steering stabilizer mechanism.  At the point of replacing this part, it was discovered that the old steering stabilizer was broken, and had been for some time.  Hence the improper tracking.

 

Leaving Las Vegas with a spanking new rim and tire on the trailer, and new shoes and bridle (steering stabilizer) on Clyde, we travelled south to Lake Havasu City. We stayed for a week at Havasu RV Resort, a lovely property, and the hi-light for me was connecting with an RV girlfriend from last year. She introduced me to other friends with whom she travels and we had a great time together. While I was busy socializing, Adrian was busy with yet more tire dramas. I hesitate to even include this in our travel log because at this point it is on the verge of ridiculous. Please…just laugh along with us, as there is nothing else to do!

 

While in Havasu, Adrian noticed that the rear trailer tire (on the same side as the front tire blow out) had in fact developed a slow leak from two punctures.  He jacked up the trailer, and took the tire in to town. We've been dealing with Discount Tire. Luckily it's a chain of over 700 stores, so we've been able to visit them along the way!

 

The tire could not be repaired, and we were not able to buy just one tire to match the others on the trailer. Adrian spent a full day googling and phoning, to no avail.  No matching tire could be found. So we ordered four new tires for the trailer and arranged for installation on the day we left Havasu. 

 

The new tires performed miserably as we squirmed and swerved our way from Lake Havasu to Lake Pleasant Harbour, via Wickenberg, AZ. We stayed one night in Lake Pleasant Harbour and then squirmed and swerved our way to Fountain Hills, a 'burb northeast of Scottsdale, AZ.  These little wild donkeys were our escorts briefly.  They are SO cute...I want one! 

 

Before we checked in at our destination, we stopped at  Discount Tire, which of course had a location near our RV park in Fountain Hills! What Adrian figured out with them is that the tires we had originally were 6 ply, and the new tires are only 5 ply. So-o-o-o….we ordered four new 6-ply tires and they are scheduled to be installed on the day we leave Fountain Hills, which will be tomorrow.  Thankfully this is all covered under their 'satisfaction guarantee'.  

 

When I ask Adrian how he's feeling these days, he just says "I'm tire-d".  Bailey doesn't care about our tire troubles.  She just makes sure to wait in her kennel in the truck so she doesn't get left behind!   

 

 We are at Eagle View RV Resort in Fountain Hills. It's just out of the town core on the Native Reserve.  It's a nice park and close to town.  Thanks John & Cheryl for your recommendation!   www.eagleviewrvresort.com 

 

Fountain Hills is gorgeous. It is home to the world's highest water fountain (520 feet) which is the focal point for the town. Around the small lake and fountain there is a well-appointed park and paved walking paths which were well-used by locals last night while we were out. The town center is charming and the homes are upscale. 

 

Tomorrow (Friday) we leave Fountain Hills for Mesa...after a stop at the tire shop, of course!  We're not sure which park we will go to in Mesa tomorrow, but we will keep you posted.