Ross and Alice

Alice's parents are fossils living in 'Vegas, so we decided to visit them with the kids. We' RV'd it to SamsTown RV Park,, and found it to be a pretty good place. If we were without kids,,, NFW we'd RV it,, but with the kids it's a fun way to go. I got the kids up in the morning for a Hike to "Mystic Falls". It's really just a cornball campy waterfall and lazer show in the Hotels lobby. But to little eyes it was a BFD adventure, they loved it, even though the (mechanical) Waving bears duct tape was peeling off his pneumatic instrument oil soaked paw. Indoors Mystic Falls has a lazer lite show several times each day & nite. The bar facing the falls is a nice place for a drink. We then did a roller coaster tour and rode everyone of them in 'Vegas. The Desperado in Primm is still tops. As we exited the freeway headed to Buffalo Bills to ride the rides,, a lady in a new Surburban full of teenage girls blew the signal in front of us going at least 50 and T boned another SUV. Brutal impact, but check out this take: Both vehicles drifted after impact, slammed into the side of the freeway overpass abuttment taking the traffic signal along in a 35 foot slide,, and the Suburbans no-less-than-9 airbags, maybe more, deployed, and uniquely, stayed deployed helping in the secondary impact. Seems like everyone just got no more than their bells rung deluxe. I'd wager both cars totaled. More coasters: The Saharas coaster is a out-then-back-in-reverse set up and a good one. http://www.saharavegas.com/thrills/multi_2_sm.html Video of Saharas Coaster. If you're a NASCAR fan,, the Nascar cafe there is a nice place to watch races. Drink Specials,, nice crowd,, the food C quality. I would wager much better places all over town to watch NASCAR,, but the Sahara had a nice set up too. Heading outta town a huge,, massive procession of NASCAR big rigs were heading through town,, what a site to see. Looked pretty cool. New York New Yorks Coaster sux IMHO,, but the kids loved it. Hot dog, chips and a soda at Nathans: $10 each. NY NY's arcade is nice,, but we hit Gameworks across the street,, and the kids rated it superior. They loved the Atmosphere, the timed play cards,, and the selection of games. I suggest the Las Vegas Gameworks over all others. $2 Coronas, $2 shots of Jack for me,, and the bar is nice, food OK. Got absolutely hammered, Alice drove. The rides at the top of the Stratosphere are more for the thrill of the height of the place,, than for the quality of the rides, absolutely teriffic though.

Is this the former "Coaster Saloon" across from the Giant Dipper?

They were at one time rideable,, but now,,, pretty much forget it unless the offroad movement can get more media exposure and can get some momentum going. It'll not happen in our lifetimes,,,, look how hard it is to try and re-open the closeure in Glamis. Sandemon on dumontsanddunes.com is the expert on Kelso. We've discussed an re opening,,, but it would take an unbelieveable media and money, and lobby and lawsuit court battle. We have our hands full just keeping what we've got.

I can never remember which PT's we go to,, but of several we visit,, it's always good. The gaming machines seem tite,, but the bartenders, the customers,,, all good. Always love PT's. OK,, whats in a wounded dolphin??

I put 417.000 miles on my '89 Toyota driving back and fourth to work. I bought a new pre runner,, and decided to park it and take the train to save commuting miles on it. Something interesting happens everyday at the train station.Old steamers,,, classics,, famous people,, hot college babes head north to school,,, always an interesting wait for my train home. Yesterday this awsum, 30 car restored 1930's train came into union station. Was it ever nice. Sleeping cars, lounge cars, observation dome cars,,,, ect ect Me & lots of others walked along the tracks and checked it out. Hard wood interiors,, nice bar,, lounge observation car was really nice inside,, classic quality,,, awsum sleeping rooms with mini bars,,,,killer main bar car with a band and dance floor, ,, classy restaurants on steel wheels,,, Then we made it to the Locomotive,, and it was one of those General Electric 5 submarine diesel engine types,, monsterous - just brutal horsepower,,, We thought we saw a puddle of tranny fluid under the tracks,, and when we moved around front of the locomotive to make way for a forklift,, we saw it had hit a cow at a high rate of speed, it it was still the hood ornament.

Sorry to read about your loss. Thieves will always be with us,, even the bible talks all about thieves in the nite. I ride the trains all the time and the saying is every train has a thief. See people get ripped off all the time. Every campground has a thief,, every storage unit too. The Middle East has us beat in dealing with theives, wack off their hands. Do you think perhaps leaving the window covers up might let them look in and see nothing to take,,, or perhaps they go in anyway hoping to score a TV or something? I leave my blinds up so anyone can look in and see the TV and rides not there,, At Dumont, the campground tactic is cut the chains or locks and tie a long rope,, and accomplices drag off your stuff. Hells Angel Steve and Halverson caught 2 stealing their wives new YFZ's at Dumont last year,, and we've had no more thefts since that I've heard of if that's any consolation to you. Though other thieves will eventually pay Dumont a visit. Bolt cutters are cheap and easy to get at Harbor freight,,, but worse are the gear reduction bolt/cable w/6' handles cutters, which should be illegal to own unless you use them professionally.

It's mostly local neighborhood couples on foot, and Garden Grove Elks/Moose lodge members looking for cheap eats and a cheap happy hour. Good Food at a good price. http://local.yahoo.com/details?fr=dd-local...5EzTKBI3VNulXc-

Yea, I think it's called Peaks, after the guy that owned it.

In Avalon, Catalina,, the Marlin Club is gotta be the best,,, Good prices, fun atmosphere,,, if ya don't boat, the Harbor Patrol will grudgingly rent a mooring to 2 PWC's, and it make for a fun day. If ya have a towable tube,, then up to 4 PWC's will tie up to it nicely,, secured to the mooring. In Baker, the bar behind the Dennys. The late owner was a off roader,, and some memorabalia is around,, even a Bronco he raced is static displayed in in the parking lot. A real dive,, the surviving family still refuses to put a dime of improvement in the place.. Meet interesting duners, travelers, and 'vegas kinda people all the time. Can't really call it a dive,, but near Disneyland/Garden Grove maybe is a bar and grill called the Rainbow Room. Good cheap food and drinks, friendly bartenders,, Any good dive bars outh there??:

I Agree, well said,,, good point. It also amazes me how many parents leave their kids behind. It's easy to loose a kid behind a dune if youre napping while ridin',, so I try to be the last kids wingman. (YFZ 450's can lug and go slow very well,, all day long if need be) Ya can always circle a few bowls in a holding pattern while the group catches up and re aligns.,, I have to put the camp/ tow vehicle together and am responsible for everyone in our group making it home,, so I tend to take fewer risks over razors and a few other manuevers,, thus slowing me down at times, and I need to eventually catch up. Had a friend once decide to take a brutal jump,,, broke a Femur and a colar bone,, so in addition to getting my stuff dialed in and home,, I helped get his stuff/family ect ect too,, costing me a day off from work, gas and hassle. Not griping mind ya,, but my point is,, some of us ride slower to less the chance of injury,, because we have responsibilities to others. and I'll admit too that some of the riders are either crazier,, or better than me, probably both, not sure yet,,, but they're willing to take risks of injury some of us can't afford to. Good thread,, good points

It's an O ring problem. No gasket on the W-pump. The new Yami O ring is improved. I ordered several,,, so if anyone is at Dumont and encounters the same problem,, and ya see us camped,,, ya got a free O ring comin'.

ATK has a "Cannondale Grenaded engine repair/upgrade program" ya might wanna check out first on their website

Thank you,, and I will keep several WP gaskets on hand at the campsite if anyone else has this problem.

Hope I'm wrong, but it seems like this event has less and less participation each year.

Noticed coolant just below the (I think) water pump. Anyone experienced this? Is it a simple gasket replacement??? thanks

Do ya think perhaps a little sign with "Dedicated to the children of the Dunes" might make vandals think twice?? I'll pay for it if everyone thinks it might help.

Gave the GFs son the improved for '06 Honda 90 quad and it was great. My son at 13 was riding a YFZ 450,, but the GF's sons are really small kids so we had to go with the 90 & a 50. 50cc quads arent what they used to be power wise and I think Honda no longer offers one. He loved it,, and it's a good quad for a 90. 4 perfect days. A bit warm at times,, but shorts and t shirts worked fine.. No mishaps on the sand we heard of,, A good size Pres day Crowd was starting to arrive as we left 5 hours ago. I love everything about Duning except the drive home, but no traffic this time,, so it was cool. Ali got stuck driveing in. The BLM has put up more signs at the Little Dunes entrance,, and she got confused and tried a U turn getting stuck in the sand. She thought it was going to be really dramatic,, but it took just a minute to tow her out to camp. Something hate to see,, and accident ahead on approach to Dumont. Good student got a New Honda 90 for his efforts Rigged the quad rack for Maynards 50 so he could head up a few days early with me ahead of the family

We've all used that stuff at one time or another,, lets hear where it saved your @$$:

My daughter read sometime, I think in here if your quad won't start,, it may be the kill switch is bad. She couldn't get Maynards new Zuki z50 quad to even turn over,, and she remembering that tip,, kept playing with the kill switch,, Then,, it rolled over but barely ran. So then I looked at the Suzuki gas valve, removed the fuel lines and shifted it into different positions. "On" is really off,, remember that!!! "prime" left is run,, "prime" right is run Solved 2 problems So I've taped over the kill switch because it shuts off the quad and keeps it off, telling Maynard to use the key. My daughter was wakeboarding one day and the boat started running bad. A passing boater told them to disconnect the tach on a different trip she had been on with friends,, they did just that,, and the boat ran good again. Last year at Laughlin,, she told a stranded boater the same tip,, they disconnect the tach,, cured the problem again Amazing how little tips can save the trip. Sis saved the day with some simple tips.

I realize that the the "capping each other" is kept in good fun. Vegas is one place I've found prices can really differ from dealer to dealer. I think theirs a Yami dealer near The Big Dog Saloon that seems to give deals. ( on Sahara??) They had Raptors for about a grand less than the other dealers when sales were hot. Daughter & her girlfriends friends spend so much time in the RestRoom getting dialed in with the fan running it's nice the inverter types dont fuzz up the TV pic and make the sound buzz when we're watching the tube.

I'll bring Napolian Dynomite, and 2 @ 38 count cases of Coors lite

They look teriffic in white. All Zukis in Yellow look shop worn and dated IMHO.

The Honda and Yamaha inverter type generators offer a clean sine wave. Perfect for sat TV, computers,, Playstation/X box in the RV. My friends routinely kill off their direct TV recievers with "Dirty power" construction type generators, and they sound like the hammers of hell when they run. No BFD, but when ya have the "i" type Generator running and someone is in the RV restroom,, ya won't get a fuzzy static pic on the TV when they run the exhaust fan. My daughter and her friends are cramed in their getting dialed in for hours running the fan.. They are they quietest type too. The 2400 watt model you mention is usually about $1100 most places. So here's you get when you buy the " i" type generator: More reliable, clean power to your sensitive elect toys and they'll last longer, run cooler and better,, even the TV benefits and gives a better pic, and the TV will last years longer. "i" type generator is essential if you run sat computer internet service through your dish like my daughter does. Quieter operation, usually under 52 DB. Starting boost for the microwave, hot water heater (if elec) and the Air Conditioning. You can "daisy chain" the generators together creating even more power potential. They last longer. Yamaha has the advantage over Honda that it has a hard start feature,, that cuts in the battery giving you a 10 second boost for times like when your RV's A/C kicks on and draws extra amps during the first few seconds starting. Believe me,, a teriffic idea from Yamaha. Ya want it. If you got the $$$ always buy the inverter type Generator. You can tell them by the model number: The Honda: 1000 i 2000 i 3000 i 4500 i (weighs as much as a Toyota) and their new 7900 i (compact and really nice) Yamaha lists theirs the same way,, with an "i" at the end of the model number. I have the Honda 3000i on the back of my trailer and it is "Da finest Kine". The Yamaha has the better features,, but wasn't available when I bought the Honda. Reads like the price you found is about the best I've ever found. It's all good with the inverter or "i" type generators.

A call around and 6 Zuki dealers I talked to recieved their one and only Z450 for the month of Feb. Berts, O.T.D.,, T.O,, Simi,, and several others I called have all delivered theirs to a customer that held one with a deposit. All say only one "teaser" will be shipped for Feb,, then all expect 3 more by the first week of March.. perhaps last week of Feb,, damiftheyknow. Firm prices quoted: OTD Cycle sales: $7299 OTD Thousand Oaks Honda Zuki: $7199 + tax, fees, and a $125 shipping and handling Mordida ( spanish for bribe). At this point,, prices are so close,, perhaps consider buying from the dealer that gives you the best service.