Ok, a less cynical Vegas parting image

Or perhaps, two. I have no clue where these were taken. They all sort of blur together.

Las Vegas parting thoughts

Despite the fact that this place is all concrete or desert and not designed for bikes, they are everywhere here (the black blob in the street is an unlighted cyclist). Cycling is an even more necessary form of transportation for people in a car-dominated culture. When parking is expensive or challenging, when cars and gas are too expensive for the service industry and working class...
This is the land of candy-coated porta-potties.

As in Pittsburgh, the folks who hang streetsigns are either constrained to do things under a certain protocol or are just plain short-sighted in doing their jobs.

Just past all the crap is a gorgeous world of nature waiting. It's getting wiped out daily.


They don't want you to look past the pretty facades or over the jersey barriers. It doesn't take much investigation to realize it's an open sewer and eddy current that catches some of the trash and worst sides of humanity.

Dinner with Bethany's family

Bob, Bobbye, and great-uncle Simon met me for dinner my last night in Las Vegas. It was a nice dinner, but a short visit. We'll get to see them again at Thanskgiving (which is coming up fast!), when Bob and Simon will finally be able to meet Silas.

Vegas Vietnamese dinner

I'm trying to catch this thing up. Dave found a nice little Vietnamese restaurant away from the Strip.

Bikes of Vegas, day 3

Bikes of Las Vegas, day 2

Las Vegas, more or less the same

Pretty much the same as the last few trips here. Except for the new lighted billboard people. Some of the guys who give out the girly cards are now making more money by wearing these things. I'm curious how much they get.

Bikes of Las Vegas, day 1

Yes, I'm a bike geek. I started chronicling bikes we come across. In the city, understandably, the bulk of the bikes are very utilitarian.

Project in Las Vegas

This is the monstrosity we're working on in Las Vegas. It's supposed to have something like a 30-40% energy reduction compared to what it could have been if it had been built to the bechmark standards. Of course, 30% of this house's usage is probably 97% of what my whole block uses in Pittsburgh. It's a neat house from an architectural standpoint, though. I'll post finished pictures when it's done in December.

In the top picture, the stucco is up to the scratch coat. They should have the finish coat on by the end of the week. The picture below is a shot toward the Strip from the third froor 0utdoor kitchen. The final picture is looking down the temporary stairs. The elevator hasn't been installed yet either (no, not joking).