My day started by awaking in a cactus forest in Amboy, one of those Mojave Desert towns that’s on the map, but there’s nothing there but a few boarded up or decapitated buildings. I decided to over-night there after driving through Joshua Tree National Park, which is south and east of Twenty Nine Palms, Ca., and having a delicious $7.50 steak dinner at the Palms Café and a bunch of $1 PBR ACBS. The Palms Inn appears to me to be the same way it must’ve been fifty years ago and I’ll bet some of the customers were there too.
    I decided to spend the night amongst the cacti, rather in the Mojave N.P., because where I wanted to park at Kelso Dunes was a not designated for camping area. Had it been a good sky for a sunset, I probably would’ve ignored that restriction and enjoyed it anyway. An overcast sky was not worth the possibility of a ticket, though. I opted for sunset over the salt flats and it worked.  Now, game time is on my mind and getting to Las Vegas to watch the game on TV is at the top of my priority list.  Las Vegas is a great reprieve from the remote places I’ve been and my cooking. Also I know there are two NCAA March Madness Final 4 Games worth of sipping ACBs to last through, so a visit to the Fremont Casino Paradise Buffet will be a necessity to lay a good foundation. I considered where I’d park the camper for the night. A couple years ago I found out I could park my car in the Post Office parking lot at night as I rented a room in the motel next door. That was only a block from Fremont Street, my favorite part of Vegas. It’s downtown and  less expensive, crowded, and hectic.  But, whoops, there was a sign promising towing and no cars were there, so they must be serious. I had no interest in taking a ride as I slept in the camper. I knew there was an RV park just down Fremont Street from there, run by the Western Casino, so I checked it out. It was either there or take my chances on the street. The rate was $15/night that included electric hook up, shower and bathroom facilities and a security guard. A no brainer and it worked.
    I also noticed as walked to buffet, that my favorite sports bar that had turned into a disaster with bad service, bad food and poor management and had changed names; but the five 12x20’ TVs were still there. Vegas odds had Duke and Butler, my choices, both as underdogs. This is the only place I gamble and only on the March Madness Games. No slots or table games for me, but I sure enjoy the buffets. I decided whether to place bets or not would be determined by the length of the lines.  I’m not waiting, especially since I was on my way to eat. No not eat, the word is feast! I finished my first plate, a buffet sampler, overflowing with steamed shrimp, lamb, Caesar salad, smoked salmon, potato salad, scalloped potatoes, and Korean chicken.  I sample to see which is best, then zero in on the tastiest items.  I’m going to add a slice of prime rib to my seconds; that’ll certainly build the foundation for the massive dose of sipping and Bball to come.  A little Mexican pot pie, and more shrimp, potato salad, and smoked salmon should do it; then I attack the desserts. There are many other offerings including all that breakfast stuff and made-to-order omelets, fresh fruit, and stone crab claws, and lots of fried stuff, which I pass on. I capped off my indulgence with pecan pie topped with ice cream.  All that for $12!!!
    Well, stuffed to waddling, I’m ready for the games. I’m going to see if my old spot works. There I find $2 16 oz. draft PBRs (a flashback from the Palms!), but there’s a soap opera and cooking show on the TVs!  I ask if one can show the games. The manager says, sure. That’s wonderful!  I can sit here at the bar of the Las Vegas Rocks Café on the corner of Fremont & Las Vegas Blvd. and watch people wander up and down the Fremont Experience and watch the games, too. I didn’t think I’d be sitting here again. I should’ve brought my Duke T-shirt. They’re my choice after the UofMd. I’m sure you remember, they annihilated West Virginia and squeaked by Butler. I won enough on the games to pay my bar bill and RV Park fee.
    The day off between the games I usually ride my bike out Maryland Avenue to the Bellagio to people watch and eat at the Spice Buffet in Planet Hollywood, but the wind was blowing way too hard for that and the traffic makes the bus take an eternity to get there. So a walk around the “neighborhood” fills the afternoon. There’s an outlet mall nearby and I need to see if the IRS Office is still just on the other side of the railroad tracks from the casinos, so I can get my forms tomorrow. On the way I pass the Cleveland Clinic. I’m not sure what they or the architect is trying to show or say, but the sign on the building says, “Center for Brain Health.” Pretty weird brain designed it!!!