Saturday - Not dying in Vegas

Can I just begin by saying that I hate Vegas?

By the time we reached Vegas on Saturday, I had been driving for about four hours. And as lame as this sounds, four hours is about my limit. I really shouldn't drive longer than four hours straight. 

Anyway, so we reached Vegas right as I was hitting my driving low. And though I hate stopping in Vegas, I hated the thought of driving the rest of the way to St. George (or even Mesquite) even more. 

And as luck would have it, there was an accident on the freeway in Vegas. So even though traffic wasn't initially very bad, by the time we hit the strip, traffic was terrible. (We were almost in an accident, actually. Thank goodness the guy behind me started paying attention in time not to hit me.) 

But anyway, as we sat in traffic, I realized that I needed to use the little girl's room. In fact, I thought that if I didn't find one soon, my bladder would explode. 

So let me explain my situation for you: I'm tired. And I'm done driving. I need to find a restroom. We need gas. Traffic is terrible. I'm not sure where to go to find a gas station, and I can't really maneuver around the lanes. I'm irritated. I'm grumpy. But mostly, I'm starting to feel a little desperate. 

As the driver, I'm trying to figure out, in this unknown freeway, where I can exit (safely) and find a gas station (quickly). 

No luck for me, my friends. After exiting just past the strip and into the outlet section of Vegas, I realize that my best bet is to get on the freeway and go a little farther North. No problem. I'm back on the freeway in only a few minutes. 

Unfortunately, traffic doesn't allow me to merge over, so I end up taking the next exit, and find myself back in the outlets--and I can't find a gas station anywhere. At this point, McKenna wakes up, tells me she knows exactly where we are, and helps me locate a gas station. 

Except, locating this gas station involves driving down the old strip in downtown Vegas. In the dark. 

Finally, we found an Arco gas station (in the middle of nowhere/dangertown/sin city) and fill up with gas. I approach the bathroom (located on the outside of the gas station), knock, and try to enter. 

No dice. The bathroom was locked. 

By now, I'm in pain. And worried that I might have an accident. I keep reminding myself that I'm a big girl, and I'll be okay. 

I approach the cashier in the gas station and politely ask for the key to the bathroom. To the only bathroom at what seems like the only gas station in Vegas. 

His response? "It's out of order."

I'm pretty sure I almost cried. 

To make a long story short, we finally found our way back to the freeway, and exited again. 

And we found a lovely gas station/diner combo.    

Which had beautifully working facilities. (Note to self: take exit 54.)

Unfortunately, my Vegas foray/search for a bathroom cost us about an hour. (One of the more frustrating hours of my life, actually.)

Things I learned on this trip home:

1) Take exit 54 in Vegas. 

2) Get in and stay in the HOV lane in Vegas.

3) Nothing is worth going to the outlets in Vegas.

4) If you stop in Barstow, go ahead and take the opportunity to use the bathroom. Even if it's at a Del Taco in (downtown??) Barstow off Highway 58. 

5) Del Taco is the worst fast food ever and is a huge waste of money. (Different story for a different day.)