Detour #33: L.A. to Las Vegas, USA
The Interstate I15 will take you all the way from the City of Angels to Sin City in less than five hours. But the road itself is unimportant. This is a voyage of discovery, a voyage that’s been immortalised in many a road movie.
A journey of hope, of anticipation. A journey that millions undertake every year, hoping to get rich quick. It’s the modern equivalent of the California gold rush. And just like the original, many thousands end up penniless and disappointed.
Don’t rush it. Las Vegas will always be there at the end – the oasis of excess in the barren Nevada desert. Once you’ve escaped the insanity of Los Angeles and you’re out into San Bernadino you’ll be following the historic Route 66 until you reach Barstow – where, if you’re in full Gonzo mood, the drugs take hold. And frankly even if you haven’t touched any mind-altering substances, the sight of the world’s biggest thermometer, a few miles down the road in Baker, will make you think you had.
You could even take a detour to Mrs Orcutt’s Driveway) or visit Calico Ghost Town before braving the wilds of the Mojave Desert as you carry on towards Sin City.
Try to do the last leg in darkness, the desert is eerily calm, then you catch the first glimpse of light in the distance – a laser beam fired straight into the sky from the Luxor hotel. The rest of the strip soon comes into view and you can almost hear the sound of the slots beckoning.
Oh, and a word of advice. Fill up your car before you hit the first casino. You may not have enough money to buy petrol on the return journey.
Words Nik Berg Twitter | Instagram
Photography John Such / Izayah Ramos / Mike Boening / Unsplash / Shutterstock
ROADBOOK
Class: Going Gonzo
Name: City of Angels to Sin City
Route: I15
Country: USA
Distance: 300 miles