MY GART 7 ADVENTURES IN VEGAS!!
TERROR IN THE AIR AND MIND NUMBING FATIGUE ON THE GROUND!
I have now attended my 3rd GART! (Great American Restoration Tour) which I enjoyed immensely.
My first time was Dallas (GART 3) in April of 2024 where I waddled about to my heart’s content amazed at the number of people I’d never met who knew exactly who I was! My only criticism was the darn bathrooms were located in another county.
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Upon moving to Lakeland Florida, Brian & I attended GART 6 in Myrtle Beach, SC in November just after Trump’s amazing election victory, where I was a tad more ambulatory and able to mingle with many more wonderful patriots, many known to me along with many new faces.
I intended to cover my trip to GART 7 Las Vegas much sooner than this, but thanks to a bout of some kind of serious flu I had to wait until I felt better.
So here goes!
Brian drove us to the Tampa Airport in the very early morning hours of March 5th where I slogged my way to our BREEZE Airways Gate.
We had been walking almost every morning in his backyard for months getting me “in shape” to be able to walk the Tampa & Vegas airports without difficulty and we BELIEVED we were ready.
I wasn’t.
AT ALL.
Now, as a build up of my confidence, I crushed the Tampa Airport, walking to the Gate with only 3 to 4 breaks for me to rest. (my congestive heart failure builds into WHEEZING gasps that only build in intensity after 300 to 400 paces. To recover, I HAVE to sit down for at least 1 minute.
Then came the flight on a BREEZE Airways Airbus A223 which, by the way, was my first plane ride since 1982 and let me tell you, a LOT has changed in those 43 years!
In 1982 and all earlier flights I was on a big Boeing Passenger Jet who’s take offs and landings were almost imperceptible unless you were looking out the window for it.
The A223 experience was quite different.
As I still morbidly obese I found the seats confining but not uncomfortable and as the jet ramped up for takeoff I was excited.
Then terrified.
Because immediately after ROARING into the air, the A223 banked SHARPLY to the right as we SCREAMED into the morning sky.
Brian looked calm and I was smiling (grimacing, really) with an inner panicked monologue of “Is this normal? Is this NORMAL? (Sharp banking maneuver) IIIS THIIIS NOORMAL?”
Apparently, it was normal.
But wait! There’s MORE!
LANDING!
After a 6 hour flight with a 45 minute layover in Mobile, Mississippi where we sat on the tarmac, we had 2 rather expensive snack breaks where Breeze probably made $2,500 off snacks we could have easily bought in the airports (lesson learned) it was time to land in Vegas.
It was my takeoff in reverse.
ROARING in to the runway seemingly dropping like a rock…
“Is this normal! Is this NORMAL?” (MASSIVE THUMP OF THE LANDING GEAR)
“HOOOOOLEEEE SHIIIII-!!” Is it supposed to be that hard?
Massive ROAR as the reverse thrusters and brakes are applied.
No one nearby even looks agitated so this must be…normal.
Whew! Glad I didn’t PANIC!
Now came the worst part of the trip (for me)
The Vegas Airport was a NIGHTMARE.
Now, it was clean, it wasn’t overcrowded, but for someone in my condition it was YUGE and although at the outset there were plenty of spots to sit down, the further Brian & I went the longer we had to walk with fewer and fewer spots for me to rest.
By the time we arrived at the Uber Pick Up level, I was about to pass out.
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We actually encountered Jon Herold at the Uber spot and he looked at me with a bit of concern.
“Are you ok?” he asked and I, happily seated on a concrete bench assured him I’d be fine in a minute. (I LIED, I was an utter wreck)
Our next stop was the amazing AHERN LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL where we both collapsed into our very nice room and napped the rest of Wednesday away.
We s-l-o-w-l-y recuperated most of Thursday preparing for that night’s VIP Dinner where once again I’d meet many familiar faces and quite a few new ones as these GART gatherings are growing apace with many first timers attending.
Thursday was also Brian & my birthday. We were now 61 years old. All we did was shake hands and tell one another Happy Birthday as we were so caught up in GART.
(Plus we were still jet lagged and growing ill)
To be honest I was still so tired and jet lagged I barely ate anything but the company at our table were all delighted to see us and were eager to chat.
Friday morning arrived and GART kicked off proper with an excellent morning breakfast buffet where I loaded up on scrambled eggs and crispy bacon as the day’s Panels began.
I loved the subtext to every Panel! WHAT’S THE GOAL? WHAT’S OUR ROLE? WHAT’S THE PLAN? Deliberately inclusive!
Jon’s picking the AHERN as the venue cannot be praised enough! It was it’s own character in this Restoration Event.
I have not a single complaint or concern towards them, just the opposite.
Friday and Saturday’s Events were a bit of a blur, Brian was coming down with some kind of flu so I was by myself for most of those days, participating by asking pointed questions of the panels then listening to their answers.
One thing that struck me about this particular GART was it’s spiritual tone.
Every question this particular Greybeard asked floored me. #SoulWAR all day long!
Every single day, but especially Sunday there were marked conversations I had with fellow Badlanders that amazed and enthused me.
Discussions of Faith & Family and visions of where America First is headed under Trump’s guiding hand into what promises to be a very Golden Age.
I listened in rapt amazement, not having started any of those topics as it was clear many of us are acclimating to a new plateau of spiritual growth along with a celebratory spirit after our hard won victory.
A further word about just how delighted Brian & I were with Jon’s chosen venue, the Ahern was top notch in every manner that matters, the beds, the amazing walk in shower (my first time ever seeing one) the friendly and attentive staff as well as their coffee shop, Aroma and the Five Star Ottimo Gourmet Kitchen where we ate several times.
Their Chicken Parmesan in Marinara Sauce with Rigatoni was incredible, as was everything we ordered but at VEGAS Prices.
Brian and I were actually beginning to fall ill so we made one brief sojourn on Saturday night to an amazing Italian Eatery called Monzu where we were subjected to a 4 course meal in honor of Vegas Mark’s birthday. (@8Traq_truth)
Pictured is Jack, our waiter who was simply ACES in service and good vibes.
Brian was already feeling under the weather but we dug into the first two courses (handmade pizzas) with all the gusto we could muster.
The 3rd course arrived and it was a MEAT Board. Literally stacked with steaks, ribs, sausage and something called marrow scampi.
You should have seen Brian’s face as he eyed a ribeye steak…but he was done.
“Why didn’t they START with that?” He muttered wanly.
Monday early we Ubered to the Vegas Airport for Round TWO of me waddling along to our Gate but this time with my SECRET WEAPON:
This sturdy Rollator allowed me the chance to rest whenever I needed to. When I could go no further, simply activate the brakes, turn it 180 degree and sit down. What a blessing.
As we were now both quite sick and stressed, I confess I SNAPPED angrily at Brian more than twice during the day, both at the Vegas airport and during the flight.
As we awaited the shuttle van to take us to his car in Tampa, I, being filled with remorse, hugged him and apologized.
He grinned and all was forgiven.
Then, just minutes later, trying to load my Rollator into his car, he lost his temper and roared in frustration.
A helpful Lot Attendant appeared and quickly, almost effortlessly, slid the Rollator into the backseat.
Mollified and sheepish, we drove home and surrendered to whatever that CRUD was going around.
I spent a really bad week with it and another week slowly recovering.
AND I’D DO IT ALL AGAIN! These GART Gatherings are picking up in momentum, energy and attendance. If you’ve been waiting & wondering about going to GART, I say stop wondering and go for it.
I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? AMIRITE?
THUNDERDOME is a reader supported endeavor.
If you like my writing and would like to support it, a paid sub would be greatly appreciated or just donate any amount to my CashAPP
or just Buy me a Coffee whenever you feel I’ve earned it!
And I thank you so much!