Route 66 Xmas casino trip, Dec. 20-30

Wow, Edso, $1.95/gal!  That beats our current $2.15/gal which I thought was super.  We've been hearing about Buc-ees, supposedly will be seeing one or more in our area soon.  "Famously clean restrooms, cheap gas, as the loss leaders for other merch.   Will surely be competition for our QTs which I like a lot...best gas prices, an astounding assortment of food/drink items including fresh baked all kinds of things.   But I hear Buc-ees is even more.

Good for you on the "chickens" win!

Candy

There's a YouTube channel called "New Zealand Family" where two parents and their preteen kids bucket around the US in an RV and express awe at things like WalMart and KFC. Their biggest amazement was at a Bucee's. They couldn't believe the size of the place or the sheer amount and variety of goodies in the store. They wound up resupplying for about six days.

They're kind of like an oasis of desperation on those long long long drags through the wastelands of America, like I-10 or I-20 through West Texas. Or I-35 through flyover country. You do appreciate the cheap gas when you're thinking, "The hell with fuel economy, I'm getting outta here as fast as I can." 

Thanks, Candy.

Buc-ees was indeed impressive.  It was just too crowded.  It was an interesting experience,  but we'll stick with using Love's for gas when we can.  They also have clean bathrooms.

Hope you have a wonderful New Year. 

Dec. 28- Santa Rosa to Flagstaff

Got 7.5 hours of restful sleep and wanted to go use the treadmill in the fitness room, but it was not in service. Thought about going on a walk, but it was really cold, and there was a wind. Nope! Decided to go to the business center and use the computer to check out the LVA site.  I'm enjoying the Christmas movie discussion. 

After breakfast, pretty much the same at each Hampton Inn, of scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, sausage patties and a muffin, we packed up, checked out, and hit the road.

After an hour and a half drive to Albuquerque, we checked out the Isleta Casino in South Albuquerque, on the 25.  The Sandia, an earlier casino we visited is on the 25 in North Albuquerque.  About a 20 minute drive between them. This is the first of three casinos we visited today. Much like the Sandia, as it has a big casino floor and table games. I ended up over $600 ahead playing the Mystery of the Lamp, the firecracker games and Flaming Pots. Son won $50 playing BJ. No 50 cent ante like in California and Oklahoma. $10 minimum and BJs paid 3-2. Suited BJs paid double. There was also a push on 22!  Wife played various games, but lost her $100.

Stopped to fill up at Loves for $39. Was $2.49 a gallon.

A half hour drive brought us to the Route 66 Casino. This has been the casino my wife really wanted to check out since we have passed it on our many drives to and from Oklahoma over the years. I lost my $100 pretty quick playing the Mystery of the Lamp and crazy chickens slot. Wife played a while but Mystery of the Lamp wasn't kind to her. Our son broke even playing $25 BJ.  He said they were offering 2-1 on blackjack, and had a $5 side bet called the Push Can. If you made this bet you actually won a push.

We ate the Route 66 sports bar, The 66 Pit Stop. This is the only place you can drink alcohol, as it is not allowed on the casino floor. I had the nachos supreme and a draft beer, while son and wife shared a big order of garlic bread and an order of meatballs. With tip, the bill was $54. Was better than the meal at the Silver Moon the night before. 

Another half hour drive took us to the Sky City Casino, the last casino of the day. One of the smaller casinos, but had a few games I had never seen. Played a Mystic Sword game, and was up $100.  Wife lost her $100 on Shoot the Loot and a Buffalo game. Son ended up $25 playing BJ. Table was $5 minimum! with 3-2 for blackjacks. He played for quite awhile.

After a 3 and a half hour drive we made it to Flagstaff. Instead of heading to the Hampton Inn, we went to Olive Garden for a late dinner.  I had my standard fettuccine Alfredo while wife and son had the chicken parm. Excellent service. $100 with tip.

When we arrived at the Hampton Inn at 9pm it was a madhouse. Thought that by eating first and then going to the hotel, we were going to have it easy.  Nope! Check in took about half hour, but the room was not the standard room we've had on every other stay, but a suite with 2 queen beds, a couch, coffee table and regular table and chairs. Score!  Didn't take long before we were all tucked in. It was in the low 30s outside, but very warm in the room.

Apparently you hit that Mystery of the Lamp at just the right moment at the Isleta, Edso.  The BJ your son played that had push on 22, was that Blackjack Switch?  I used to like Switch a lot, but don't recall the suited BJs bonus.  Hard to find Switch anymore, it seems.

Candy

He said it was a side bet that was called Push 22.  He never did it because if you did the bet and then you pull a 21 and the dealer gets 22, you lose 

He just played BJ two hands at South Point for $50.  Won the first one.  Pressed it and flopped Q T.  Dealer got a 73. Son stayed and of course Dealer drew an Ace.  Dang!

Sounds like fun, Edso!

you didn't stay in the motel with the TeePees?    No worlds biggest ball of twine?   The dinosaur park in the PeeWee Herman movie?     We need some pics here. =)

Nope.....saw a few as we drove by them, though.

Any bonus that ups the payout on blackjacks, like suited ones pay double, will absolutely be "compensated for" by making something else worse. As roughly 1/4 of all blackjacks are suited, and you get a blackjack every 21 hands, such a rule would add 0.6% to the overall return. No casino would survive that or be dumb enough to allow it.

Interestingly, such a promo would compensate for that horrid 50 cents per hand "tax" in OK...IF you were betting $100 per hand and the tax stayed at $0.50! But I suspect they jack it up to $1 if you're betting $100.

Incredibly bad rule in general, and incredibly stupid for anyone to play there. A $10 bettor would be fading a 5% house edge!!

Best possible result. Now, he's not going to like blackjack. That could only be a good thing.

That Push 22 bet makes me laugh. Imagine the expressions on the faces of people who don't scrutinize the rules, get a blackjack, and then not only don't win, but get their bet scooped up by the dealer! I can see why they didn't call that side bet Lose With a Blackjack!!😛

God, casinos will do ANYTHING to rape the players!