Summer of Cal/Nev – Day 20
Here it is day 20 and I’ve yet to reach the half way point of the trip. But the days seem to just fly by. Today is July 4th, and I’ve spent so many years on the road on this day, I can’t remember the last time I spent the holiday at home. Last year I was at the Hilton and I know I didn’t even stay up…fireworks really don’t do much for me. But tonight, being that I’m just across the freeway from Caesar’s Palace, which is having a huge show at 9:15, I can just sit in my room and look out the window—no traffic, no crazy drunk people—I am getting old.
This morning after the usual morning routines, I headed downstairs to the buffet for breakfast. It doesn’t open until 8 AM and I was a half hour early, so I sat down at the 9/7/5 Double Bonus triple play progressive bank. Things went well as I hit quad Aces and quad 4s early. Then things began to even out and I was able to cash out a small $25 profit before heading over to the buffet.
I don’t remember ever eating the buffet here at the Orleans for lunch or dinner, but I must say that their breakfast buffet is one of the best in town. They have some things I’ve not seen elsewhere. You can special order waffles and pancakes such as strawberry, chocolate, peach, just about anything, and they’ll cook them right there for you. Also, their omelet station is unique in that you bowl all the ingredients yourself and then hand the bowl to the guy who custom makes your omelet.
Grab your own fixins' for your omelet...very nice
The breakfast buffet here is only $6.99 and when you think about all the choices you have, I consider it the best value in town. Of all the Boyd and Coast properties, I have no doubt the Orleans is their #1 money maker. Not only is it their largest property but it is also its most popular. This place is always busy—always. Granted, they do give away a lot of their rooms or price them so cheap that they’re a great value to the middle and lower economic travelers, but they have a huge local following. One time I walked downstairs at 4:15 in the morning and to just look at the table actions, you’d think it 4:15 in the afternoon (granted almost every table was occupied by Asians—who love to gamble), but the action just never stops here.
After breakfast I headed out to the Rio. It was time to make a call to the World Series of Poker. I drove to the Masquerade parking garage and though it was only 10 in the morning, I was struck by just how dead it was in here—having just left a place where I was constantly having to walk around or dodging people in the walkways.
The Rio on this very hot day
Inside the Rio...it's a ghost town
I made my way back to the convention area where the WSOP is held. Unfortunately, there were no major tournaments going on this morning. All there were was a few cash games, so the trip seems to have been a waste of time. I will come back during the main even to take plenty of pics—it’s become a tradition.
Not much happening at the WSOP today
I made my way back into the casino and wandered over to the video poker area. Many LVA readers will remember a few years ago when management had screwed up and left one 50-play machine with all the factory schedules (full pay) on it for all the games. Word of it got to me and I put some very serious time on it playing the 9/6 Jacks or Better for nickels. One day, I spent over six hours making a couple hundred dollars and seriously considering running after 7 Stars level, which would only take a couple more days of hard play. After that six hour run, I got up early the next day to go after it again, but it was gone. I suppose the pencil pusher looking over the day’s stats finally noticed this lone machine was getting far more play than any of the others over the previous couple of weeks, and they yanked it.
Well, I’m telling you this story because ever since then, whenever I’m in the Rio, I wander over to video poker area and check all the machines—you just never know. Of course, they were all the usual Caesar’s crappy schedules (7/5 Bonus being the best of the bunch). I did stick around for a few moments watching some guy who was playing a Wizard of Oz machine (the second or third generation) at $4 a pop and had caught a bonus that was going crazy. After the dust was settled and something like 65 spins, he had won over $11,000. Of course, it locked up and he waited for the attendant. I admit to being one of those notorious lookie-loos who stands behind you when someone is hitting a big jackpot. I suppose I like to live vicariously through their good fortune.
I strolled around the place watching some poker play at the rail and then watching some horse racing at the sportsbook. Every sportsbook in town seem to have their own legion of regulars who camp out at their little TV module forever scouring through the racing forms. What an odd choice how to spend the rest of your life. I walked into the high limit area to check the VP schedules and they did have 8/5 Bonus and 9/6 Jacks at the $5 lever. However, there was one $100 machine that only had 9/5 Jacks on it. Who plays this machine?
To play full coin in, you're looking at $500 per hand...whew!
I left the Rio and the temp in the car was 112. Today I needed to buy some sneakers as the ones I have are pinching my left foot. Unfortunately, my left foot is a tad wider than my right foot. Sometimes I get lucky and the pair of shoes is fine, and I’ll wear them until they fall apart. So, I’m heading to the Outlet Center to find some size 12 shoes that are extra wide (yes, they do make them, but harder to find—therefore the Outlet Store). I have two choices as there are two Premium Outlet shopping malls. One is close to downtown and has covered parking but is outdoors. The other is on the south side of the Mandalay Bay and is an inside mall but there’s no covered parking. My choice: spare my car or spare me. Of course, I chose to spare my car. I drove downtown and got in line for the garage. Well, I drove up all seven levels (behind a slew of other cars looking for a spot as well) and then down all seven levels without even one spot available. Just great!
So, it was back onto the I-15 heading south to the other mall on the other side of town. This mall was jammed as well (these two Outlet Malls are always packed—very successful) but I manage to find a parking place. Inside the mall I walked into the Nike store. It was jammed. I couldn’t find any shoes with the W sticker. I tried in vain to get some help but everyone was busy. I got frustrated and left. I walked down to the Famous Brands shoe store and stuck gold. There were plenty of Size 12s with the W sticker on them. After trying on a few pairs, I selected a pair that were comfy and on sale as well.
The Premium Outlet Center South
It was 2:00 in the afternoon and I really didn’t have any plans, so I drove over to the Palms (it’s air conditioned and has easy access garage parking) to play the 9/6 Jacks 50-play machines. I sat there for a good while and finally after an hour or so, quit with a $25 profit. I considered watching a movie, but decided I needed to stop for a little while. I do want to see the new Despicable Me and the Lone Ranger, but I want to wait until the lines die down and I promised Martin I’d hold off on the Ranger until we meet up again in Laughlin in a couple of weeks.
Across the street from Palms Place on Arville, there’s a place calleld Pole Position Raceway. It’s an easy enough place to pass and not even realize it’s there. I popped in to check it out. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill go-carts joint. These people take it to the next level. I could not believe the speeds people were going in these—women, children, and over-zealous men were zipping through the tracks at surprising speeds, while there’s a huge screen always showing your racing position. This was a cool stop and perhaps I’ll come back again on one of my son’s birthday trips and show him how it’s done!
The Pole Position Raceway across from Palm Palace on Arville
Part of the track at the Pole Position Raceway...it's all indoors
It was now after 5:00 PM and I’d yet to go after the 9/7/5 nickel triple play progressives aside from the short session before breakfast. I drove back the Orleans, took out my hundred for the day, and started playing. I put over 1000 points on my card hoping to catch one of the royals (dealt royal was $1600+) but I just couldn’t hit much except for the occasional quad that kept in me in the game. I lost the hundred, but because of the small wins earlier in the day, I’m pretty much even for the day. So, I’m STILL waiting for that one good session, the one time I can take a picture of some nice hit—as you know the only picture of a game win so far has been at nickel keno—how sad is that?
More tomorrow.
Here it is day 20 and I’ve yet to reach the half way point of the trip. But the days seem to just fly by. Today is July 4th, and I’ve spent so many years on the road on this day, I can’t remember the last time I spent the holiday at home. Last year I was at the Hilton and I know I didn’t even stay up…fireworks really don’t do much for me. But tonight, being that I’m just across the freeway from Caesar’s Palace, which is having a huge show at 9:15, I can just sit in my room and look out the window—no traffic, no crazy drunk people—I am getting old.
This morning after the usual morning routines, I headed downstairs to the buffet for breakfast. It doesn’t open until 8 AM and I was a half hour early, so I sat down at the 9/7/5 Double Bonus triple play progressive bank. Things went well as I hit quad Aces and quad 4s early. Then things began to even out and I was able to cash out a small $25 profit before heading over to the buffet.
I don’t remember ever eating the buffet here at the Orleans for lunch or dinner, but I must say that their breakfast buffet is one of the best in town. They have some things I’ve not seen elsewhere. You can special order waffles and pancakes such as strawberry, chocolate, peach, just about anything, and they’ll cook them right there for you. Also, their omelet station is unique in that you bowl all the ingredients yourself and then hand the bowl to the guy who custom makes your omelet.
Grab your own fixins' for your omelet...very nice
The breakfast buffet here is only $6.99 and when you think about all the choices you have, I consider it the best value in town. Of all the Boyd and Coast properties, I have no doubt the Orleans is their #1 money maker. Not only is it their largest property but it is also its most popular. This place is always busy—always. Granted, they do give away a lot of their rooms or price them so cheap that they’re a great value to the middle and lower economic travelers, but they have a huge local following. One time I walked downstairs at 4:15 in the morning and to just look at the table actions, you’d think it 4:15 in the afternoon (granted almost every table was occupied by Asians—who love to gamble), but the action just never stops here.
After breakfast I headed out to the Rio. It was time to make a call to the World Series of Poker. I drove to the Masquerade parking garage and though it was only 10 in the morning, I was struck by just how dead it was in here—having just left a place where I was constantly having to walk around or dodging people in the walkways.
The Rio on this very hot day
Inside the Rio...it's a ghost town
I made my way back to the convention area where the WSOP is held. Unfortunately, there were no major tournaments going on this morning. All there were was a few cash games, so the trip seems to have been a waste of time. I will come back during the main even to take plenty of pics—it’s become a tradition.
Not much happening at the WSOP today
I made my way back into the casino and wandered over to the video poker area. Many LVA readers will remember a few years ago when management had screwed up and left one 50-play machine with all the factory schedules (full pay) on it for all the games. Word of it got to me and I put some very serious time on it playing the 9/6 Jacks or Better for nickels. One day, I spent over six hours making a couple hundred dollars and seriously considering running after 7 Stars level, which would only take a couple more days of hard play. After that six hour run, I got up early the next day to go after it again, but it was gone. I suppose the pencil pusher looking over the day’s stats finally noticed this lone machine was getting far more play than any of the others over the previous couple of weeks, and they yanked it.
Well, I’m telling you this story because ever since then, whenever I’m in the Rio, I wander over to video poker area and check all the machines—you just never know. Of course, they were all the usual Caesar’s crappy schedules (7/5 Bonus being the best of the bunch). I did stick around for a few moments watching some guy who was playing a Wizard of Oz machine (the second or third generation) at $4 a pop and had caught a bonus that was going crazy. After the dust was settled and something like 65 spins, he had won over $11,000. Of course, it locked up and he waited for the attendant. I admit to being one of those notorious lookie-loos who stands behind you when someone is hitting a big jackpot. I suppose I like to live vicariously through their good fortune.
I strolled around the place watching some poker play at the rail and then watching some horse racing at the sportsbook. Every sportsbook in town seem to have their own legion of regulars who camp out at their little TV module forever scouring through the racing forms. What an odd choice how to spend the rest of your life. I walked into the high limit area to check the VP schedules and they did have 8/5 Bonus and 9/6 Jacks at the $5 lever. However, there was one $100 machine that only had 9/5 Jacks on it. Who plays this machine?
To play full coin in, you're looking at $500 per hand...whew!
I left the Rio and the temp in the car was 112. Today I needed to buy some sneakers as the ones I have are pinching my left foot. Unfortunately, my left foot is a tad wider than my right foot. Sometimes I get lucky and the pair of shoes is fine, and I’ll wear them until they fall apart. So, I’m heading to the Outlet Center to find some size 12 shoes that are extra wide (yes, they do make them, but harder to find—therefore the Outlet Store). I have two choices as there are two Premium Outlet shopping malls. One is close to downtown and has covered parking but is outdoors. The other is on the south side of the Mandalay Bay and is an inside mall but there’s no covered parking. My choice: spare my car or spare me. Of course, I chose to spare my car. I drove downtown and got in line for the garage. Well, I drove up all seven levels (behind a slew of other cars looking for a spot as well) and then down all seven levels without even one spot available. Just great!
So, it was back onto the I-15 heading south to the other mall on the other side of town. This mall was jammed as well (these two Outlet Malls are always packed—very successful) but I manage to find a parking place. Inside the mall I walked into the Nike store. It was jammed. I couldn’t find any shoes with the W sticker. I tried in vain to get some help but everyone was busy. I got frustrated and left. I walked down to the Famous Brands shoe store and stuck gold. There were plenty of Size 12s with the W sticker on them. After trying on a few pairs, I selected a pair that were comfy and on sale as well.
The Premium Outlet Center South
It was 2:00 in the afternoon and I really didn’t have any plans, so I drove over to the Palms (it’s air conditioned and has easy access garage parking) to play the 9/6 Jacks 50-play machines. I sat there for a good while and finally after an hour or so, quit with a $25 profit. I considered watching a movie, but decided I needed to stop for a little while. I do want to see the new Despicable Me and the Lone Ranger, but I want to wait until the lines die down and I promised Martin I’d hold off on the Ranger until we meet up again in Laughlin in a couple of weeks.
Across the street from Palms Place on Arville, there’s a place calleld Pole Position Raceway. It’s an easy enough place to pass and not even realize it’s there. I popped in to check it out. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill go-carts joint. These people take it to the next level. I could not believe the speeds people were going in these—women, children, and over-zealous men were zipping through the tracks at surprising speeds, while there’s a huge screen always showing your racing position. This was a cool stop and perhaps I’ll come back again on one of my son’s birthday trips and show him how it’s done!
The Pole Position Raceway across from Palm Palace on Arville
Part of the track at the Pole Position Raceway...it's all indoors
It was now after 5:00 PM and I’d yet to go after the 9/7/5 nickel triple play progressives aside from the short session before breakfast. I drove back the Orleans, took out my hundred for the day, and started playing. I put over 1000 points on my card hoping to catch one of the royals (dealt royal was $1600+) but I just couldn’t hit much except for the occasional quad that kept in me in the game. I lost the hundred, but because of the small wins earlier in the day, I’m pretty much even for the day. So, I’m STILL waiting for that one good session, the one time I can take a picture of some nice hit—as you know the only picture of a game win so far has been at nickel keno—how sad is that?
More tomorrow.
