Summer Cal/Nev – Day 50
I’m an early riser by most peoples’ standards. I’m usually up between 4 and 6 AM but I’ve got nothing on Bishop, CA residents and visitors. I woke up about four this morning and took a look out the front curtains of my room and there must have been about seven or eight cars being loaded up as people were hustling back on forth from their rooms to their cars with ice boxes, fishing poles, bait boxes…fishermen…serious people.
I went down to the lobby of the motel who advertise that breakfast is included. Breakfast choices included make your own toast and a box of donuts. It’s not the Holiday Inn Express, but at half the price, fresh coffee was just fine. I checked out and was heading north on the 395 by 9AM. It didn’t need my GPS for this because the 395 goes right into Reno—sounds easy enough.
I mentioned yesterday that because of all the fires in the California Mountains, there was dense smoke settled into the valley and it hasn’t left. The drive between Bishop and the Nevada border takes you through the Mammoth mountain region and I wanted to take some pictures of the surrounding peaks but they were clouded in smoke, which is too bad because this is an absolute beautiful drive. You drive as high as 8000 ft a couple of times and you’re surrounded by forest, mountain peaks, and lakes.
Mono Lake in California...one of many in this region
When I passed the Nevada state line, there was a small casino and lodge that I now realize I had missed on my Hit ‘em All Nevada trip. The Topaz Lodge Casino is right past the border and sits next to the Topaz Lake.
The Topaz Lodge and Casino
Taken form the balcony of the lodge of Topaz Lake
The casino is small, about a hundred machines and a few blackjack tables that open after 5PM. The lodge is very quaint with a buffet that’s only open on weekend evenings and a steakhouse tucked in a corner downstairs. As has become my practice of late, I put $5 into a Keno game but instead of a nickel a game, I played a dime. To my surprise, I caught all six numbers for a surprising $172 win. I tried again but no luck this time. This is a good way to start the day.
A nice way to start the day
Back on the 395 and heading into Carson, NV, I passed a few of the casinos I had covered a couple years ago but decided to stop at a small local’s place called Sparky’s.
Sharkey's Casino
This place has the feel of a neighborhood bar as it’s filled with locals and regulars and the when a stranger in a Hawaiian shirt strolls in, more than a few heads turned. Once again I made a $5 (which soon became $15) Keno play (the VP schedules are terrible) and lost but I was asked no less than three times if I wanted something to drink in a five minute period. The machines here were some of the oldest and out-of-date games that I have seen in years. I’ve always been curious at the behind-the-scenes rental and purchase of gambling slots and video machines. I know that the newer ones are rented and some of the older ones are sold but I’d be curious as to the cost of each and some of the other minutia of the casino business.
I drove on through Carson and Minton and back on the freeway. With the mountains that contain and surround Lake Tahoe on my left, I found myself on a new stretch of freeway I had never been on before and it wasn’t long before I realized that I was on the “new” 395 freeway that I had taken pictures of a few years ago while it was under construction. I remember remarking about the huge project going on around the base of the mountains and now here I am actually driving on that project. I looked far to my right at the old 395 every one used to drive on and felt a little sad for all the businesses that used to count on that traffic including a very quaint chocolate and candy shop.
With the city of Reno in my sights, getting to my next stop, The Atlantis was very easy as it, along with the Peppermill stand out all alone in this part of town. When I originally planned this trip, I had booked a motel close to the airport because on Saturday I was going to pick up some friends who are flying in. However, LA Advice member, Fred (who I had met on the Hit ‘em All Nevada trip and I watched the Reno Aces baseball game together) sent me a message that he could score me a room at the Atlantis gratis. So, I canceled my other reservation and now I find myself here checking in what is arguably the best hotel/casino in town.
Taken a couple years ago of Fred and I at the Reno Aces game. Yes, I had a serious case of trucker's arm
The Atlantis Hotel and Casino in Reno, NV
The room wasn’t ready, so I drove around town for a little while and stopped at a Carrows for some lunch before driving back and using valet. The room was ready and I was in the Concierge Tower (the newest and best of the place) which whisked me up one of the three glass elevators to the 24th floor. My room is amazing and I can’t thank Fred enough.
My room at the Atlantis
View of the room
After putting my things away, I went down to check out the casino. Fred had mentioned that there were some 9/6 Jacks or Better with a progressive royal on the bridge. The bridge he is referring to connects the Atlantis to the off-property parking lot. But this is no ordinary pedestrian bridge. The owners had the foresight to turn this walkway into its own mini-casino. There are plenty of machines around the sides but there’s a very popular sushi/deli restaurant right in the middle. Today it was packed with a long waiting list.
I walked around the casino trying to get the lay of the land, so to speak, but kept getting confused. The layout is a mish-mash of isles, faux-caves, a waterfall, a fountain and some odd twist and turns. I found myself turned around more than once trying to figure out where I was. There was a band playing (very bad lounge band sounds—and I know) over a bar next to the Manhattan Deli (insane prices: $16 and up for a sandwich) but the other restaurants (buffet, café, snack bar) all seemed reasonable. There’s one outlet called the Coffee Coast (or something like that) that has a lot of video poker machines in front of it. I always check pay schedules both out of the curiosity plus for these reports. I was very surprised to find two 100-play machines that had 9/6 Jacks and 8/5 Bonus on them in all denominations from a penny to a dollar. I rushed over to get a slot card (I had 0 points—don’t remember if I ever played here that last time I came) and sat myself down at the 100-play and began at the 2-cent level at 25 games at a time. I was soon playing 50 games at a time and then all 100 games at a time. I was doing well—up $200 at one point, and then as if someone walked by and switched a key on the machine, it went cold dealing me dead hand after dead hand. I switched back to 50 games and then back down to 25 games. I finally cashed out with a $100 profit (I was determined NOT to give them all the money back). I checked my balance on the EZ – Comp kiosk and I had played just over 3400 points, but even more surprising was that meant I already had $34 in comps (I believe today was a 4X comp day or something). I used some of those for a hot dog that I took back to my room for dinner.
I did manage one stupid move before the night was over. I had my hot dog and a large fountain drink in my hand when I got my key out to unlock my door, and the drink slid right out of my hand and splashed all over the hallway floor and flowed right into my room under the door. I grabbed a bath towel and tried to get as much of it as I could but I finally had to call Housekeeping to have someone bring up a mop as I didn’t want the floor to be all sticky. Soon a nice man came with towels and some cleaner and had everything clean. He then left and came back with an armload of fresh towels. I tipped $10 for his trouble. The service here is great. As I was about to shut the light off, there was a knock on my door. It was a maid who had come for turn down service. She handed me four small mint chocolates and two small snifters with two little bottles of Baily’s liquor. Wow! Fred, no wonder this is your place of choice: great video poker and terrific service. Thanks again!
More tomorrow.
I’m an early riser by most peoples’ standards. I’m usually up between 4 and 6 AM but I’ve got nothing on Bishop, CA residents and visitors. I woke up about four this morning and took a look out the front curtains of my room and there must have been about seven or eight cars being loaded up as people were hustling back on forth from their rooms to their cars with ice boxes, fishing poles, bait boxes…fishermen…serious people.
I went down to the lobby of the motel who advertise that breakfast is included. Breakfast choices included make your own toast and a box of donuts. It’s not the Holiday Inn Express, but at half the price, fresh coffee was just fine. I checked out and was heading north on the 395 by 9AM. It didn’t need my GPS for this because the 395 goes right into Reno—sounds easy enough.
I mentioned yesterday that because of all the fires in the California Mountains, there was dense smoke settled into the valley and it hasn’t left. The drive between Bishop and the Nevada border takes you through the Mammoth mountain region and I wanted to take some pictures of the surrounding peaks but they were clouded in smoke, which is too bad because this is an absolute beautiful drive. You drive as high as 8000 ft a couple of times and you’re surrounded by forest, mountain peaks, and lakes.
Mono Lake in California...one of many in this region
When I passed the Nevada state line, there was a small casino and lodge that I now realize I had missed on my Hit ‘em All Nevada trip. The Topaz Lodge Casino is right past the border and sits next to the Topaz Lake.
The Topaz Lodge and Casino
Taken form the balcony of the lodge of Topaz Lake
The casino is small, about a hundred machines and a few blackjack tables that open after 5PM. The lodge is very quaint with a buffet that’s only open on weekend evenings and a steakhouse tucked in a corner downstairs. As has become my practice of late, I put $5 into a Keno game but instead of a nickel a game, I played a dime. To my surprise, I caught all six numbers for a surprising $172 win. I tried again but no luck this time. This is a good way to start the day.
A nice way to start the day
Back on the 395 and heading into Carson, NV, I passed a few of the casinos I had covered a couple years ago but decided to stop at a small local’s place called Sparky’s.
Sharkey's Casino
This place has the feel of a neighborhood bar as it’s filled with locals and regulars and the when a stranger in a Hawaiian shirt strolls in, more than a few heads turned. Once again I made a $5 (which soon became $15) Keno play (the VP schedules are terrible) and lost but I was asked no less than three times if I wanted something to drink in a five minute period. The machines here were some of the oldest and out-of-date games that I have seen in years. I’ve always been curious at the behind-the-scenes rental and purchase of gambling slots and video machines. I know that the newer ones are rented and some of the older ones are sold but I’d be curious as to the cost of each and some of the other minutia of the casino business.
I drove on through Carson and Minton and back on the freeway. With the mountains that contain and surround Lake Tahoe on my left, I found myself on a new stretch of freeway I had never been on before and it wasn’t long before I realized that I was on the “new” 395 freeway that I had taken pictures of a few years ago while it was under construction. I remember remarking about the huge project going on around the base of the mountains and now here I am actually driving on that project. I looked far to my right at the old 395 every one used to drive on and felt a little sad for all the businesses that used to count on that traffic including a very quaint chocolate and candy shop.
With the city of Reno in my sights, getting to my next stop, The Atlantis was very easy as it, along with the Peppermill stand out all alone in this part of town. When I originally planned this trip, I had booked a motel close to the airport because on Saturday I was going to pick up some friends who are flying in. However, LA Advice member, Fred (who I had met on the Hit ‘em All Nevada trip and I watched the Reno Aces baseball game together) sent me a message that he could score me a room at the Atlantis gratis. So, I canceled my other reservation and now I find myself here checking in what is arguably the best hotel/casino in town.
Taken a couple years ago of Fred and I at the Reno Aces game. Yes, I had a serious case of trucker's arm
The Atlantis Hotel and Casino in Reno, NV
The room wasn’t ready, so I drove around town for a little while and stopped at a Carrows for some lunch before driving back and using valet. The room was ready and I was in the Concierge Tower (the newest and best of the place) which whisked me up one of the three glass elevators to the 24th floor. My room is amazing and I can’t thank Fred enough.
My room at the Atlantis
View of the room
After putting my things away, I went down to check out the casino. Fred had mentioned that there were some 9/6 Jacks or Better with a progressive royal on the bridge. The bridge he is referring to connects the Atlantis to the off-property parking lot. But this is no ordinary pedestrian bridge. The owners had the foresight to turn this walkway into its own mini-casino. There are plenty of machines around the sides but there’s a very popular sushi/deli restaurant right in the middle. Today it was packed with a long waiting list.
I walked around the casino trying to get the lay of the land, so to speak, but kept getting confused. The layout is a mish-mash of isles, faux-caves, a waterfall, a fountain and some odd twist and turns. I found myself turned around more than once trying to figure out where I was. There was a band playing (very bad lounge band sounds—and I know) over a bar next to the Manhattan Deli (insane prices: $16 and up for a sandwich) but the other restaurants (buffet, café, snack bar) all seemed reasonable. There’s one outlet called the Coffee Coast (or something like that) that has a lot of video poker machines in front of it. I always check pay schedules both out of the curiosity plus for these reports. I was very surprised to find two 100-play machines that had 9/6 Jacks and 8/5 Bonus on them in all denominations from a penny to a dollar. I rushed over to get a slot card (I had 0 points—don’t remember if I ever played here that last time I came) and sat myself down at the 100-play and began at the 2-cent level at 25 games at a time. I was soon playing 50 games at a time and then all 100 games at a time. I was doing well—up $200 at one point, and then as if someone walked by and switched a key on the machine, it went cold dealing me dead hand after dead hand. I switched back to 50 games and then back down to 25 games. I finally cashed out with a $100 profit (I was determined NOT to give them all the money back). I checked my balance on the EZ – Comp kiosk and I had played just over 3400 points, but even more surprising was that meant I already had $34 in comps (I believe today was a 4X comp day or something). I used some of those for a hot dog that I took back to my room for dinner.
I did manage one stupid move before the night was over. I had my hot dog and a large fountain drink in my hand when I got my key out to unlock my door, and the drink slid right out of my hand and splashed all over the hallway floor and flowed right into my room under the door. I grabbed a bath towel and tried to get as much of it as I could but I finally had to call Housekeeping to have someone bring up a mop as I didn’t want the floor to be all sticky. Soon a nice man came with towels and some cleaner and had everything clean. He then left and came back with an armload of fresh towels. I tipped $10 for his trouble. The service here is great. As I was about to shut the light off, there was a knock on my door. It was a maid who had come for turn down service. She handed me four small mint chocolates and two small snifters with two little bottles of Baily’s liquor. Wow! Fred, no wonder this is your place of choice: great video poker and terrific service. Thanks again!
More tomorrow.
