Summer of Cal/Nev – Day 52
Sleep was fast and deep so getting up and raring to go was the order of the day. After finishing the trip report, we met Terry and Louise and walked down to the Silver Legacy. It turned out that Terry had gone out again last night to play and end up with a free buffet along with enough comp points so that all of us could have our breakfast there.
It was the Champagne Sunday Brunch and we were expecting it to be expensive but was only $13.99 each and it was excellent. Along with the usual breakfast items, they also had some remarkable desserts and a station of freshly made sauces and salsa. We took our time and really took in the moment. After eating, we heard about a promotion today that if you made 250 points, you’d be eligible for a $25 gas card. So, Louise, Terry, and I went to the full pay deuces machines and began playing (the lure of the gas cards was really just an excuse to play the game as it might be a long time before we find a full pay deuces wild schedule as they are all but extinct in Las Vegas).
Today went the opposite of yesterday. While I couldn’t catch anything, Terry was plowing right along with straight flushes and five-of-a-kinds. At the end of the hour long session, I had lost my $100 stake, Louise lost $25, but Terry won $25. We were all amazed that between the three of us who played long sessions both yesterday and today no one hit the quad deuces. With all the playing we’ve done this trip, there hasn’t been any major wins by any of us. At least the losses could be tempered by that fact we’d get the $25 gas cards. We went back to the slot booth to get the cards and were told that promotion starts at noon today and goes until 8PM. It was 11:30 in the morning—so that was all for naught. Ahhh!
We walked back to Harrahs as I wanted to do the major playing of the day to continue my run at the 7 Stars. Terry and Louise used my card and the three of us sat down at the dollar 9/6 Jacks or Better machines. Louise lost in short order, and I went out not long after that. Only Terry seemed to have a decent session. So, the gambling for me needed to end as the losses were piling up. We were 141 tier points away from the 1000 threshold for the bonus, so we decided to get those later tonight.
We all got into the car and headed to the Grand Sierra. This huge hotel/casino was originally built as a Hilton, but was taken over by new owners who then was taken over by different new owners who was later taken over by the current owners…got all that? Anyway, the latest group, The Grand Sierra Investment Group, bought the place for $151 million has put a lot of money into it as the latest incarnation has been transformed into one of the most beautifully design casinos I’ve seen. What used to be a big square box is now framed with clubs, a sportsbook, and other amenities that is tastefully and artistically done. They are about to open a 25,000 sq ft Ultra Club that includes and pool right in the middle of it. If you find yourself in Reno, don’t miss checking this place out. I did take some pics of it, but they were too blurry to post.
Terry and I take a much needed break while the girls take pictures
The GSR is surrounded with sculptures like this
At the southern portion of the parking lot, there is an Aquarange. This a driving range where golfers tee off into a large man-made cement-enclosed lake where there are islands of greens that if you make a hole-in-one, you win prizes with the furthest island offering a Hawaiian vacation for two for anyone who makes it. I reported on this back in my Hit ‘em All Nevada report, but this is still a unique place to visit, and at only $10 a bucket, certainly a fun way to spend a morning.
The Aquarange at the GSR.
We next drove over to the Atlantis Resort as I wanted to show everyone how nice it was and Terry wanted to take a swing at the 100-play 9/6 Jacks. After looking and looking for a parking spot, we finally went to the valet. There was only one machine available, so Terry sat down and began playing at the 50-play level and I took Louise and Cindy upstairs to where the single line 9/6 Jacks progressive machines are located. They stayed there and played while I went back to join Terry.
What started out to be just a fast stop end up being the rest of the afternoon as we kept playing the games. The girls settled in at their machines enjoying lemon drop martinis, and Terry and I stayed at the 100-plays getting more and more frustrated that being dealt three-of-a-kinds were non-existent. After an hour and a half, Terry managed to get away with only a $100 loss but Louise had better luck making a $100—at least a wash for the couple. Terry had used my slot card, so with the remaining comps I had from my stay here and the points he added (Louise had my card as well, but Atlantis won’t allow more than one card to work at a time—bummer), we had dinner at the café. That turned out to be the win of the day, as the food was excellent, the service terrific, and we ended it sharing a delicious dish of gelato.
We drove back to Harrahs as it was getting late and everyone was tired; however, we still that 141 points to get, so Terry and I found a couple of upright machines and played quarter 7/5 Bonus and hammering away. Louise and Cindy soon joined us. This session was an about-face to the play earlier at the dollar machines. Flushes and Full Houses were plentiful. I picked up four quads but after almost a $1K of play, I finally lost my stake. Terry won his session and we managed the 1000 tier points for the day and called it.
The gambling may have been nothing short of disastrous this trip, but that’s to be expected sometimes, but we’re having great fun and enjoying our time here in Reno.
More tomorrow
Sleep was fast and deep so getting up and raring to go was the order of the day. After finishing the trip report, we met Terry and Louise and walked down to the Silver Legacy. It turned out that Terry had gone out again last night to play and end up with a free buffet along with enough comp points so that all of us could have our breakfast there.
It was the Champagne Sunday Brunch and we were expecting it to be expensive but was only $13.99 each and it was excellent. Along with the usual breakfast items, they also had some remarkable desserts and a station of freshly made sauces and salsa. We took our time and really took in the moment. After eating, we heard about a promotion today that if you made 250 points, you’d be eligible for a $25 gas card. So, Louise, Terry, and I went to the full pay deuces machines and began playing (the lure of the gas cards was really just an excuse to play the game as it might be a long time before we find a full pay deuces wild schedule as they are all but extinct in Las Vegas).
Today went the opposite of yesterday. While I couldn’t catch anything, Terry was plowing right along with straight flushes and five-of-a-kinds. At the end of the hour long session, I had lost my $100 stake, Louise lost $25, but Terry won $25. We were all amazed that between the three of us who played long sessions both yesterday and today no one hit the quad deuces. With all the playing we’ve done this trip, there hasn’t been any major wins by any of us. At least the losses could be tempered by that fact we’d get the $25 gas cards. We went back to the slot booth to get the cards and were told that promotion starts at noon today and goes until 8PM. It was 11:30 in the morning—so that was all for naught. Ahhh!
We walked back to Harrahs as I wanted to do the major playing of the day to continue my run at the 7 Stars. Terry and Louise used my card and the three of us sat down at the dollar 9/6 Jacks or Better machines. Louise lost in short order, and I went out not long after that. Only Terry seemed to have a decent session. So, the gambling for me needed to end as the losses were piling up. We were 141 tier points away from the 1000 threshold for the bonus, so we decided to get those later tonight.
We all got into the car and headed to the Grand Sierra. This huge hotel/casino was originally built as a Hilton, but was taken over by new owners who then was taken over by different new owners who was later taken over by the current owners…got all that? Anyway, the latest group, The Grand Sierra Investment Group, bought the place for $151 million has put a lot of money into it as the latest incarnation has been transformed into one of the most beautifully design casinos I’ve seen. What used to be a big square box is now framed with clubs, a sportsbook, and other amenities that is tastefully and artistically done. They are about to open a 25,000 sq ft Ultra Club that includes and pool right in the middle of it. If you find yourself in Reno, don’t miss checking this place out. I did take some pics of it, but they were too blurry to post.
Terry and I take a much needed break while the girls take pictures
The GSR is surrounded with sculptures like this
At the southern portion of the parking lot, there is an Aquarange. This a driving range where golfers tee off into a large man-made cement-enclosed lake where there are islands of greens that if you make a hole-in-one, you win prizes with the furthest island offering a Hawaiian vacation for two for anyone who makes it. I reported on this back in my Hit ‘em All Nevada report, but this is still a unique place to visit, and at only $10 a bucket, certainly a fun way to spend a morning.
The Aquarange at the GSR.
We next drove over to the Atlantis Resort as I wanted to show everyone how nice it was and Terry wanted to take a swing at the 100-play 9/6 Jacks. After looking and looking for a parking spot, we finally went to the valet. There was only one machine available, so Terry sat down and began playing at the 50-play level and I took Louise and Cindy upstairs to where the single line 9/6 Jacks progressive machines are located. They stayed there and played while I went back to join Terry.
What started out to be just a fast stop end up being the rest of the afternoon as we kept playing the games. The girls settled in at their machines enjoying lemon drop martinis, and Terry and I stayed at the 100-plays getting more and more frustrated that being dealt three-of-a-kinds were non-existent. After an hour and a half, Terry managed to get away with only a $100 loss but Louise had better luck making a $100—at least a wash for the couple. Terry had used my slot card, so with the remaining comps I had from my stay here and the points he added (Louise had my card as well, but Atlantis won’t allow more than one card to work at a time—bummer), we had dinner at the café. That turned out to be the win of the day, as the food was excellent, the service terrific, and we ended it sharing a delicious dish of gelato.
We drove back to Harrahs as it was getting late and everyone was tired; however, we still that 141 points to get, so Terry and I found a couple of upright machines and played quarter 7/5 Bonus and hammering away. Louise and Cindy soon joined us. This session was an about-face to the play earlier at the dollar machines. Flushes and Full Houses were plentiful. I picked up four quads but after almost a $1K of play, I finally lost my stake. Terry won his session and we managed the 1000 tier points for the day and called it.
The gambling may have been nothing short of disastrous this trip, but that’s to be expected sometimes, but we’re having great fun and enjoying our time here in Reno.
More tomorrow
