Summer of Cal/Nev – Day 57 – Final Report
Let me begin this final report with an apology and explanation. Last April or so when I first decided to make this trip, I had high intentions (as I always do) and sometimes they go as planned and other times—not so much. I originally thought I’d like to do a “Hit ‘em All California” similar to my successful Hit ‘em All Nevada trip a couple of years ago. However, as it turned out, (and I’ve talked about this before) the California Native American casinos are spread out many miles apart from each other and with just a few exceptions, are nowhere close to other casinos. This was dramatically evident in yesterday’s report when I visited just four casinos but drove almost 500 total miles to do so. As much as I enjoy driving and looking at the scenery as I go, it was simply too much.
After that trip, I looked for my next destination, which was Fortuna, CA. It would require me to be driving 830 miles to get there, spend one night, then drive another 800 miles to my final stop, Santa Maria just north of Los Angeles. I thought long and hard and decided to not do the last two. I called to cancel my reservations, and learned that this past July 1, the Fortuna hotel had dropped it affiliation with Holiday Inn and they had no record of my reservation—I can’t imagine driving 800 miles and then find I had no reservation—serendipitous decision after all. So, not only did I NOT go to all, or even most, of the casinos in California, I didn’t finish my trip as scheduled—for that I apologize.
That said, let me say that his has been a most interesting and fun trip. Though most of it was spent in Las Vegas and Laughlin, I had a great time in Reno with friends and I made some new ones as well. There are so many people to thank so I’ll just say thanks to all of you who met me along the way and gave me your support. Thanks to the readers who continued to post kind words and gave me valuable information along the way.
Day 57 is a coincidental day to finish this report because my National Casino Run also ended on day 57. As for the future, my BIG trip (a bucket list checklist for years now) is two years away. It is going to take some major planning and finances and I’m even considering putting together a video for Kickstarter.com to help me. I’m calling it “Around America in 80 Days.” The plan would be to drive around the circumference of the country—not sure if it’s ever been done, but would be a nice way to finish my summer trips saga. As for next year, I don’t think I’ll do any kind of a theme trip, but I have no doubt I’ll be spending much of it in Nevada doing what I do best.
Kathie S. is once again working on these reports editing and formatting them in book form similar to my National Casino Run. When she is finished, I will again offer it on Amazon as an eBook, and I will post that information when it’s available.
Here are some totals and final thoughts:
Total miles: 3495
Total Money Spent on Gas: $769.00 (average 22 miles per gallon)
Total Amount Spent on Hotels: $535 (most rooms were comps)
Total Win/Loss Gambling: ($2540 loss—the result of only one quarter royal all trip)
Best Gambling Moment: The live poker Royal Flush (good for $1452 progressive hit)
Worst Gambling Moment: $500 lost in less than 30 minutes at the $1 9/6 Jacks in Reno.
Worst Fear-Factor Moment: The monsoon thunderstorm on Hwy 95 to Laughlin.
Best Show: Tie with Paula Poundstone and Marie Osmond.
Worst Show: Cover band at Atlantis in Reno.
Best Movie: Tie with Star Trek: Into Darkness and Heat (saw both twice).
Worst Movie: Francis Ha. (Yes, that’s the title—forgettable, no plot)
Most Disappointing Event: My radiator going out stranding me in Laughlin ($1350—ouch)
Most Exciting Event: Hitting the Royal in live poker at South Point.
Best Food and Worst Food: Hardly mentioned in reports. I’ve been on a diet; little to share.
Best Room: The Babbitt Suite at Laughlin
Best Room Honorable Mention: The Atlantis
Worst Room: All were fine, perhaps Main Street Station (trains and shutters)
Special Thanks: Fred and Ted for the free rooms and meals.
I do these trips every summer because it gives me purpose and it allows me to see new and interesting sights. Writing the reports and taking the pictures can be tiring at times. It’s time consuming (about 2 hours a day) and the fear of being so monotonous and boring my readers haunts me. BUT they are such an important component of my trips. They force me to get out and do different things, to search out something unusual or interesting. I’m basically a lazy person and I need a kick in the butt at times—these reports do just that. Because of them, I have met amazing people who have given me their friendship (not to mention help with rooms, meals, and other amenities that have kept my expenses down). Your replies, comments, and questions keep me energized and your kind words warm my heart.
Thanks to all and once again, I will now convert from contributor to reader and comment on your reports.
More next year.
Let me begin this final report with an apology and explanation. Last April or so when I first decided to make this trip, I had high intentions (as I always do) and sometimes they go as planned and other times—not so much. I originally thought I’d like to do a “Hit ‘em All California” similar to my successful Hit ‘em All Nevada trip a couple of years ago. However, as it turned out, (and I’ve talked about this before) the California Native American casinos are spread out many miles apart from each other and with just a few exceptions, are nowhere close to other casinos. This was dramatically evident in yesterday’s report when I visited just four casinos but drove almost 500 total miles to do so. As much as I enjoy driving and looking at the scenery as I go, it was simply too much.
After that trip, I looked for my next destination, which was Fortuna, CA. It would require me to be driving 830 miles to get there, spend one night, then drive another 800 miles to my final stop, Santa Maria just north of Los Angeles. I thought long and hard and decided to not do the last two. I called to cancel my reservations, and learned that this past July 1, the Fortuna hotel had dropped it affiliation with Holiday Inn and they had no record of my reservation—I can’t imagine driving 800 miles and then find I had no reservation—serendipitous decision after all. So, not only did I NOT go to all, or even most, of the casinos in California, I didn’t finish my trip as scheduled—for that I apologize.
That said, let me say that his has been a most interesting and fun trip. Though most of it was spent in Las Vegas and Laughlin, I had a great time in Reno with friends and I made some new ones as well. There are so many people to thank so I’ll just say thanks to all of you who met me along the way and gave me your support. Thanks to the readers who continued to post kind words and gave me valuable information along the way.
Day 57 is a coincidental day to finish this report because my National Casino Run also ended on day 57. As for the future, my BIG trip (a bucket list checklist for years now) is two years away. It is going to take some major planning and finances and I’m even considering putting together a video for Kickstarter.com to help me. I’m calling it “Around America in 80 Days.” The plan would be to drive around the circumference of the country—not sure if it’s ever been done, but would be a nice way to finish my summer trips saga. As for next year, I don’t think I’ll do any kind of a theme trip, but I have no doubt I’ll be spending much of it in Nevada doing what I do best.
Kathie S. is once again working on these reports editing and formatting them in book form similar to my National Casino Run. When she is finished, I will again offer it on Amazon as an eBook, and I will post that information when it’s available.
Here are some totals and final thoughts:
Total miles: 3495
Total Money Spent on Gas: $769.00 (average 22 miles per gallon)
Total Amount Spent on Hotels: $535 (most rooms were comps)
Total Win/Loss Gambling: ($2540 loss—the result of only one quarter royal all trip)
Best Gambling Moment: The live poker Royal Flush (good for $1452 progressive hit)
Worst Gambling Moment: $500 lost in less than 30 minutes at the $1 9/6 Jacks in Reno.
Worst Fear-Factor Moment: The monsoon thunderstorm on Hwy 95 to Laughlin.
Best Show: Tie with Paula Poundstone and Marie Osmond.
Worst Show: Cover band at Atlantis in Reno.
Best Movie: Tie with Star Trek: Into Darkness and Heat (saw both twice).
Worst Movie: Francis Ha. (Yes, that’s the title—forgettable, no plot)
Most Disappointing Event: My radiator going out stranding me in Laughlin ($1350—ouch)
Most Exciting Event: Hitting the Royal in live poker at South Point.
Best Food and Worst Food: Hardly mentioned in reports. I’ve been on a diet; little to share.
Best Room: The Babbitt Suite at Laughlin
Best Room Honorable Mention: The Atlantis
Worst Room: All were fine, perhaps Main Street Station (trains and shutters)
Special Thanks: Fred and Ted for the free rooms and meals.
I do these trips every summer because it gives me purpose and it allows me to see new and interesting sights. Writing the reports and taking the pictures can be tiring at times. It’s time consuming (about 2 hours a day) and the fear of being so monotonous and boring my readers haunts me. BUT they are such an important component of my trips. They force me to get out and do different things, to search out something unusual or interesting. I’m basically a lazy person and I need a kick in the butt at times—these reports do just that. Because of them, I have met amazing people who have given me their friendship (not to mention help with rooms, meals, and other amenities that have kept my expenses down). Your replies, comments, and questions keep me energized and your kind words warm my heart.
Thanks to all and once again, I will now convert from contributor to reader and comment on your reports.
More next year.
