Summer of Tournaments – Day 32
It’s moving day once again. I’m driving back to Las Vegas for the final time though I’ll be back in Laughlin for a couple of days in the middle of August for a video poker tournament (not associated with this trip). When I drove through Searchlight, I had some time so I took a small detour taking Cottonwood Dr. which leads to the river. I’ve always seen the signs and this time, I wanted to check it out.
It turns out that Searchlight is more than just the few stores and casinos along Hwy 95. I passed a small but very clean town park. There are more trailers and mobile homes than houses and many of those had lots of debris and junk in their yards. After a few miles, I came across the elementary school and in front of it was a building that served as the town library, community center, and museum. It was a very small museum but tastefully done and very informative about the history of Searchlight.
The Searchlight Museum/Community Center/Library
Inside the Searchlight Museum
After spending some time in the museum, I headed for the Colorado River, which was about 15 miles north. It was a long winding road with signs about every three miles warning of possible flash floods. I wanted to drive right to the river, but it turns out I came upon a ranger station and that it costs $10 to keep going to the park. I did stop and take a picture as best I could. It seems the river down there is quite a bit wider than in Laughlin.
The Colorado River in the distance taken at the Nevada Ranger Station
I drove into Las Vegas but still had a couple of hours before I could check in, so I drove to the South Point Hotel and Casino to play some 2/4 live poker. I had such a good day yesterday; I was hoping I’d be on a streak. I bought in for $60 and we were the only table going. There were a couple of guys who wanted to play no-limit sitting in with us waiting for that table to fill up. They drove every one nuts. They straddled almost every hand and raised and re-raised. This can be good as you just have to wait for superior hands. However, they were also getting lucky. I was down to less than $20 and bought in for another $20 when they finally left, and it became more like a real 2/4 table. I began winning a few hands and managed to finally cash out with a $20 profit when it was time to check in at the Rio. The last hand I played, a player in the three-seat caught a royal flush. It was on the same table I caught mine last year.
I checked into the Rio, but didn’t go to the room because I was meeting Matt, who Martin and I met at the Orleans last week while we were at the Oyster bar. We met up at the Orleans Buffet as he had a comp and it was seafood night. Matt lives here and works at the Mirage as a pit clerk (he puts in players stakes and betting and verifies markers and such—in many casinos, this is the Pit Boss’s job, but MGM uses clerks to do this so the Pit Bosses can keep their focus and the dealers and players). He works the graveyard shift starting at 3:30 AM and works to 11:30 AM. He says he really likes the shift.
Before getting this job, he drove a cab for over a year (he holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism—all but worthless nowadays) and he filled me in on some behind-the-scenes information about cabs and limos. He mentioned that cabbies get kickbacks from Massage Parlors and Strip Clubs from $20 to $50 every time they drop someone off there. It’s a really cutthroat business, and he’s glad to out of it. He didn’t want me to divulge any information about work at the MGM on this blog, but he did say that he really likes it and the MGM treats their employees very well.
After dinner we said our goodbyes and I drove back to the Rio. I planned on using the valet, but this being Friday night, the line was forever and I turned around and parked in the garage. My room is on the fourth floor and at the very end of the hall (the third time this trip I was put I a room at the end of the hall). However, all was forgiven as I would be staying in a 1200 sq ft suite. Two rooms, a dining table, bar, double bathroom and a Jacuzzi in the bedroom facing out the window. It’s the best room I’ve had this summer (Caesars with the fountain view a very close second).
The living room area of the suite
Another angle of the living room area
Bedroom with Jacuzzi
Double sink bathroom. Shower also built for two with double showerheads
This particular stay is not for a tournament (no offers on these dates), but it did come with a $20 food credit and $25 free play. Tomorrow I will be meeting up with LVA members David and Julie (timberwolf) who will be in town for a couple of days. So, I may not get to another tournament until Sunday morning. We’ll see how things go.
More tomorrow
Totals:
Tournaments: 21 Cost: $290 Won: $2150 Balance: $1860
It’s moving day once again. I’m driving back to Las Vegas for the final time though I’ll be back in Laughlin for a couple of days in the middle of August for a video poker tournament (not associated with this trip). When I drove through Searchlight, I had some time so I took a small detour taking Cottonwood Dr. which leads to the river. I’ve always seen the signs and this time, I wanted to check it out.
It turns out that Searchlight is more than just the few stores and casinos along Hwy 95. I passed a small but very clean town park. There are more trailers and mobile homes than houses and many of those had lots of debris and junk in their yards. After a few miles, I came across the elementary school and in front of it was a building that served as the town library, community center, and museum. It was a very small museum but tastefully done and very informative about the history of Searchlight.
The Searchlight Museum/Community Center/Library
Inside the Searchlight Museum
After spending some time in the museum, I headed for the Colorado River, which was about 15 miles north. It was a long winding road with signs about every three miles warning of possible flash floods. I wanted to drive right to the river, but it turns out I came upon a ranger station and that it costs $10 to keep going to the park. I did stop and take a picture as best I could. It seems the river down there is quite a bit wider than in Laughlin.
The Colorado River in the distance taken at the Nevada Ranger Station
I drove into Las Vegas but still had a couple of hours before I could check in, so I drove to the South Point Hotel and Casino to play some 2/4 live poker. I had such a good day yesterday; I was hoping I’d be on a streak. I bought in for $60 and we were the only table going. There were a couple of guys who wanted to play no-limit sitting in with us waiting for that table to fill up. They drove every one nuts. They straddled almost every hand and raised and re-raised. This can be good as you just have to wait for superior hands. However, they were also getting lucky. I was down to less than $20 and bought in for another $20 when they finally left, and it became more like a real 2/4 table. I began winning a few hands and managed to finally cash out with a $20 profit when it was time to check in at the Rio. The last hand I played, a player in the three-seat caught a royal flush. It was on the same table I caught mine last year.
I checked into the Rio, but didn’t go to the room because I was meeting Matt, who Martin and I met at the Orleans last week while we were at the Oyster bar. We met up at the Orleans Buffet as he had a comp and it was seafood night. Matt lives here and works at the Mirage as a pit clerk (he puts in players stakes and betting and verifies markers and such—in many casinos, this is the Pit Boss’s job, but MGM uses clerks to do this so the Pit Bosses can keep their focus and the dealers and players). He works the graveyard shift starting at 3:30 AM and works to 11:30 AM. He says he really likes the shift.
Before getting this job, he drove a cab for over a year (he holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism—all but worthless nowadays) and he filled me in on some behind-the-scenes information about cabs and limos. He mentioned that cabbies get kickbacks from Massage Parlors and Strip Clubs from $20 to $50 every time they drop someone off there. It’s a really cutthroat business, and he’s glad to out of it. He didn’t want me to divulge any information about work at the MGM on this blog, but he did say that he really likes it and the MGM treats their employees very well.
After dinner we said our goodbyes and I drove back to the Rio. I planned on using the valet, but this being Friday night, the line was forever and I turned around and parked in the garage. My room is on the fourth floor and at the very end of the hall (the third time this trip I was put I a room at the end of the hall). However, all was forgiven as I would be staying in a 1200 sq ft suite. Two rooms, a dining table, bar, double bathroom and a Jacuzzi in the bedroom facing out the window. It’s the best room I’ve had this summer (Caesars with the fountain view a very close second).
The living room area of the suite
Another angle of the living room area
Bedroom with Jacuzzi
Double sink bathroom. Shower also built for two with double showerheads
This particular stay is not for a tournament (no offers on these dates), but it did come with a $20 food credit and $25 free play. Tomorrow I will be meeting up with LVA members David and Julie (timberwolf) who will be in town for a couple of days. So, I may not get to another tournament until Sunday morning. We’ll see how things go.
More tomorrow
Totals:
Tournaments: 21 Cost: $290 Won: $2150 Balance: $1860
