TR Snippet - Red Rock Canyon

( for full effect, click to enlarge photo)

I figured if I waited until noon to rent a car for the day, I could use it to see Red Rock in the afternoon and then move my luggage easily the next morning from the Rio to the Four Queens and so save the hassle of three buses with heavy and overpacked suitcases.

So I thought that playing poker into the early morning and then sleeping until around ten would make good sense.

And it would.

Only sleeping in to ten is just a fantasy.

So with four hours of sleep, after a night of drinking I worried that I'd be too tired for any hiking.

I knew I wanted to hike in Calico Canyon. I always skipped that one because it was first and it seems odd to hike at the first turn off.

However, Calico Canyon is the quintessential Red Rock because.....well.....that is where the rocks are actually "red."

It proved a great choice because the hike recommended by the fellow at the visitor's center 

was an easy one and a short one and it fit my little sleep and overtired attitude.

Unlike my hike last time into Ice Box Canyon, the only rock scrambling I did here was when I lost track of the gravel trail and was poking along the dry creek bed. 

Even that was easy. Already overpacked I just could not see taking my hiking boots, so I was also comforted that if I did have any difficulty, I could attract attention and get help. Turning an ankle would be easy if I has not careful.

The only serious uphill walking was at the end when I climbed back up to the road.

The rest was just a pleasant stroll along the base of these beautiful cliffs with wonderfully rich changing perspectives and angles. The entire way from Calico Two to Calico One was less than a mile, and I did not really do all of it, but just wandered until the views of the red rocks faded and the red rocks sloped down into desert.

I know the camera did not catch the true intensity of this walk. 
I also had the trail to myself. True hikers, the slim folks with backpacks, the fellows with two walking sticks, took the longer trails and left this small one to me and a few small lizards.

I enjoyed the contrast between the bare, wind eroded hard red rock upcrop and the tiny winding of living green below where water came on occasion and today was actually pooled in two places.

In one of these I found out that my sunglasses were broken when lens dropped into the pool of water. Don't worry. I fished it out again. I'd feel very guilty to have left a sunglass lens at the bottom of a natural pool of water.

There were, of course, no fish here, but insects did skim the surface.

Flowers were blooming and the vivid colors of this delicate, struggling living growth reflected the intensity with which they strove to live against adversity. They might not catch my attention in another setting, but here I was in awe of these plants struggling in a hard environment, living, and putting out bright color to attrackt insects that perpetuated their kind.

I did remember to bring along a flower book that has been helpful in other places, especially around the Laughlin area, to identify cactus. Here, however, I found that I could not name these flowers. I'll have to poke around and do some research on what I saw growing.

I was very tired at the end of the journey and It was hot. I had been glad to remember to buy a case of water at Target on my way to the canyon. The case cost $4 and I used it on this hike, and again while walking downtown for my next four nights. At Red Rock a bottle from the vending machine was $2. I drank one before hiking, two during the hike and another few along the rest of the tour.

The hiking had taken the last of me. I pulled into a spot overlooking a valley and off to a large jutting outcrop, put the seat down, opened the window for some breeze, and slept.

I did not sleep well.

I kept thinking the car was slipping ahead and would drop off the cliff in front of me.

I was refreshed enough to poke around Willow Springs for a bit, see the ancient hand prints on the side of the rock, watch a little chipmonk with a tail that flashed white like white tail deer at home. Here there are picnic tables, but I think they moved the one that was set back a bit along the trail.

I found a fine spot, in shade under a tree, drank water and had some trail mix. I spilled some of the trail mix as I ate. The little chipmonk probably liked that later.

Then just before leaving the park, I pulled into a flat area without any cliff and took a second nap free of irrational fears.

It was a fine trip. I was there four hours and that was plenty of time. My trip last November was a bit rushed because it took me two hours to hike most of the Ice Box Canyon trail which was more difficult with views that were less dramatic.

The new visitor center is worth seeing. Basic information is embedded in exhibits that take the fundamentals of the Canyon and respond to them with sculpture, both simple little metal depictions of wild life and more dramatic abstract attempts to catch the shapes of the place. Even wind is represented in swirls of colored pipe and other wild and abstract making material.

Inside the section I would hike is visible in a long window of glass that focuses attention on the entire canyon. 


Here is a photo of that


Outside along with the exhibits is a viewing area.

I was not studying the history and science of the formation this trip. I was too tired and would remember nothing anyway. I am motivated to read more about it at home.

Still the the fellow I talked to about an easy trail had quite a spiel he threw in, a string of sentences delivered like a fundamental preacher that all started,

"178 million years ago," and then said things like, "this was the West Coast and that rocky section right there was Malibou."

Now let's see. 178 million years ago.....just where was I back then?

TR Snippet - Coupons and Promotions used this trip

BE CONNECTED- BOYD

I went to the Boyd Player's club and discussed whether I should change my home casino to Sam's Town; however, it seems it has always been Sam's Town. I have never seen offers from them. I do get offers from the Orleans regularly. I expect my heavy Deuces Wild play will get some Sam's Town attention. The whole system confuses me, but they did tell me that it was of no value to have a home casino where I did not play. That would generate nothing and waste the attention given to my play at the official home casino.

****

I asked about Resort Fees at the Orleans where they are now up to $6. Comped rooms do not get charged resort fees.

I asked about booking on Be Connected site and the woman said that it depends on the deal.

Well, so far no booking on Be Connected has meant resort fees for me. This trip to Sam's Town the paperwork indicated a $4.50 resort fee, but it was not charged for the six nights I was there.

Live poker comps:

• Play at the El Cortez gets a five dollar food comp after a few hours. I got one for an edge on the prime rib at the cafe.
• Imperial Palace gives free cookies at certain times for players. They were good too.
• Golden Nugget gives a $10 food comp after four hours of play good at the buffet or the grill. Say something when you come in and note the time. They don't have a formal system for following your play. However, they are lose with the comps.
• Video poker earned a point at Sam's Town for every two dollars as opposed to one dollar for slot play.
• Golden Gate also required two dollars of video poker play for one point. That would mean $200 played on a 7-5 bonus would be needed to use the American Casino Guide twenty five dollar freeplay. I skipped it.
• Las Vegas Club let me play two matchplays in a row, theirs and the plaza matchplay. I could not play them simultaneously but back to back was fine.
• The five dollar freeplay at the Plaza ended up being $10 for some reason the person at the player's club could not understand. Some promotion. She required that I sign my American Casino guide identification card. Until then no one had even asked to see it.
• At the Four Queens, according to the manager of the Player's Club, there is no reason not to take cashback. Food is not comped through use of points. At Boyd, however, my $11 in cashback after a few free buffets would have been worth $18 in food, so it might have been better to have left it on the card for a free buffet at the beginning of next trip. Four Queens also said that taking the cash back would not affect comped rooms and told me they look at the play for an entire trip and not just compute a daily average. This may explain why I got two weekend nights by calling a host, but do not get many postcard offers. She recommended that I charge all food to my room and then ask for it to be taken off. However, I did not eat there. Along with the room comp I found that I had $20 in freeplay on my card. I had no knowledge of that. It was nice. I took away $40 from the freeplay.
• In freeplay and coupons my early morning walk down Fremont generated $61. This was not cashback. In earlier days I used to just play the coupons and promotions. I'd leave Vegas ahead a few dollars every trip.
• I think senior day at the Orleans is a great deal. Five times points helped establish a good bank of points for buffets. Poker buddy Wild Bill hit the drawing for $250, which he played through for $230 profit. We played the nickle triple play 9/7 Double Bonus which with progressive royals is pretty good play. We also saw a $4 movie and used a two for one buffet coupon. I charged the money part to my room because Orleans two day comps come with $10 food.
• Flamingo still has a freeroll for 8 hours of live poker play with $2000 in the pot, but it came on Friday and I was changing hotels and could not participate.
• Eastside Cannery had a sports square promotion where Ace high flushes get a square and there is a drawing the night of the game. In this case it was baseball and the numbers were hits and runs. I had only one square, came late, and missed collecting a winning $100.

TR Snippet - Soap and Recylcing

My union collects those extra little bottles that collect while we travel and redistributes them to women's shelters where they are needed and welcomed.

I had not been collecting so many soaps and shampoos because I generally jumped from two free days to another two and did not bother with housekeeping on the first night.

Harrah's has devoted money and all its used soaps to a factory that reprocesses it and then does good things with the results. 

http://lasvegasblog.harrahs.com/charity/harrahs-donates-100000-to-soap-recycling-program/

 However, the partially used bars of soap in some places are simply thrown away.

So, I decided simply to put my opened bar of soap and half used shampoo in a plastic bag or wrap the soap in the plastic covering of an old drinking cup and take it from one place to another on my casino hopping.

I was amazed this trip that my first bar of the large and nicer soaps lasted me my entire trip of 15 days.

All the rest of the little bottles I popped into my bag. At home I popped out a few for camping and the rest I'll take into the union office.

TR Snippet - Vegas Music reflections

I'd like to reflect a bit on the music of the week here in Vegas.

I'll start with the absolute worst, the fake Brazilian beats that blast from the pool at the Rio and even penetrated my high floored room, with a basic repetitive beat that made me think I might be in an old Tarzan movie.

Not only did this music affect my nap time, but it made swimming unpleasant. I can't imagine who likes this cacophony of sound. I asked some of the workers if in some strange abstract way the two musics were meant to somehow blend, but they said no and laughed. Everyday they must work with one ear in one beat and one in another.

From my room with the great view

I kept thinking that perhaps King Kong would come along and try to climb the huge Ipanema Tower.

Luckily the second day I knew I was to be hiking Red Rock during the afternoon blast of drums.
So instead of changing rooms, I just put on the noise reduction earphones I had used on the plane. That along with my sleep apnea mask transformed me into Dewey the Cyberman, but at least I could nap (although those earphones are tough to position in comfortable ways and do have a funny hum when pressed into the pillow.)

The second and last night I woke up a little before two AM as I often do. I don't think the music woke me, but they must have been doing something in the pool area because I could hear a very faint version of that repetitive drum beat and like a dripping faucet, it distracted me from falling asleep again until it was over.

I said something about all this on my way out and they did take notes.

Perhaps I'll write them about it.

This is twice now that I have looked forward to a plush experience in a more upscale CET hotel (Flamingo and Rio) and found I liked the comfy little Four Queens better. And the Cabana sweet at the El Cortez? Well, that is just my sort of place.  No noise there on my trip.

I loved the room in the casino Harrah's on my last trip, however. But then I was not solo and the extra space and extra plush made my wife much more comfortable.

My buddy Matt "The Bucket" recently tried out the Imperial Palace Capri rooms because they had the worst reputation and he does things like that for amusement, and he was surprised they were not as bad as in their reputation. I think too that he was a bit disappointed.

Perhaps I am just more comfortable in the downscale.

Imperial Palace is where I like to play live poker in the morning and I never managed that this trip. So if I stay there, I'll manage. Cracked Aces and Kings bring in players at 8 am.

Most of the rest of the music while playing or in a pool was a collection of songs I don't know in a style I almost like. I would like to learn to like it. I see thirty somethings singing along to it


It is music for a younger generation, but it is in part narrative and not hard rock. I find there is a stylistic whining in the lyrics. Sometimes I like it, but I find it too repetitive. This was the music of Sam's Town pool and VP play areas. Scattered in were a few older rock and roll pieces that I did know, even an Elvis. Nothing seemed mixed in before Elvis. I am sorry about that.

The best old music was heard while playing poker at the Golden Nugget. Here were old rock tunes played in the gaming area right next to us. A woman player and I marveled at what they had found in old songs, some fairly obscure and seldom heard. Even the Monkies were there and it was delightful to be entertained between folded hands by these familiar pieces.

At least they might make the collections more eclectic. Along with popular rock tunes, the old and the whining, they might put some jazz, some blues, some old lounge sounds, some country. It seems ironic that all over Vegas are these Rat Pack shows featuring Sinatra and Martin and yet I never hear their music in any casino. Why not? I could imagine an entire casino that featured that era music, like the radio station called Martini in the Morning that I listen to at home on my NPR wifi radio. Wouldn't that set an attractive tone?
And John Pizzarelli's popular Radio Delux radio show that collects old and new sounds of lounge era jazz music could be used as a playlist for developing a collage of such music.
http://www.johnpizzarelli.com/RadioDeluxe.html

And while there may be people who hate country, what about some Willie Nelson from his Stardust album singing Moonlight in Vermont, or Patsy Cline or one or two old Hank Williams songs?

Also, not penetrating any of the new musak of the casino is anything reflecting the growing Latino American population. It would be too much to ask for a "bolero" like "Te Amo Te Odio" tossed in the mix, but one or two songs an hour in Spanish should not warp the majority pop eardrums.

I listened to a great lounge gathering of Latino music at the Eastside Cannery. It has to be the most authentic of its kind I have experienced and I had a great time. Here the beat was similar to a polka beat. Interesting.

I suppose some bean counter has done research on just which tunes keep the customer pumping in quarters, but I remember that I used to ride out to Fiesta Rancho in the old days just to hear their interesting collage of old lounge songs. And it wasn't "New York, New York" played for the millioneth time either. They had collected some songs of that era, sung by the greats, that I had rarely if ever heard. And in the quiet morning playing nicle 10/7 DB this was a very relaxing gambling.

I can't imagine that tossing in a few of those songs where Sinatra sings duets with other famous singers would be a turn off to anyone.

The closest to this I experienced this trip was at the El Cortez only the general noise of the place does not allow the music to rise above the sound of machines.

In the Cafe, however, I did eat to the music of Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole. That seemed appropriate for this place that in the age of implosion is maintaining and redeveloping an older Vegas.

Here too in my Cabana room the television offered quite a few music stations and many tastes might be accommodated.

I also see more and more young people dancing to swing music of my mother's generation. Why not toss in a couple of those. I suppose it is too much to ask for some newer swing from Squirrel Nut Zippers, but there is plenty of good stuff out there waiting to find a niche in the collage of music.

Well, at least I did not come at Christmas time. One trip in early December I thought that were I to hear that little drummer boy song one more time, I'd barumpabumpbump myself home on an earlier flight.

TR Snippet -No wonder my bag is so heavy

TRAVELING GADGETS

COFFEE POT

This trip I got tired of not having a coffee maker in many of the spots where I stayed.  Well, in fact, I got tired of trying to plan on a hotel booking with a coffee maker, and asking all my board friends to remember which place had a maker and how hard was it to get more than one bag of the cheap coffee they give away, so........ I bought this little one on line.  

I drink coffee to keep me awake. I drink tea for pleasure. This will brew either.

The water is not as hot as I would like, but I found that running it through one time by itself and letting it heat the cup before I brewed made all the difference. 
 I like it.

I place a towel under the pot because at times, depending on the shape of the certamic cup, the water for tea dripples over the side. I propped up the back of the little pot, and with that angle had less difficulty. A ceramic cup with a curve to fit the curve of the pot would be ideal.

With the coffee filter in I did not have that problem, but I don't like brewing tea using the coffee parts because there can be some residue coffee flavor.

It is the lightest single coffee pot on the market and has a switch so it will take European current as well. The built in filter works well, but I think I bought too finely ground coffee this time and will try a coarser ground next trip. As I play with the amounts and the system, I get better and better coffee.

Tea is no problem. The water is plenty hot enough for tea and it brews easily.

I do not much like a plastic cup so I carry a ceramic cup or two when I travel. These are also good when there is a microwave in the room as they allow reheating leftover food from a restaurant. In Vegas I ate mostly in buffets, so I have no leftovers.

I also carried a jar of stevia extract that is my newest sweetener. I don't use a creamer, so that is all I need for my coffee.
So I could write on computer, plan out my coupons, relax in my nightshirt and still sip.
The Jelly beans come with a quarter in a little machine outside the Sam's Town theater.  Jelly Belly.  Each bean has a distinctive flavor and there are at least fifty varieties.  One bean with coffee is nice.  At the Cabana suites you can get a handful free in the lobby, but these are not jelly belly, just bits of candy.

FIFTH BURNER

I bought a plug in electric burner and decided to take it along on this journey, but it was not really of much use in Chicago or Denver and in Vegas it was ridiculous. I did think I might bring some food back and warm it for breakfast. I like breakfast in my room as I write in the morning. However, my Vegas food was mostly buffets and coffee with a bit of trailmix was plenty while I wrote.

BIBS

Laugh if you must, My children do. Some of them are a bit embarrassed. But since about a few years ago, with psoratic arthritis, my hand tends to fork food more often on my shirt front.

I got very tired of having to buy new shirts because of some stupid stain that won't come out.

First I tried Penny's stain free shirts, but eventually they stain too.

Sometimes I bring one of those only slightly stained shirts along with me to eat, and put it on for the meal. I call it my "bib shirt."  This works on a long roadtrip at the diners where I might get stuck in a booth.  
Booths enable the dribble.

My daughter-in-law bought me a nice bib, but it is too heavy to carry.

I liked those bibs that they serve the lobster people and shopped around to find a good deal on a hundred of them without any decal or lobster picture.

They work great! They are called disposable, but they wash up easily.  I thought the plastic would be about like a bag at the grocery store, but it is heavier and more resilent.  
If ties are knotted behind my neck, the knots are hard to untie and reuse is generally not possible, but I carry a small clip that hold the bib folded and out of the way in my pocket and then acts to secure the ties without making them impossible to reuse.

It did take a bit of hutzpa to be wearing a bib in public, especially at the buffets. But now my shirts are safe.

And I can eat things I would have avoided.

At the El Cortez cafe on a poker comp I ate a Patty melt, full of dripping cheese and other juices. I packed it with the fresh tomato and large onion slices. It was not a delicate meal. However, with my bib I was free to enjoy it.
One thing about growing older, there is great pleasure in small things.

FORGOTTEN GADGET GREATLY MISSED

I did not remember to pack a few good clips for the curtains of the windows at nap time. I was sorry. 
 Once I used my bib clip, but then forgot to take it back again when I went out to eat.

CARD PROTECTORS

I remembered my spinning bone fish carved by Indians in Florida. That was a popular topic of conversation among the poker players between hands.

I also tossed a few Silver Strike rings (with the silver removed for melting) and they made great card protectors, especially when I discovered that a Kennedy half dollar snaps in the middle of some of them perfectly. 
 I gave one away to a fellow from Reno because it said "Reno" and the all of the rest some guys bought off me at the El Cortez table. I have a bucket full, so I guess I'll have some fun at future games and probably at least get the scrap value out of them.

I brought along, but did not use, my heavy stainless steel curved rectangle with Horseshoe printed on it. It was once a keychain but too heavy. 
 Having a few card protectors is very helpful. I did have cards thrown on mine by accident after one hand, but sometimes spiteful players will do it on purpose. Once touched by other's cards, my cards are considered mucked.  Tough if I have any kind of money in the pot or a very good hand with potential.

SHIRTS

I think I finally found the shirt I love for Vegas. It is two pockets, the kind my late gambling buddy Louisiana Alligator Dan always loved, but is actually lighter in hot weather than a tee shirt. I found them on sale at Beall's in Florida and half a dozen would have been enough for all my days in Vegas. 
 They wash out easily, dry quickly, and when hiking at Red Rock I really got a good sense of how they lifted off perspiration. The two front pockets were very handy. They are made by Rugged Earth.

TR Snippet - Two movies

Wild Bill and I watched Source Code.  It was his pick.  I had some reservations because I don't much like violent action films, but I love time travel films, so this worked for me.  We paid $3 senior rate at the Orleans.
No popcorn here, but in the next movie a free refill fed me for a few days after the movie.


At Sam's, on a $3 senior ticket, I watched Jumping the Broom.

The movie was very corny, but an interesting take on a clash between Black families from different social classes.

The male lead Laz Alonzo looks like a Black Frank Sinatra. His facial expressions and even his voice just echo Frank's acting style from those old movies.

I enjoyed seeing it.

If you decide to go, print the senior coupon for the ticket in some kiosk that is near the Player's Club.  The machine in front of the movie malfunctioned and I had to hike back to the Player's Club to have it reprinted.  They said there that it happens often.

The thing I like least was all the commercials mixed with the Coming Attractions.  I think next time I am going to ask when the actual movie starts and come late.  I hate commercials. I go to the movies to avoid them.

TR Snippet - Last Night in Vegas - solo at the Flame

Sometimes the planning of a Vegas trip so absorbs me that I do foolish things. So in spite of having $25 dollars a night in comped food, when I heard of a board member's coupon deal, I was tempted, and gave in to a $6 restaurant.com coupon that bought me $25 in food at the Flame.

Certainly, I thought, I'd have some relative or some poker buddy or some board friend, and I could use the coupon and comps to have a fine night out and not dine alone at Flame.

Where is my VP playing pal Catherine when I need her and could treat her to her "happy place"?

My second plan was to petition the management to let me spend for appetizer and perhaps the high priced lamb entree and so get around the rule that the coupon must be used for TWO entrees.

Well, that plan proved impossible. It was out of their hands, they said. They had to send in all the paperwork and there would have to be two entrees regardless of how much I spent.

Okay.

I am not easily defeated.

I went to plan C.

I decided to dine on two entrees. After all the Flame is set up so that each vegetable or potato cost extra. I just would have two entrees. I ordered the signature porterhouse steak and the walleye pike.

I also used my room coupon for a free bottle of Robert Mondavi's Woodbridge cabernet sauvignon. I expected one of those small two glass bottles.

No, this was a full bottle.

Now I just needed some dinner conversation.

And I got that as well.

At the next table were two couples in their thirties. The woman who faced me was dressed in a delightfully designed black dress which featured one shoulder of revealed flesh and one of the black dress sleeve decorated with a series of delicate shaped slanted slices down the arm, each one with just a hint of lace. Picking up the black color of her dress was a bit of black mixed in her otherwise blond hair. And she had finished her outfit with a silver chain that held a huge turquoise pendant and some wonderfully large but tasteful silver rings.

Turquoise is my favorite jewelry.

These were delightful dinner companions even if they did not suspect I was one of them.

I did no intrusive staring.

Completing the ambiance was some very gentle and relaxing music as well as a screen that spanned various beautiful places around the world, many of them delightful peppered with small fishing boats in blue water. I could watch the changing views of famous cities around the world, but still overhear their stories.

My night was made when their conversation turned to catching, cleaning and preparing crabs; the details were fascinating to the ears of this old fisherman. And I loved the juxtaposition of the classy look of this delightful woman and her description of how she cleaned crab. It is not an easy task.

Her husband described going scuba diving for crab and then making a large grill of the tasty morsels.

The red wine mellowed me in a way that just let all of this sensual pleasure into my psyche, and the visions of water, the conversation around catching seafood, the sophisticated and gracious look of the woman describing how she cleaned and prepared crab made what could have been an isolated and rather downscale final night celebration into something quite wonderful.

The staff was delightfully attentive as well. There was no rebuff because I was the "coupon guy." In fact, they felt a bit badly that I could not spend just as much money (or more) on the lamb and appetizers and such.

Along with my protein came two garnishes, one of green onion and one of something called bean seeds, small green tasty bits that I want to use for my own fish dishes cooked here at home.

Both foods were just wonderful.

They also left a basket of bread which had two nice slices of a sweet bread like raisin bread as well as two fine onion rolls.

I certainly had enough to eat. For dessert I was left with a half dozen chocolate mints.

Nice.

Of course, the tip was more than I usually pay for a meal and tip. They added 18% to the bill and I added another $5.

Because the remaining charges were simply billed to my room, I was also able to use up the remaining food comp. Over two days it is hard to eat $50 worth of free food when traveling solo at the El Cortez unless I spend one night at the Flame.

In past years I had not cared so much for this spot or thought of it as special, but I'd go again, even solo.  I loved it.

THE ALMOST LAST MAY 2011 TR SNIPPET

Well, not really because on May 4th from Vegas I had posted my first couple days from the Orleans and that follows.
But this is the last of the new stuff.  It was a great trip regardless of the lost funds.


As well as "The Bucket" who gave me a ride, I saw Jimbucc and Kathy and GoVegas at the El Cortez.  It is really getting to be a popular place.
Last trip I was almost $500 ahead.
The trip before $2000 behind.
Next trip I'd like to break even so that the freebies are really free.

TR snippet live from Java Vegas at the Orleans

I am sitting in the newly named coffee place at the Orleans with a large brew sprinkled with some cinnamon. Java Vegas is the name now, not Seattle which makes sense to me. This is afterall Vegas, not Washington State. The wifi is the same. Seems to work well. My computer is very slow so I can't judge.

This will be my last wifi for a while, so I probably won't post any TR snippets or respond to this one until next month, but while these three days are fresh in my mind, I thought I'd run down a bit of the details as some of it might be of interest.

BUS

Finally, I tried my first WAX ride, so I have personal experience. It was just the short journey from the airport to the strip, but here is what I found.

SCHEDULE: This is a weekday, so at my time of arrival at the airport buses were much closer together than the weekend on the hour schedule. I caught the 3:32 WAX, hit the Koval stop in ten minutes, waited in a red light and was at the NYNY stop at 3:46. Sweet! I did have a bit of a wait for the 201. I think it is coordinated with strip buses because just before mine came, a few people came from that direction. I was at the Orleans at 4:15, making it a 45 minute.

BUS PASS: I paid the $2 senior price for a 24 hour pass. I asked the driver if the pass was good for the Deuce and SDX and he assured me that it was. You youngsters would play $5 for this pass. I used it that night again to go to MGM and back for poker.

COMFORTS: There were three people on the WAX and I was the only one with luggage. One step up and the two long rows of seats with backs to window so plenty of room to sit with luggage. I carry my sleep machine ($1100 to replace) and my computer. I like handling these things myself. After the airplane ride, I put them in the large suitcase I bring for ease in travel. Had I taken the shuttle directly to the Orleans with these things and put them in the suitcase I'd have had to worry about the fellow banging them around. Generally, the Orleans is the last shuttle stop so they might get moved, taken out and put in, etc while others debark.

There were 12 people on the 201 and none with luggage. It dropped me off right at the Orleans parking lot.

I did have to wait ten minutes at ground zero and longer at NYNY. So in August, this might be uncomfortable. In April it was delicious to sit outside with just a light extra shirt after weeks of bitter cold and rain in Upstate NY, then again in Chicago, and cold in Denver. I was tempted to catch one of the four 108/109 buses that passed ground zero, but I wanted the WAX.

I am just more comfortable waiting with all this luggage at a bus stop right near the strip rather than out far East on Tropicana. Security on bikes patrolled right next to this stop.

I enjoyed studying the shapes of the Excalibur as I waited then and again at 3am when all the lights were on. This was a longer wait after playing poker, but still delightful.

It was nice for a frugal guy like me to get all this transportation for $2.

NOTES:

Drivers were courteous, helpful and easy. Gone are the days I guess when a bus driver was expected to be surly. Stops were announced on the bus. The Orleans stop is just beyond Arville, so listen for the announcement of that stop and hit the button to request exiting.

There was Koval stop. It would be a place to catch the 119. So we could stay at the Wynn and city bus it all the way. Probably other places as well. Super 8 at Ellis is one place, but it would be duplication as they have a free airport shuttle to and from for guests.

Today I'll check out of the Orleans and walk Arville to Flamingo. There is an Arville bus, but generally I like the walk. Then for $1 I'll take myself on the 202 Flamingo bus for a night at the Eastside Cannery and then 5 at Sam's Town.

FOOD ON THE FRUGAL

When I leave the Orleans it will have cost me (not counting tip) totally $4 in cash and $5 in points for one supper buffet, one lunch buffet, and one graveyard steak and eggs. With the free rooms came $10 in free food. Senior day included 50% coupon and then for some unkown reason they gave us two $5 coupons for the next two days good in any restaurant.

My other "meals" were alcohol or trail mix or figs in the room.

Oh, then this coffee was $2 and change.  You know it is a frugal trip when a $2 increases three day food expenditures by 50%.

GAMBLING

Well, that has not gone well. I played 8 hours of poker at the MGM and left down $80. Three times I lost with pocket Aces. Twice the flop included two kings.

There were some fine characters and friendly folks, many from Alberta, Canada.  One very big local Mexican with a bushy beard talked and laughed and was very entertaining.  However, I tired soon that first night and could not get into as much of the banter as I generally do.  It was a soft game, but neither Wild Bill nor I got cards.

The poker at Excalibur was one no  limit and one 2-6 spread limit with every player male and looking serious.  We skipped it.  The poker at the new room at Tropicana was just the brush and one dealer talking to each other. 

I did not play this trip at the Orleans.

I put $40 in the Megabucks. One cherry.

I dropped $220 in the triple play nickle progressive, playing a 9/7 Double Bonus for most of the day. I quit when two of the Progressive lines (all were above $300) hit within minutes. I guess I ran about 3K thru chasing those royals. No luck. However, it will probably generate some room offers for my next trip.

I notices a quarter progressive right near the check in and this coffee spot.  Another 9/7 but the best that Orleans has to offer.  I still see Double Bonus that is 9/6 here which says too things.  First, the Orleans figures it can easily trick customers, and second.....well, clearly they can.  Why anyone would play 9/6 Double Bonus when 9/6 Double Double Bonus is right there along side I can't figure.  It is sad to think about, until I remember that someone has to pay the light bill.

I was coaching Bill on strategy and another player asked about the rare times when a high pair is not the best choice against four to the flush.  It was a good observation.  But that is as far as it went. He was a local who played everyday, but he had not figured out strategy changes for high progressive play nor did he know the power of the 9 in this game to change choices.  He said he did not want to play a game perfectly, but just to relax, and that is fine but why he brought up the fine point was a puzzle.  I have mapped out one time for strategy change on the 10/7 Progressive at the Four Queens but I stayed with regular strategy here as I don't really know what changes should be made and at what points.  

Wild Bill met me and he hit the free senior drawing for $250 in freeplay of which he took $230 in profit when he quit.

ALCOHOL

Here at the Orleans my coffee came with real Sambucca and Courvasier was possible as cognac. At MGM in the poker room I had Guiness but they don't make virgin frozen drinks.  Orange juice with no ice was in a good sized glass.  At Excalibur sitting with Bill at the Sports Book I ordered a coffee with Sambuccca, but they only offered a cheaper imitation.  The waitress told me she got it put in anyway.  Hopefully Sam's Town is still serving good alcohol. I gave up playing poker at Caesar's because they went to rum that was more like car chrome polish than my Myer's .

ENTERTAINMENT

The pool was a bit icy and I have been spoiled by the Florida heated pool and others in hotels since. But I swam once and may again today. The jacuzzi, a large circle with decorative rocks in the middle was delightful and I enjoyed watching some of the birds that frequent the palms in the pool area.

Wild Bill and I took our $4 senior special and watched a movie Source Code that played with old time travel plots in a new way.

Well, that is about it. I did not use my ACG Orleans matchplay and I won't today as I don't want to show any gambling today. They limit these now to one a year so I'll use it next trip.

Okay. Off to the jacuzzi and then to Boulder for a different sort of adventue.

TR snippet live from Java Vegas at the Orleans

I am sitting in the newly named coffee place at the Orleans with a large brew sprinkled with some cinnamon. Java Vegas is the name now, not Seattle which makes sense to me. This is afterall Vegas, not Washington State. The wifi is the same. Seems to work well. My computer is very slow so I can't judge.

This will be my last wifi for a while, so I probably won't post any TR snippets or respond to this one until next month, but while these three days are fresh in my mind, I thought I'd run down a bit of the details as some of it might be of interest.

BUS

Finally, I tried my first WAX ride, so I have personal experience. It was just the short journey from the airport to the strip, but here is what I found.

SCHEDULE: This is a weekday, so at my time of arrival at the airport buses were much closer together than the weekend on the hour schedule. I caught the 3:32 WAX, hit the Koval stop in ten minutes, waited in a red light and was at the NYNY stop at 3:46. Sweet! I did have a bit of a wait for the 201. I think it is coordinated with strip buses because just before mine came, a few people came from that direction. I was at the Orleans at 4:15, making it a 45 minute.

BUS PASS: I paid the $2 senior price for a 24 hour pass. I asked the driver if the pass was good for the Deuce and SDX and he assured me that it was. You youngsters would play $5 for this pass. I used it that night again to go to MGM and back for poker.

COMFORTS: There were three people on the WAX and I was the only one with luggage. One step up and the two long rows of seats with backs to window so plenty of room to sit with luggage. I carry my sleep machine ($1100 to replace) and my computer. I like handling these things myself. After the airplane ride, I put them in the large suitcase I bring for ease in travel. Had I taken the shuttle directly to the Orleans with these things and put them in the suitcase I'd have had to worry about the fellow banging them around. Generally, the Orleans is the last shuttle stop so they might get moved, taken out and put in, etc while others debark.

There were 12 people on the 201 and none with luggage. It dropped me off right at the Orleans parking lot.

I did have to wait ten minutes at ground zero and longer at NYNY. So in August, this might be uncomfortable. In April it was delicious to sit outside with just a light extra shirt after weeks of bitter cold and rain in Upstate NY, then again in Chicago, and cold in Denver. I was tempted to catch one of the four 108/109 buses that passed ground zero, but I wanted the WAX.

I am just more comfortable waiting with all this luggage at a bus stop right near the strip rather than out far East on Tropicana. Security on bikes patrolled right next to this stop.

I enjoyed studying the shapes of the Excalibur as I waited then and again at 3am when all the lights were on. This was a longer wait after playing poker, but still delightful.

It was nice for a frugal guy like me to get all this transportation for $2.

NOTES:

Drivers were courteous, helpful and easy. Gone are the days I guess when a bus driver was expected to be surly. Stops were announced on the bus. The Orleans stop is just beyond Arville, so listen for the announcement of that stop and hit the button to request exiting.

There was Koval stop. It would be a place to catch the 119. So we could stay at the Wynn and city bus it all the way. Probably other places as well. Super 8 at Ellis is one place, but it would be duplication as they have a free airport shuttle to and from for guests.

Today I'll check out of the Orleans and walk Arville to Flamingo. There is an Arville bus, but generally I like the walk. Then for $1 I'll take myself on the 202 Flamingo bus for a night at the Eastside Cannery and then 5 at Sam's Town.

FOOD ON THE FRUGAL

When I leave the Orleans it will have cost me (not counting tip) totally $4 in cash and $5 in points for one supper buffet, one lunch buffet, and one graveyard steak and eggs. With the free rooms came $10 in free food. Senior day included 50% coupon and then for some unkown reason they gave us two $5 coupons for the next two days good in any restaurant.

My other "meals" were alcohol or trail mix or figs in the room.

Oh, then this coffee was $2 and change.  You know it is a frugal trip when a $2 increases three day food expenditures by 50%.

GAMBLING

Well, that has not gone well. I played 8 hours of poker at the MGM and left down $80. Three times I lost with pocket Aces. Twice the flop included two kings.

There were some fine characters and friendly folks, many from Alberta, Canada.  One very big local Mexican with a bushy beard talked and laughed and was very entertaining.  However, I tired soon that first night and could not get into as much of the banter as I generally do.  It was a soft game, but neither Wild Bill nor I got cards.

The poker at Excalibur was one no  limit and one 2-6 spread limit with every player male and looking serious.  We skipped it.  The poker at the new room at Tropicana was just the brush and one dealer talking to each other. 

I did not play this trip at the Orleans.

I put $40 in the Megabucks. One cherry.

I dropped $220 in the triple play nickle progressive, playing a 9/7 Double Bonus for most of the day. I quit when two of the Progressive lines (all were above $300) hit within minutes. I guess I ran about 3K thru chasing those royals. No luck. However, it will probably generate some room offers for my next trip.

I notices a quarter progressive right near the check in and this coffee spot.  Another 9/7 but the best that Orleans has to offer.  I still see Double Bonus that is 9/6 here which says too things.  First, the Orleans figures it can easily trick customers, and second.....well, clearly they can.  Why anyone would play 9/6 Double Bonus when 9/6 Double Double Bonus is right there along side I can't figure.  It is sad to think about, until I remember that someone has to pay the light bill.

I was coaching Bill on strategy and another player asked about the rare times when a high pair is not the best choice against four to the flush.  It was a good observation.  But that is as far as it went. He was a local who played everyday, but he had not figured out strategy changes for high progressive play nor did he know the power of the 9 in this game to change choices.  He said he did not want to play a game perfectly, but just to relax, and that is fine but why he brought up the fine point was a puzzle.  I have mapped out one time for strategy change on the 10/7 Progressive at the Four Queens but I stayed with regular strategy here as I don't really know what changes should be made and at what points.  

Wild Bill met me and he hit the free senior drawing for $250 in freeplay of which he took $230 in profit when he quit.

ALCOHOL

Here at the Orleans my coffee came with real Sambucca and Courvasier was possible as cognac. At MGM in the poker room I had Guiness but they don't make virgin frozen drinks.  Orange juice with no ice was in a good sized glass.  At Excalibur sitting with Bill at the Sports Book I ordered a coffee with Sambuccca, but they only offered a cheaper imitation.  The waitress told me she got it put in anyway.  Hopefully Sam's Town is still serving good alcohol. I gave up playing poker at Caesar's because they went to rum that was more like car chrome polish than my Myer's .

ENTERTAINMENT

The pool was a bit icy and I have been spoiled by the Florida heated pool and others in hotels since. But I swam once and may again today. The jacuzzi, a large circle with decorative rocks in the middle was delightful and I enjoyed watching some of the birds that frequent the palms in the pool area.

Wild Bill and I took our $4 senior special and watched a movie Source Code that played with old time travel plots in a new way.

Well, that is about it. I did not use my ACG Orleans matchplay and I won't today as I don't want to show any gambling today. They limit these now to one a year so I'll use it next trip.

Okay. Off to the jacuzzi and then to Boulder for a different sort of adventue.

May 2-17 planning

FINAL BOOKING SCHEDULE

These bookings and changes will make my expenses run like this:

May   2-3 - free nights at Orleans $0

Wild Bill and Slink are at Bill's these two days.

May 4-  Eastside Cannery  $0

May 5-11 - Sam's $15.69 for 4 nights = 62.76$

                    $54.90 for 2 nights =  $109.80

                     $ 172.56 total
Mat 11 - Matt will meet me at Sam's check out at 11 am and drive me to the Rio and then we will head out to the Bighorn to eat and look around.

May 11-12 - Rio $0
  May 12th is a Thursday. 

•  Booked with Budget:
• Take the 202 and then the 108 to the airport and then the shuttle to the car rental.
• Rent a car at noon and drive to Redrock for an afternoon hike. Stop at McDonald's on the way back.  Supper at the Silverton.
• May 13th - check out of Rio and drive to 4 Queens leaving enough time to get to the airport by noon for the car return.
• 
  

May 13-14- Four Queens $0

May 15-16 -El Cortez.  Between 0 and $70 depending on how the freeplay plays out.


This makes my average room charges between $11.50 and $16 a night. I also have replaced my three longest bus rides with car rides, Sam'stown to Rio, out to Bighorn for free meals, Rio to downtown.

Notes:

I first booked at $34 using the American Casino Guide, but the newest promo lets me get a Cabana room for $60 a night and gives me $25 free food and $35 freeplay, so in effect the entire deal is free.  Since I stay right at the El Cortez, I'll easily use the comps and in the process I'll get to try the Cabana room.

I honestly don't know how to figure this in the mathematics for night room average.  I'll wait and see how much of the freeplay I am able to keep.  At the worst, were I to lose all of it, I'd pay $70 for the two nights as opposed to $34 but get a better room and avoid the Pavillion rooms that I don't much enjoy anymore.

Let's leave the food out, as that can hardly be a room expense.

$120 - $50 = $70 or $36 more than my other deal.

So at most, if all the gambling money is lost, my room average is $16 a night.

If I break even on the gambling, my room average is $11.50

4/15 - Well, I think I have everything cancelled and my booking is now firmed up.  Yesterday I got a free room at the Eastside Cannery, and so I made that for the first night on Boulder, May 4.

3/2/11 -  Well, I hope I am not going backwards in my frugality.  I do not look forward to the Pavillion rooms, so I booked the El Cortez at $60 a night in a package that gets me $25 a day in food and $35 a day in freeplay.  So, the rooms are basically free unless I lose the money I wager.  Then it could cost me twice what I was to pay.  Not a bad gamble, however, to be in Cabana.

2/12/11
Okay, the deals are still rolling in.  So I cancelled May 2 and May 3 at Sam's and took two free nights at the Orleans.  I adjusted the chart.  This means I won't have the long bus ride after the airplane ride.  I can get off at Tropicana and take the 201 or I can just take a shuttle depending on how tired I am.
On May 4 I will have to get to Sam's, but I can walk to Flamingo and just take one bus.  It puts me at the Orleans for their senior day if that promotion is still going on for Tuesdays.  I probably won't have to pay the resort fee and they give me $10 food credit in the deal.
2/7 -  I called the Host section at 4 Queens and checked to see if there were any mailings and he told me I had two comped rooms, so I booked for May 13-14.  Those were my most expensive two nights, so the comps saved me $80 I was going to spend at the Gold Spike.

1/22 - Well, I stumbled into this deal at Sam's Town and I booked there for my first 9 nights.  Some nights were just $10, almost $15 with the resort fee added.  Still a good deal.  Weekend was lower too $44 plus $5.  Saves me $141.

Funny thing was that I looked at it, clicked out, and then could not find it again.  I had just clicked on an ad.  I used my computer history to find it again.  It is a B Connected booking.  Then Westie, the board guru, told me how to access it on the site.  The offer lasted just overnight, but a few of us booked in time to grab it.

4/15 - I got an offer for one night at the Eastside Cannery and booked it today for May 4th.  Then I rebooked Sam's to reflect that change.  I have confirmed all my rooms and organized coupons, bus schedules, shuttle routes and schedules, free buffet letters, and strategy sheets.

I thought about whether I wanted to be so long at Sam's Town, and catching the Orleans and Eastside Cannery free nights brings it down to just six days.  Also there are some benefits:

• would put me very close to Gayle and crew.
• would give me a daily option to taking a free shuttle to downtown or to the strip and getting a free ride back as long as I did not play too late.
• would give me one spot to play full play VP and play live poker.  Sam's Town offered that small blind 4-8 game that was fun. Now I have read it is a 3-6 game, my favorite. However, the players were pretty good.
• Jokers Wild would be just a bus ride away, so I could get in some very cheap craps.
• It lets me check into one spot and not check out for 7 days.
• All bed bug research does not show me much activity or complaint there.  It makes sense to me that Sam's Town does not draw the big city folks or international travelers, so the odds are better.
• The pool looks just fine although it may be a bit chilly as it is unheated except by the sun.

HERE IS WHAT I FIRST DID.  NOTE TO SELF:  REMEMBER TO CANCEL.

So far I have booked:

May 2-3-4  Super 8 Koval - $115 cancelled on April 15

May 5-6-7  Super 8 Koval _$162  cancelled on April 15

I booked in two bookings so I can cleanly cancel one if I should get free rooms at the Orleans.  Otherwise I might be required to rebook at a higher price.

May 8-9-10  Gold Coast - $80 cancelled on april 15

May 11-12 - free rooms at Rio - FREE

May 13-14 - booked at Gold Spike for under $40 each night. cancelled on april 15

May 15-16 - American Casino Guide coupon at El Cortez - $15 each night and a free ride back to the airport. cancelled and changed to Cabana suite.

Recycling soaps and other freebies

Although I don't use housekeeping every day, I do take the freebies and they build up over time, especially the lotion which we never use.  The Albany  teacher's union collects these and distributes them to organizations that can use them.  Women's shelters commonly can use them for women who arrive on the spur of the moment and without their toiletries.

One of the reasons these small freebies build is that I don't like the idea of throwing out a bar of soap I have barely used.  So I wrap it in a bit of plastic (like those coverings that protect drinking cups) and unwrap them at the next hotel.  Since I travel single, soap lasts a long while.  So even when I don't use housekeeping for a two night stay in Vegas, I generally take away quite a few soaps.

Actually, I am doing that this morning.
My wife and I left a Comfort Inn near Charlotte and slept last night in a Best Western in Shippensburg Pa.  coming up for snowbirding in Florida.  We will leave here with another bar and with little bottles even though we have stayed only one night.

I tip whenever housekeeping cleans up after me, but not if I just ask for an extra washcloth in the hallway.  I don't see the two as really much connected.  the freebies come out of the casino budget.  The tips go into the pocket of hard working people.

Perhaps I should not think so much about waste when I stay at Harrah's CET places, because they have turned our old soaps into much needed charity.

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