Greetings from Winnemucca, Nevada
We debated at length whether to go across Nevada by way of Highway 50 but in the end we decided we had better hit I-80 and get in "hammer down" mode. There is business to tend to back at the Bubba compound and we need to get back.
We didn't make it very far yesterday owing to a late start (we finally did some laundry) and some auto service confusion. The Bubbamobile was whining for attention, having announced just after our trip got underway that it was past due for periodic maintenance including a lube/oil/filter change. Having abused for nearly 4000 miles in harsh and dusty conditions, we decided we'd better give it some TLC before heading back cross-country.
We sought out the Ford Dealer in Carson City. They were backed up, but said they could get to it in a couple of hours. There was a nice looking casino just up the street, so we went there and played some cards. (Net result: up $65 and three "free" Bloody Marys playing blackjack. I would have been up $120, but I let my last bet ride and of course lost but tipped the dealer $5 anyway. Yeah, this was a real "high stakes" card game. Heh.) When we got back to the Ford dealer, they told us sorry, they were all booked up for the rest of the day.
So, we headed on up to Reno and found the Ford dealer there, one Jones-West Ford. They checked us right in, got right on the job, and had us out of there in about an hour. They also had the best auto service waiting room I've ever seen. They had satellite TV, wi-fi, and ultra-plush comfortable sofas. They were polite, professional, and prompt. The total bill was $65 for the LOF, new air filter, and a 12 point safety inspection. And they didn't even try to gig a couple of road weary out-of-towners for a bunch of goofy add-on service like changing the air in our tires or something. If you are ever in Reno and need your Ford serviced, I can highly recommend them.
But now it was really late, so we were checking the map and the AAA guide to see how far we could make it and where we might find a room. We settled on Winnemucca, a small town about 160 miles east out in the middle of nowhere.
Surprisingly, they were filling up fast. We have requirements, though, so that complicates matters. We need pet friendly, wi-fi, and ground floor (because in addition to our luggage, we haul all our computers and camera gear in and out at every stop for security reasons). We have found that Best Westerns usually fit the bill, but all their dog friendly rooms were full. (Half the people out here are traveling with dogs, it seems.) We tried the "Red Lion" hotel and casino. Close, but no wi-fi. We finally ended up at a Holiday Inn Express. It's the first one we've stayed at on this trip and it's pretty nice. It's not ground floor, but they have luggage carts and an elevator, so this is the easiest haul in-out yet.
For the evening's entertainment, we went to the "Model-T" casino. We had dinner at their restaurant (not our best meal of the trip but we were hungry so we weren't too picky) and played some more cards. We got a good table with all good players except one. The goofball was with a friend who was pretty good, so he got some coaching and finally started playing his cards right. The guy at third base was a newbie, but knew most of the basics and knew enough to ask when he didn't know.
It was a small limit $2 table, they didn't allow double after split, and you could only double 10 or 11, but we were slamming their rack pretty good anyway. I had tripled my money at one point, and everyone else was winning, too. Then they sent in the "chiller" dealer. In about 15 minutes they got back a lot of their money, so we colored up. Net result: I doubled my money, and Mrs. Bubba more than tripled hers. I bought in with $100, and she with $20, so our net was +$165. I should have let her play my bankroll. Anyway, we were pretty lucky and if it had been Vegas or Reno and green chips, we would have made out like bandits and maybe paid for the trip.
It was fun and there was interesting conversation with the guy at third base. He was from Seattle, and he and his wife (who we did not meet because she was playing slots) were just coming off a twelve day float/hike/camp trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Personally, I can't imagine going twelve days without room service, but it sounds like quite an adventure.
Don't know where we are off to today. The only thing for certain is that we will be eastbound, hammer down.
Only stopped once for photos yesterday. These scenes were from along I-80 between Reno and Winnemucca. You can see for miles and miles.
Storm blowing across the desert. I think it was snowing in the higher elevations.
Same spot, different direction.
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