Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Day 255 on the road.
Starbucks, near UNLV, Las Vegas

When Hunter S. Thompson first visited Sin City, he was drunk and remained drunk for most of his trip. I arrived entirely sober yesterday to begin a three day visit before returning to Laughlin on Sunday.

I'm aware of how Thompson felt about this place. My "fear" is having car trouble in the middle of the Strip where traffic is non-stop not-moving. I also "loathe" the tourists, the thousands of tourists bumping into each other like robotic, mindless, drones. But how can you resist the fun of it all? Las Vegas is unique; there is no other town on earth like it.

My room at The Orleans Casino and Resort (above) is fine. I don't have a view of the Strip, but that's okay. After I checked in yesterday afternoon, I went to work. The poker room at The Orleans was spreading Omaha Hi Lo and Hold'em, so I sat down and played Omaha for a few hours. I then hit the buffet and ate too much steak and mashed potatoes. The food was okay, about average for a casino. I grabbed a couple of local tourist magazines and ripped out a good map. Today I'll spend the day on the Strip. I'm going to ride the trolley system and monorail to get around.

Day 253 on the road.
Firehouse Coffee Co., Laughlin

The 26th Annual River Run begins officially today in Laughlin, with bikers from around the world riding into town for a weekend of shows, contests, and general mayhem. I'm glad I'm leaving for the weekend.

I walked the strip yesterday afternoon to see vendors getting ready to open their booths for selling everything from T-shirts to motorcycles. Hummer and Harley Davidson are the big

sponsors, along with Jack Daniels and Miller Beer. Although I read that 60,000 bikers are expected to attend the events, the economy and gas prices are having an effect. Many of the casinos have vacant rooms. If you are willing to pay the high price, plenty of rooms are available.

The parking lots at each of the casinos are full of white tents and semi-trucks bringing in supplies and party goods. Some of the sponsors are having outdoor concerts and setting up eating facilities under the tents. Dozens of port-a-potties are scattered up and down the strip. The entire length of Casino Drive is fenced off so that underaged party goers can't enter the drinking areas.









I'm driving 90 miles north to Las Vegas for the weekend. My free "comped" room is not available at the River Palms. I'd have to pay the weekend rate, which is doubled for this event. In addition, I don't want to mess with the traffic and crowds. Therefore, I'm taking the opportunity to venture into the City That Never Sleeps.

I'll be staying at The Orleans in Las Vegas and will return to Laughlin on Sunday.

100th Post

I guess it's a milestone. I just posted my 100th blog ("Biker Mania"). I hope it won't take 252 days to post a 100 more.

Biker Mania

Day 252 on the road.
Firehouse Coffee Co., Laughlin

Laughlin is going crazy this week due to 60,000 Harley bike riders coming to town for the Laughlin River Run. The parking lots are full of white tents set up by vendors selling biker junk: t-shirts, hats, glasses, leather gear and clothing, even bikes. The casinos are having various contests and shows, including the "Best Fat Belly" contest, which I might enter.

Yesterday I was kicked upstairs to the 18th floor to another room. I don't why, exactly. The room is just like the one I was in (river view, two queen size beds, sitting area, etc.), but for some reason the front desk told me they needed me to move to another room. No big deal.

On Thursday I'll have to vacate the River Palms to make room for Bikers. On Sunday I can check back in and get my room back. I have another week of free nights already in place, so why not stay a while longer?

Thursday I'll head to Las Vegas for the weekend. After more than 250 days on the road, I'll finally make it to the City that Never Sleeps. When I left Texas months ago, Vegas was my initial destination.

The River Walk, Laughlin

Each morning I take a walk along the Colorado River on the "River Walk" that winds its way along the river's edge behind the casinos along the strip. Each casino has an entrance to the River Walk, and some restaurants have patio seating available on the water. A "water taxi" also will transport you up and down the river, each casino having a dock to receive you. I walk from my room at the River Palms upstream to the Golden Nugget where a Starbucks is located just off the River Walk.

Yesterday morning I took some photos during my walk.

The above photo is the walkway just outside the entrance to the River Palms.

As you walk toward the Golden Nugget, you see these very weird "apes" holding lamps between their legs. The lamps are lit at night, and provide an eerie scene as you walk by. I have no idea what these figures represent. They remind me of the monkeys on "Planet of the Apes." A Water Taxi moving upstream (north) toward the casinos located there. You will also see private boats and jet skis moving up and down the river.

The Starbucks I visit each morning is just inside the door opposite the ramp. There is no seating, but at least I can get my GSCDL ("grande skinny cinnamon dolce latte").

One of the prettiest locations is just outside the Pioneer Casino. The landscaping is among the best you'll find, and it's usually clean of the trash you find elsewhere. Ducks are playing on the grass and often you'll see tourists feeding the birds. This is one of the nicest spots on the River Walk.

The Pioneer Casino also has a breakfast buffet that's pretty good, for a casino. It's only $5.99 and it has everything from pastries and fresh fruit, to pancakes and omelets.

Day 248 on the road.
Firehouse Coffee Co.

I'm drinking some coffee, surfing the net, catching up on some writing, and just trying to catch my breath after 17 straight days of poker. I'm sitting at the roomy tables in backroom area of the Firehouse Coffee Company, my favorite hang out since arriving in Laughlin.

The Firehouse is actually across the Colorado River from Laughlin in Bullhead City. The Laundromat (at the Gretchen Inn) and Safeway store I frequently use are nearby, too. After three weeks in this area, I'm beginning to settle into a routine. Since I've been on the road, and visited many towns and cities, I've noticed it takes me about three full days to aclimate myself to a new place. Once I find a Starbucks (for coffee and internet access), a Safeway store, and a Laudromat, then I'm ready to settle in.

But I'll be leaving for a short trip on April 24, as my free room at the River Palms will be taken over by a bunch of Harley bike riders. The Bikers are coming to town next week for a big party and they have booked every room on the Strip. So I'll head out of town for a few days. I'll actually check back into my room on Sunday, April 27. I've reserved my room for that following week. Therefore, aside from a short weekend trip somewhere, I'll be here in Laughlin until the first part of next month, probably checking out May 3.

For my group of Omaha players, I must homage to "the Shark." The poker room at the River Palms ran a promotion in March featuring a "tank" full of toy "sharks." When playing either Texas Hold'em or Omaha, you got to catch a shark from the tank each time you received a full house. Each shark had a number on it, and the number was related to a cash prize, most of which were $10. We had so much fun during the promotion yelling out "Shark!" every time someone got a full house it kept our group playing for hours each day. I placed my collection of sharks on top of my TV stand in my hotel room.

Day 246 on the road.
Firehouse Coffee Co., Laughlin, Nevada

Nothing much happening this week...just the same old routine. I sleep late, then play poker for six or seven hours, afterward catching a nice meal before watching "Mission Impossible" reruns on TV. Some nights I might venture down the strip to another casino or watch a movie at the cinema located in the outlet mall.

Tonight I'll be visiting the Lounge at the River Palms to see a fellow poker player perform his Neil Diamond show. Steve is from Palm Springs and is an entertainer who imitates Neil Diamond, performing for trade shows, conventions, private parties, and casinos. During the day he plays cards.

One afternoon recently I took the Water Taxi upriver to the Riverside Casino to play some cards in their poker room. See the video clip below. The Water Taxi's operate each day and will drop you off at any casino along the river for $4 one way.