Visitreno

JD · Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 956

"WATCH ME WHEN I DO THIS...." is usually a precursor to disaster.

But you may watch me as I type this first chapter of my trip report as a visitreno FIRST. I am LIVE STREAMING this report at 11:48 PDT 13 MAR under the web cam of
http://www.visitvirginiacitynv.com/about-virginia-city/live-virginia-city-web-cam.html

I am the red Chevy Van partly obscured by the telephone pole in the front of that line of cars.

I usually TRY to leave Portland around 3 or 4 am for my 9 hour drive to Reno. THIS time, I made mistake.

JD · Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 956

As I was saying...

I did not load the van the night before, so after sleeping in past 10 am...I started packing and was not loaded up (after finding my tire chains) until after noon. By the time I fueled up, (me and the van) it was past 3 PM....HUGE MISTAKE.

"Rush HOUR" in Portland on a rainy Friday afternoon is not ONE HOUR, but much, much longer. The first 12 miles took one hour which sent my GPS into apoplexy with my estimated arrival time.

Checking the road cams, I see intermittent snow/ice conditions both on hwy 58 and in the Sierras. To make a long story longer...I didn't roll into the Eldo parking garage until 2:30 am. And while I was glad I HAD the chains, I did NOT have to put them on....YET. Mostly rain & wind and enough that I took the 16 mile further route thru Alturas and while a little longer, I think it was faster this time.

Had a beer at SL but no Hosts on duty AND the ELDO has ripped out "TREASURES OF THE ELDO" card swiping machines. I never won anything but Mammoth Gambler said he did so I always made it a point to swipe when in the area.

Anyway, I got up to Virginia City for the Oyster event and parked right where you see me SUNDAY. Town was full of vendors having a hell of a time anchoring those canopies down. Car alarms going off every few minutes from the wind and the van was covered in ice pellets until about 10 am. TIME CHANGE.

MUCH has changed in VC. The Delta & Bonanza has changed hands and the new owner failed to get his gaming license so all the machines are gone. I still like the Mark Twain for agaming and had some modest luck there. In fact that's where I headed as soon as I get this chapter done.

Anyway, I PLAN on coming down off the hill and have my comps all lined out including "Pure Prairie League" at Boomtown.

More later. As always, comments get more details....assuming you want them.

Trip reporting on the fly.....JD

TIMSPEED · Joined: 28 Jan 2015 Posts: 24

Keep the report going JD!
The sierra's are getting HAMMERED with snow I thought...

spdmrcht · Joined: 12 Oct 2012 Posts: 498

JD. Are you Premier yet??

spdmrcht · Joined: 12 Oct 2012 Posts: 498

Cal trans web page says 88 has been closed for Avalanche control in
2 places, and was scheduled to reopen about a 1/2 hr. ago. no telling
if that happened.

JD · Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 956

Change of plan....wait....that would imply I HAD a PLAN.

So I slept in the van Sat night and by Sunday, VC was empty.

I do NOT get it. They work so hard to get people INTO town, but cannot seem to KEEP them there.

The time is 2 am on SUnday night/Monday AM and when it started snowing in VC....I went down the hill for breakfast at the oyster bar at Atlantis. Clam Chowder at 10 pm....BREAKFAST....Yummy.

Mellissa Dru Band at Cabaret bar....great band. Atlantis room reservation down so sleeping inm Van again....A little hammered after Brandies @ bar, Atlantis Barfett also down for two more days....remodel.

Windy as hell. Need water and sleep. New liver would also help.]

Bed time.... oh.... up $ 200 at Atlantis which make up for minus $ 200 at VC.

On the valley floor now. Signing off now 2: 15 am Monday.

JD... out/

JD · Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 956

I was a little too brief and slightly hammered late last night so I will try to do a better job today.

I COULD have stayed inside a comped room LAST night but in my non-committal kind of way, I want to be SURE I get there before "reserving" a comped room. I always thought it odd they would charge your cc IF you no showed but it was a free comp IF you showed up. So I waited even tho I was in the casino. By the time I called, they could not even take a reservation on the phone. YES, I could have walked up to the desk, but by then I was really tired.

One of my favorite bars is the Sky Way Oyster Bar. Tony the bartender has a good start on a $ 2 bill collection. Great Bartender.

Anyway, time for a shower and change of clothes....so more later. Just counted my money and I am up a little overall. A couple of 4OK w/ the NEW MAX BET (10 credits now) helped a lot. At least 8-10 4 card royals.

..... and many 1 to the royal.

As always, comments bring updates.

No, I have not yet confronted SL Host and am still greenie card w/ no offers. But the Atlantis loves me.... so THERE.

Signing off.... 11:19 am Monday DST

stan_allen · Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 1129

Oh, how we hang on these bits of data dribbling out...keep 'em coming!

So the Eldo "Treasures" thingy is finally gone? I wondered how long it would last...looked as though that entire interface was built for this one promo, and I guess it had a pretty good run, even though I, too, never got more than a show discount or a pen...meh.

Hope your comps go better; even the lamest room has got to be better than sleeping in a VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER! (Saturday night live reference, for you history buffs).

Don't leave us in suspense a moment longer than you have to!

CaSwede · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 866

Good news - An on- going trip report by JD. So, it sounds like you spent the first two nights sleeping in the van. So far lodging expense- $-0-. The buffet not done yet at Atlantis? I was there a few weeks ago, and I was told it would be done the 10th of March. I wonder what will happen to that nice little bar attached to the buffet? They had great video poker there.

Yes- go get a shower and a shave. It is probably past due.

Keep the reports fresh and coming.

It is raining $2 bills in Reno I hear.

spdmrcht · Joined: 12 Oct 2012 Posts: 498

Just looked at the web cam and the sun is shinning and the wind
is blowing the camera around.

JD · Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 956

I'm all checked in at Atlantis and NO Barfett...yet. Manana I'm told. We will see.

Just spent a few hours with John who met me at the Oyster bar, then downstairs to the cabaret... and ended up at the poolside bar at the Peppermill.

I should have just given my wallet to John. I lost $ 200, he won $ 250. But John is so much easier to be around when he's winning. Right now, I'm working stripped and up to my ears in Jack Daniels ribs dogie bag. I'll jump in the shower again soon.

Sunny but windy in Reno now....well actually the sun went down 4 hours ago so we will see tomorrow.

Great Band at Atlantis LAST NIGHT(Melissa Dru) ...Tonight...not so much (Escalade) .

More later...I need to wash this BBQ sauce off now.

BC Dave · Site Admin Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 1599

Quite possibly your most entertaining report yet, JD! Not sure whether your GPS or you have the more severe case of Apoplexy, but wrist watches should be thrown out the window (or at least into the trunk) at the Nevada state line anyway. Great trip report - true JD style ... and then some! More, please!

Just looked up "Apoplexy" - I don't think you have it. You've just become unstuck in time.

JD · Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 956

BC Dave: One of the options on my GPS that seems to make the 9 hour drive SEEM quicker is the "estimated arrival time" window.

And THIS time....the Friday afternoon traffic was SO bad... The estimated arrival time went up faster than elapsed travel time.

Anyway, I was glad I went the slightly longer (but on this occasion faster), route at the lower elevation. Who knows, in a few days it could be hot and dusty again.

Incidentally, Parking at Atlantis is vastly improved with the new lot (from knocking down the old Motor Lodge & office structure). You can park MUCH nearer the front desk now.

I am STILL working on the doggie bag of ribs. Biggest portions EVER ! DO not attempt without a full roll of dental floss.

OUT for now.

JD

CaSwede · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 866

I am guessing you got your Jack Daniels ribs at the coffee shop at the Atlantis. I discovered those two trips ago. I now make that my last meal before I drive home and take the ample leftovers home. I get two large meals out of the remainder. Necessary equipment when eating those: strong and plenty of napkins in addition to the dental floss.

I never thought about having those for breakfast.

JD · Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 956

$ 1,197 & NO W-2 G !!!

Ask me HOW.