Keep your eyes on the road, hands upon the wheel–A South West RT-The End!Bonus Tracks

[rentayenta]

I just realized your title is a Doors song. Lol!

Enjoy that view!

 

[dgbg100106]

As long as they keep it up well, that should be nice. Old cars can be a pain.

They bought it brand new in 2012, they travel in all Summer, so it should be fine!

 

[dgbg100106]

Love the update, sounds like leaving day was very hectic. Hopefully you are relaxing now and enjoying the trip.

Glad you both ended up on the positive side of the gambling and got the buffet

 

[eandesmom]

BUSY day!

But overall (aside from the new tire nightmare) sounds like a pretty darn good one.

 

[EJ4Disney]

Wonderful trip so far. I am having a great time following along (from the beginning).

Save travels to you both - can't wait for more.

 

[franandaj]

I sure hope you next day did go better than planned.


Busy first day. But you made it to your destination and came out ahead.

Loved the pictures from the car. Sunset looked wonderful.

Every day has gone better than leaving day! Actually things have gone very well, just very tiring.

If you liked those sunset pictures just wait, I've got some more GREAT pictures to come, but Day 2 first!

What no animal style In & Out? Nice sunset pics.

I prefer the raw onions!

Thanks!

WOW I am so enjoying this you hit on so many things I LOVE in your first day
the soup, the french dip, more importantly that GORGEOUS sunset and hey didn't that horse look like Maxine ? I seriously miss road trips and knew I would get my "fix" through you and Fran

I've got lots more better pictures, but the hot spot is so slow, I finally came out to the lobby to use their WiFi while Fran is sleeping. I think we'll be going out soon after I get back to the room.

Yay! Love semi live updates! You are semi live, right?

Waze is also great for cop spotting. I like to speed Its saved me from a few pullovers.

I have never had a double-double. Michael always gets those though. In n Out always hits the spot.

That sunset is beautiful, love the deep red and orange.

Dinner looks delicious. Love a good french dip with steak fries.

Fran spent $200 for $242. You gottta spend money to make money. The $42 is some fuel for the road.

Safe travels girls, can't wait for the next check in.

I hope to continue the semi live updates, but being in this remote part of the country it's tough! My phone barely get reception!

The waze is cool. I'm racking up the miles right now!

Double Doubles are the BEST!

Thanks, I'm glad folks like the sunset shots. Dinner wasn't wonderful, but it did hit the spot. Just wait until the next post!

Catching up on all my subbed TR's...and now another one where i'm desperately behind!

Be back to comment!

I'm glad you made it over here!

At least it wasn't a loss I hope you're having fun!

The room doesn't look bad. Glad the smell didn't bother you long.

We've been pretty lucky overall on this trip!

Great start to your trip. I so wish I was on vacation- anywhere! I love seeing the pics of Ca too. I am really starting to get excited about a trip out there in the next few years. Never been west of Missouri. It just always seems like you guys know how to travel and enjoy each other and the small things. Can't wait to read more. Oh and a big reason to head to Ca is to try In and Out which I hear such good things about!!

Someday you need to visit California, it's a great place! Five Guys vs In and Out is always the argument. I think I pick In and Out.

Hope you're enjoying your room with a view!!!!

I hope you're staying cool and enjoying the new destination.

Well, it's a little warmer than we expected, but good thing I packed layers!

I just realized your title is a Doors song. Lol!

Enjoy that view!

You JUST got that? Today (as opposed to 30 something years ago), I won't be singing the line, "Well I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer!" as I crack the top of the can.

They bought it brand new in 2012, they travel in all Summer, so it should be fine!

Oh, that's GREAT! I thought they stopped making Winnebagos years ago.

Love the update, sounds like leaving day was very hectic. Hopefully you are relaxing now and enjoying the trip.

Glad you both ended up on the positive side of the gambling and got the buffet

Leaving day is always hectic. The first couple days were tiring, but now we're relaxing.

BUSY day!

But overall (aside from the new tire nightmare) sounds like a pretty darn good one.

They get better!

Wonderful trip so far. I am having a great time following along (from the beginning).

Save travels to you both - can't wait for more.

Hopefully you won't have to wait too long!

 

[dgbg100106]

Glad your are relaxing now! I am so ready to do the same.

 

[rentayenta]

Waiting for dinner pics.......

 

[franandaj]

Glad your are relaxing now! I am so ready to do the same.

You'll be going just as I am returning. Make sure you check back here, I'm helping you plan your trip.

Waiting for dinner pics.......

Remember I promised surprises? Spoiler alert. Lunch is turning out to be the meal of the day, and today is no different.

 

[rentayenta]

Yum! Can't wait! Hope the weather is cooperating too.

 

[Leshaface]

Wow! Okay I bet your glad that all the car crud is done and are finally on vacation!

That's actually a really cool app. That's something I need for when DH's driving especially on road trips so I won't get a sore neck from leaning over and peeking at the dash!

I think you captured a beautiful sunset

I love that she told you later the truth behind her winnings!

 

[franandaj]

Yum! Can't wait! Hope the weather is cooperating too.

So far so good!

Wow! Okay I bet your glad that all the car crud is done and are finally on vacation!!

OMG! You have no idea, and it isn't even done!

That's actually a really cool app. That's something I need for when DH's driving especially on road trips so I won't get a sore neck from leaning over and peeking at the dash!

I love that I can see how fast she is going without having to crane my neck over there. I mean she often gets going above 90 and I'm like

I think you captured a beautiful sunset

Thanks!

I love that she told you later the truth behind her winnings!

It cracked me up that I had been sitting there playing on $40 and she blew through $200, thank goodness she made it up and stopped!

 

[franandaj]

Before going to bed we put in a wake up call for 7AM. You see we had read in our trusty (and free) AAA guide book that one of the casinos had an exhibit of classic cars. The first floor opened at 9AM and the second floor opened at 10AM. With some careful planning we could hit the blackjack tables and the car museum all before noon. That was the earliest we should plan to leave for Flagstaff.

We headed down to the buffet to redeem our free breakfast, but the cashier said we needed to have the ticket from the players club, she couldn't just run the card. Since it was 7:30 and the players club didn't open until 8:00, and we were starving, we just went ahead and paid for it. With our players club discount it was only $11.99 which wasn’t bad for the spread they had going on.

It was an International buffet which featured some of the most popular cuisines in America. But for starters there was fruit.



Then they had pizza. Now here's a pet peeve of mine. When you have more than one of something you add an "s". Sometimes it's an "es", and in extreme cases the word changes in it's entirety as in goose and geese. Adding an apostrophe "s" indicates that the item following the word with the apostrophe "s" belongs to said word. C’mon Harrah’s you’re a huge corporation you should know that these are not “Assorted Pizza’s”. OK rant over.

So we are into the Italian Section. (sort of)



Then they had all the fixins you needed to build your own Eggs Benedict. I really liked this idea because then they aren’t sitting out under a heat lamp getting the muffins all soggy with Hollandaise while the Hollandaise bakes into a hard crust.



There were also some green beans for those being healthy.



There were cheese ravioli and veggies along with meatballs and spaghetti. Your choice of Marinara or Alfredo Sauce.



Scrambled Eggs with Ham and Potatoes O’brien. I don’t know what the sauce was.



Next we move on to the Asian section. I believe that this was cucumber salad with calamari.



Egg Drop soup.



This was stir fried vegetables with chicken and Lobster Lo Mein.



Here we have vegetarian stir fried vegetables.



Potstickers, my favorite! (Not really potstickers, but that’s what they called them)



Egg Rolls



And opening for the Breakfast section, Breakfast cereals



This guy will make you omelets or any other kind of eggs cooked to order.



Biscuits & Gravy



Corned Beef Hash and Scalloped Potatoes



This was the carving station with Ham and Turkey, they must have has Roast Beef as well because the containers are for Au Jus and Creamed Horseradish which is what is in those sauce containers at the front.



I believe this was country potatoes, and more vegetables for those feeling healthy.



Chicken Fried Steak and Hush Puppies.



Bacon & Sausage



Hash Browns and Scrambled Eggs



Pancakes



French Toast



Cheese Blintzes



[Continued in Next Post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]

Then we came to the Mexican Section. Eggs and Chorizo & Refried Beans



Black Beans and Taco Meat



Taco Shells and they also had tortillas wrapped in foil. I didn’t know what they were so I didn’t take a picture. Then I saw a guy with a full on Mexican Breakfast and I understood.



Cheese and Salsa and onions



Tortilla Chips



Whipped Cream and Butter



Mixed Berries



Lemons, Cocktail Sauce and Tartar Sauce



Sour Cream, Onions & Cilantro, Guacamole



Salad Bar









Tapioca & Ham Salad



Cole Slaw and Potato Salad



Applesauce and Peaches



Pears



[Continued in Next Post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]

And Finally Dessert! Bread Pudding & Bananas Foster



Apple Strudel and Cherries Jubilee



All sorts of flavors of scooped ice cream



Toppings for the ice cream



Soft Serve with Cones



Blondies, Pies and Lemon Bars



Cocoa & Rice Krispy Treats



Mini Bear Claws and Danishes



Donuts and Cookies



I think these kind of speak for themselves





Fruit Crisp, Vanilla Sauce & Whiskey Sauce



By the time I came back to the table from my reconnaissance mission, (I used to do that before I started posting TRs anyways, just without pictures because I need to know what I’m getting before I pick up the first plate.) Fran was just sitting down with her plates. I left my purse and she asked, “Should I take pictures of my plates?” Good girl!





Yeah Jenny, I saw on your TR that you got the divided tray! Clearly those were Fran’s plates. Now my first plate, and no the bacon is NOT touching the watermelon, it just looks like it is from the angle!



Then I went back for my Asian Course. The potsticker was good enough for another go around, the Egg Drop Soup was great, the fried rice, was ok after I added soy sauce.



Finally dessert! Bread pudding with vanilla and whiskey sauce and a lemon bar, really half a lemon bar. I was TOTALLY stuffed and should not have eaten that last plate, but I couldn’t resist and both were very tasty.



So we both rolled ourselves out of there and over to the Blackjack table. There was single deck table with $5 minimum and only two guys sitting there, so we bought into the game and started playing. Neither one of us did great, but we didn’t lose and have to rebuy any chips. Then they changed dealers. I started taking big chances by betting two chips! Pretty soon I was up to 25% over our buy in amount!

[Continued in Next Post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]

Check out time was 11AM and it was a little bit after 10 when we called it quits and went back up to the room to have a Bellman pick up our stuff. But before going up to the room I went to cash in our chips while Fran waited in the line at the Rewards Club. I cashed in our receipts from the night before and our chips from the table and we came out 30% ahead of what we put in! It wasn’t a big amount, but better than a kick in the head!

When we got to the players club to get our free buffet certificate, we found out it was good through December of this year. We had already decided that this is a fun little Casino without the hassle of Las Vegas, and were planning to come back for a midweek weekend. Now we have a free meal. The guy also told me that if I get seven more credits before 24 hours is up, I could get another free buffet. So I went back to our favorite little bank of slots and in about 10 minutes, I had another nine credits and made $10 on the $20 that I put in!

I had already packed our luggage and stacked it near the doorway so it was just a matter of waiting for the bellman to arrive. I snapped this picture of our view while we waited. Granted it is a parking lot view, but there is a river in there!



This was the ad for the place we ate dinner the first night.



There was also a McDonald’s, Cinnabon and Dreyers in the Food Court, we managed to avoid all three!



As we loaded up the car, we watched these ducks playing in the fountain, thinking about our own ducks that like to play in our swimming pool. Just wait until the cats move in….



Car loaded up, as we headed away from our first night’s stay and I snapped this photo.



It was only 11AM and already the temperature was



Goodbye Harrah’s and your wonderful buffet!



We made our obligatory stop for gas and decided to check out the Laughlin “strip”.



There’s a Golden Nugget



The Pioneer



Fran loves Casinos that look like a Riverboat.



The Tropicana Express



Edgewater



Aquarius



The Riverside Hotel is the one with the Classic Car collection, and by this time we had decided to catch in on our next trip back here when we use our buffet coupons.





The boat launch



We drove across the bridge to Arizona and were in Bullhead city.



The Laughlin strip from the Arizona side



We never made it to Costco the day before for water for me and there were none anywhere near where we were going to be, so we hit the next best choice. Sam’s Club!



By the time we got out of Sam’s the temperature was



At this point we were ready to get the heck out of the heat and head on to Flagstaff! And with that we were on our way! Do we get lured off the road by shiny objects? We’ll see!

 

[Luvchefmic]

Brought back a lot of memories for me of our Atlantic City NJ casino days Man those buffets were to die for Our place was " Showboat " My Dad used to hit the blackjack tables and we hit the slots Always good when you come out ahead Haven't gone to any in FL yet..it is on the to do list


Good going with Fran asking if she should take pictures of the food plates

Had to laugh with you re- using the " 's" There was a lighted sign during one of the marathons at WDW " Runner's this way ----> " unbelievable !

103 degrees Oh boy

 

[jedijill]

Great job of coming out ahead on the gambling! The buffet looked pretty good for a casino buffet.

Missouri used to have real riverboats on the rivers for gambling but changes in the law moved them to be surrounded by moats and then just freestanding buildings..way more fun on a real boat!

Jill in CO

 

[PrincessInOz]

'S a great update. That's/that is some buffet!! Seems like a lot of food; but I guess it caters for a lot of people.

Looking forward to your next updates and the ones of sunset.

 

[dgbg100106]

The buffet was lovely, glad I had breakfast before looking at your TR...

Glad you both came out ahead!