Left Laughlin and headed out to visit small town Nevada. Motored past Cal-Nev-Ari without stopping due to their ugly chips and pulled into the Searchlight Nugget. Sat at the blackjack table as the old babe at third base was ordering her 2nd( third…?) Bud Light of the morning. 9:30, most folks in the place were eating breakfast. No “eye in the sky” here, a guy watches the dealer and some old timer watches the guy. I get up $10 and slip the two nickels in my pocket on my way to the cage. No need to color up as they only use $5 chips most times. Had some great looking dollar tokens but they were seriously BTS. Took a few photos of town including the El Rey Motel, wonder if that’s where the El Rey used to be? Top off the tank in LV and head to lunch at the Hotel Nevada in Ely. Great drive, great scenery through Caliente, Pioche, Ely and McGill. A spooky drive at night as this is open range and those cows are pretty tough to squash. I enjoy staying at the Hotel Nevada but just passing through today. The Club 50 outside of town has a big a** billboard right next to it, glad I’ve got photos from before. Here’s a plea for travelers, get pics of these places when you can, before they get spoiled or disappear! Finally play some cards at Wells, I never have much of a stake left when I stop at the 4-Way. I’ve got reservations at the Horseshu in Jackpot. Turns out to be a basement room ($56) where I look up at the parking lot. Gonna stay at Casino 93 next time. Apparently the Horseshu is the only place the guy from Paul Son stays though, as the rest of town is Bud Jones coin inserts. Gamble for a few hours before bed. First time playing with folks from Idaho. After time with them and all the time I put in at Washington cardrooms, I feel quite the Oregon sophisticate! Pick up a great looking card at Wild Horse in Pendleton for Mike Robison and head home. See ya’ll in 2002!