Elko next with a couple of places I wanted to visit. First place I saw was one of the Red Lions. Never a fan of their chips, I nonetheless sat at the Red Lion table of the trip’s only sourpuss dealer. Looked down at my buy-in and found (Duh!) three Cowboy Poetry chips! I had always admired them but completely forgot Elko was the place. Scored that trio of chip goodness. Across the street at Gold Country Motor Inn I sat with four folks all wearing “Bus Patron” buttons and picked up another sought after $5 chip. Small casino, one table. Attempted to get a slot card but the machine was across the street today at Red Lion, oh well. Downtown to Stockman’s, the only open casino until the Commercial Hotel renovates from their fire. The guy at first base in the rodeo shirt was trying to sell the dealer a new suit “out in my car” but wasn’t having much luck. Skip the Hilfinger shirt and circus tent bermudas here unless you like feel uncomfortable when you play. I like these kind of places and fit in mainly by keeping my mouth shut… and not wearing bus buttons.

Back out onto I-80 and watch the snow cloud down to the basin floor a mile south and blue sky dead ahead.

The PA announces the Greyhound departure at Carlin’s casino, slots-only at the Pilot truckstop. “Ya don’t wanta get stuck here!” cackles the old gal behind the fuel counter. Would have been a great vein of info for the historians of the club, this lady. Take a tour of town, not the smallest Nevada place I’ve been to, but close. If I had a double-wide here, I’d be the King of Carlin.

Battle Mtn., the table is covered today at Nevada Hotel but I take some photos of The Owl club next door.