I've been saving my Amtrak Miles. I can ride the train out to Elko, with a roomette, for "points" plus some cash for the coach seat from Denver to Elko. I discovered the place I wanted to stay, Gold Dust West, doesn't have rooms! Have to walk from the Amtrak station or rent a car. Oh but, yes, I wanted to rent a car, didn't I?

There's a motel blocks from the station and I have "points" towards my room there.

But Amtrak changing the system, so it's based on ticket prices... not zones. Besides being a crazy plan, it's now up in the air.

But here's the current version: (short version honest, there's more)

Tuesday before March Madness - Take Amtrak, California Zephyr to Elko for nearly nothing.

Get a room at someplace within walking distance of the station. Rent a car. Go out into the countryside and see the little towns that I always wanted to see, from Winnemucca to at least Deeth, maybe further East. Which used to be on the first Transcontinental Railroad.

Stay until the Monday after the first weekend, which means probably Tuesday because of the California Zephyr schedule. Return to Wisconsin. Or, get back on and head West, up the coast Coast Starlight, take the Empire Builder back to the Mid-West, I can get off at any of three stops, wait for the Hiawatha and ride back to my car.

Parking for the car, at the little station is $2. Not $8 a day like Milwaukee or more in Chicago, it's $2 pay to enter. If I go from Columbus WI, it's free. But involves two trains and some layover issues in Chicago.

I figure it's the best way to watch all the basketball I can stand, bet $10 on every game, and have a vacation.

Of course there are some chip hunting adventures, and a must see, take a photo of every casino for the collection. And one more, if it's still there. Sit and play video poker at the 449'er Club downtown Elko with the real cowboys and locals.

If I can get Valerie to come along, she's in West Chicago. Perfect because they have great public transportation and we meet at Union Station, off for the adventure to Elko. The cost for a second person in the free room, is the price of a coach seat.

All kinds of variables. Red Lion has a sports book, great buffet, especially on Friday seafood. Might be the only sports book in town? Things change frequently in Elko. Last time there, it was four casinos. Now it's five. I don't know how the four survived. There was a new sixth just outside of town, and between trips that one in Spring Creek closed.

A chip collector who doesn't smoke, hardly drinks, and barely gambles. All wrong I tell you, all wrong!