Wife and I stopped in Juneau while cruising on the Veendam.
Took a helicopter and landed on the glacier: worth it.
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Wife and I stopped in Juneau while cruising on the Veendam.
Took a helicopter and landed on the glacier: worth it.
Yes, I remember the Veendam. Southeast Alaska is one of the most scenic places in the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterV
Some scenes from around the Mendenhall Valley in Juneau:
The Mendenhall Glacier:
The flight back to Seattle:
Main Street.
Deadwood
Whoa.
Deadwood looks dead.
Looks a little like Virginia City.
Question for Mickey, taking gambling out of it, it actually worth a visit as a tourist or is it a trap?
The picture was taken early on a Sunday morning in the middle of the winter so yes the town was dead. Deadwood is pretty much a weekend town. They operate with skeleton crews the rest of the week. The buildings are over 100 years old. Against the law to raze them because of the history but they could gut them and build casinos inside. The casinos are relatively small, just a few hundred machines each. Some have hotels some don't.Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterV
Deadwood is in the Black Hills and I would recommend the Black Hills to anyone. Closest airport is Rapid City about 40 miles away. There is cab service between the airport and Deadwood but I would recommend renting a car. Parking can be a problem in Deadwood on the weekends but I've learned all the tricks. The town has a lot of history. The last gold rush in the continental United States. I would recommend taking the bus tour of Deadwood and Mt. Moriah Cemetery where Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane are buried. You learn a lot about the history of the town and the tour buses are the only vehicles allowed in the cemetery which is on the top of a mountain and not easy to walk.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Boz
The best and most modern hotel/casino is the Lodge At Deadwood which sits on top of a hill overlooking Deadwood.
Deadwood is somewhat different as a tourist destination. It just doesn't feel like a tourist trap. The locals are friendly down to earth people.
Nuttal's Saloon #10 has been in Deadwood since 1876. It got it's name from being on the #10 mining claim. Wild Bill Hickock what shot in the back of the head while playing poker in Saloon #10. He was holding Aces & Eights in a five card draw game at the moment. Now infamously known as the Deadman's Hand. There was a lot of controversy over the hand. What suits were the cards? What was the 5th card? The townspeople settled on it being the black aces & eights with the nine of diamonds as the sidecard.
Jack McCall was the culprit who killed Hickock. At the time there wasn't much law in Deadwood. McCall was tried by miners and acquitted a few days later. He immediately left town. He showed up in Yankton, South Dakota where he bragged to everyone about killing Hickock. The townspeople took him seriously. They retried him then hung him. He should have kept his mouth shut. During the summer there is a reenactment of Hickock's killing at Saloon #10.
Except #10 is not in it's original location. Just down the street you see this. And the original building Hickock was killed in burned down. The new building was built in brick. It's called the Wild Bill Bar now.
Thanks Mickey. We are looking at Glacier this summer and if I can get away long enough, a trip over to Deadwood. Looking at flying into Billings and staying at St Mary’s Lodge around mid June. Any advice or comments on that plan?Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimmDeadwood is in the Black Hills and I would recommend the Black Hills to anyone. Closest airport is Rapid City about 40 miles away. There is cab service between the airport and Deadwood but I would recommend renting a car. Parking can be a problem in Deadwood on the weekends but I've learned all the tricks. The town has a lot of history. The last gold rush in the continental United States. I would recommend taking the bus tour of Deadwood and Mt. Moriah Cemetery where Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane are buried. You learn a lot about the history of the town and the tour buses are the only vehicles allowed in the cemetery which is on the top of a mountain and not easy to walk.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Boz
The best and most modern hotel/casino is the Lodge At Deadwood which sits on top of a hill overlooking Deadwood.
Deadwood is somewhat different as a tourist destination. It just doesn't feel like a tourist trap. The locals are friendly down to earth people.
Did Jackson Hole last June and absolutely loved Grand Teton and did a day in Lower Yellowstone. Did an eco tour the first day to get a lay of the land and see the main tourist places then visited each day to explore on our own. Incredible wildlife viewing and just amazing scenery. Actually enjoyed Jackson and didn’t find it too touristy. It can be expensive but we found a couple local bars and met some incredible local people who shared good information. Visited both breweries in Jackson, one of which I sell their beer in PA (Melvin) so had plenty to do each night. Also made the quick trip over the pass to Victor Idaho to another brewery (Grand Teton).
So overall how do you see a Glacier trip comparing to Jackson? Thanks. Boz
We went to Glaicier on a Memorial Day weekend and the best attraction, Going to the Sun Road, was closed due to snow.
Should be open by summer.
By report, the best way to navigate Going to the Sun Road is by the quaint buses provided for that purpose.
https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-g...th-Red-Bus.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterVWe went to Glaicier on a Memorial Day weekend and the best attraction, Going to the Sun Road, was closed due to snow.
Should be open by summer.
By report, the best way to navigate Going to the Sun Road is by the quaint buses provided for that purpose.
https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-g...th-Red-Bus.jpg
Thanks for the info. I did read that you should wait until mid June or later for all or most of the park to be open. But that is no guarantee either based on the weather.
There was plenty of snow in the Tetons last year in mid June but it was a heavy snowfall winter in 16-17.
Going to the Sun Road across Glacier Park might just be the most spectacular drive in the country. But there is a pass along the road that takes until sometime in June to open due to heavy winter snow. So you would want to time your arrival for when the pass is open.Quote:
Originally Posted by The BozThanks Mickey. We are looking at Glacier this summer and if I can get away long enough, a trip over to Deadwood. Looking at flying into Billings and staying at St Mary’s Lodge around mid June. Any advice or comments on that plan?Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimmDeadwood is in the Black Hills and I would recommend the Black Hills to anyone. Closest airport is Rapid City about 40 miles away. There is cab service between the airport and Deadwood but I would recommend renting a car. Parking can be a problem in Deadwood on the weekends but I've learned all the tricks. The town has a lot of history. The last gold rush in the continental United States. I would recommend taking the bus tour of Deadwood and Mt. Moriah Cemetery where Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane are buried. You learn a lot about the history of the town and the tour buses are the only vehicles allowed in the cemetery which is on the top of a mountain and not easy to walk.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Boz
The best and most modern hotel/casino is the Lodge At Deadwood which sits on top of a hill overlooking Deadwood.
Deadwood is somewhat different as a tourist destination. It just doesn't feel like a tourist trap. The locals are friendly down to earth people.
Did Jackson Hole last June and absolutely loved Grand Teton and did a day in Lower Yellowstone. Did an eco tour the first day to get a lay of the land and see the main tourist places then visited each day to explore on our own. Incredible wildlife viewing and just amazing scenery. Actually enjoyed Jackson and didn’t find it too touristy. It can be expensive but we found a couple local bars and met some incredible local people who shared good information. Visited both breweries in Jackson, one of which I sell their beer in PA (Melvin) so had plenty to do each night. Also made the quick trip over the pass to Victor Idaho to another brewery (Grand Teton).
So overall how do you see a Glacier trip comparing to Jackson? Thanks. Boz
I've never done it but people tell me that the flights in and out of Bozeman are the cheapest so you might want to check into that. If you drive to Deadwood from Montana then Little Bighorn Battlefield is along the way.
Thanks Mickey. I did look at Bozeman and Great Falls but Billings worked best for me. AA flies into Billings from Philly through Dallas at a decent price. I also want to spend a day in Billings as there is 6 breweries within walking distance on a brew trail. Looks like a 6 hour drive to Glacier so that’s another day. The debate is how many days to spend in the park, then back to Billings and how many days to go to Deadwood and back. I would love to be able to do 10 but I’m not sure I can pull it off. If not, I’ll save Deadwoid for another trip and do Rapid City as you suggested.
great pics. thanks for posting them.
Several years ago my son got married in Las Vegas. After the wedding, wife and I drove up to Lake Tahoe. Wonderful drive from desert through ever changing terrain up into the mountains.
I would do that drive again and if I get the chance, drive in Montana.
Pine Ridge, South Dakota
Whoa.
Looks like a minimum security prison / honor camp.
Time to shark that vp game that Gek187 was talking about !Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimm
Rosebud, South Dakota
Grove, Oklahoma
How come so many of the Midwest casinos look so damn depressing?
A lot of my photos are taken early in the morning when the casino is empty. I like to go in early so I can check machines unimpeded. The two cars in the photo were to be given away in drawings.Quote:
Originally Posted by MaxPen
If I'm just vulturing machines I usually don't run enough action to get any comp but the meals in these casinos in the middle of nowhere are so cheap it's practically a comp anyway. Burger, fries and drink for $4, that sort of thing.
deleted.
Well, actually, Rob, they had a little promotion going on so I fired. I got outhouse lucky. I was stuck just $340 when I hit it. Damn crooked Indian casinos.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
Then you gave it all back and then some on the five dollar machine. Ha ha.
Congrats, mickey. I could use one of those.Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimmWell, actually, Rob, they had a little promotion going on so I fired. I got outhouse lucky. I was stuck just $340 when I hit it. Damn crooked Indian casinos.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
The nice thing is that he is playing a virtually even game even without the progressive (99.96%).Quote:
Originally Posted by redietzCongrats, mickey. I could use one of those.Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimmWell, actually, Rob, they had a little promotion going on so I fired. I got outhouse lucky. I was stuck just $340 when I hit it. Damn crooked Indian casinos.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
The meter rate is 1%.Quote:
Originally Posted by tableplayThe nice thing is that he is playing a virtually even game even without the progressive (99.96%).Quote:
Originally Posted by redietzCongrats, mickey. I could use one of those.Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimm
This is Barney,
I hit a greatest of jackpot on a slut machine device that Mr Mickey gave much recent advices about calculations of the slope of such devices. I won the monies at the casino that is pictured on one of Mr Mickeys post here and would have provided small parts of winnings to Mr Mickey but on subsequent roadtrip I spent all of my winning monies on cigs and casino chickeys.
Thank you very much
http://i68.tinypic.com/123pr86.jpg
I went back to the room and took a nap.Quote:
Originally Posted by quahaug
Hope you cashed out first.Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimmI went back to the room and took a nap.Quote:
Originally Posted by quahaug
I'm sure some people take the handpay and forget they still have credits on the machine but I don't fall for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by quahaugHope you cashed out first.Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimmI went back to the room and took a nap.Quote:
Originally Posted by quahaug
Wyandotte, Oklahoma
At the defunct Siena Club here in Reno, I had to argue with the slot manager for 10 minutes, finally telling her to get her supervisor (which worked somehow - otherwise I would have had to call gaming) to get my $40 in machine credits left over when I caught the ducks for a hand pay (FPDW or NSUD - I forget). She initially told me they clear the credits and only pay the jackpot. Obviously the place was on its last legs by then, so they were trying to cheat players out of their money to stay in business longer and to get extra income before being laid off when the casino closed.Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimmI'm sure some people take the handpay and forget they still have credits on the machine but I don't fall for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by quahaugHope you cashed out first.Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimm
Niobrara, Nebraska.
Sandy Springs, Oklahoma
Checotah, Oklahoma, hometown of Carrie Underwood.
Okemah, Oklahoma
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Newkirk, Oklahoma
I am curious about this thread... I have been a little curious for some time now. You post up these pictures of these Casinos which are smaller and do not have a monster client base... is that correct? Now you remind me of me with your brashness or balls... do you have no worry that someone is going to figure things out and put two and two together? Perhaps it is like I said in another post... the Casino does not care about progressive players because it does not matter who hits the jackpot because no matter what the Casino is getting their percentage!?
You bastard I only looked at the first page but my goodness I haven't felt jealousy like this for a very long time and I really never get jealous. It is too late for me though, my blood is too thin and I am officially a desert rat now for life. I wanted to retire in Portland, Oregon or back to the Pittsburgh area or something like this in Montana. I have been in Montana years ago playing poker at the Crystal Palace but that was a long time ago. They also had a bar not far away with a very small game on a BJ table which felt like a home game. I just wasn't able to make it very long in Billings or at Butte at that young age in my life. I miss that type of scenery and the Rivers and what not.
You make me think of A River Runs Through it... Oh I'll never leave Montana brother.
Monet, when you wrote Crystal Palace, were you referring to the Crystal Lounge on 1st and Broadway in Billings?
It has to be... I remember it being in the heart of downtown and 1st street sounds right. This was over 20 years ago. I knew when I typed that out I was confusing Crystal Palace with something. I have been to Crystal Palace as well but for the life of me I can't think of where or what or when. Perhaps that is a card room in the LA area... I forget. I was only in Billings for maybe a week to 10 days and hitchhiked out to Butte for another week or so where some lady and her kid picked me up, took me to her beautiful new house in the prairie or valley or whatever it was. Amazing views of the mountains and green grass and just lovely. The only thing out of place were the modern houses in this grassy knoll. They just didn't fit. She was nice enough, trying to help me get work but had to give up on the idea after a week and my youth and inexperience and no resources didn't help. Her husband was out of town on business and coming back soon which I guess is why the shove off. Nothing happened in a physical manner although I suspect she was fighting off her own desire and loneliness. I remember her drinking some wine one night and I made a small move but she got spooked and nothing came of it. Better off that way in hindsight and I really didn't want to be there for a week but when your hitchhiking around the country these things happen all the time. I suppose it can turn sour as well where no one will ever hear from you again. I would say the odds are low for that to happen. In my experiences it is amazing how many people want to help out a 16 to 19 year old skinny Caucasian drifting the American Highway System.Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimm
The Crystal Palace was a pool hall in San Francisco. Then there was the Crystal Palace II on Bonanza and Eastern In Las Vegas. Years ago it was a big time pool hall. The Crystal Lounge in Billings was the first place I ever played Texas Holdem. I was living out of a pickup truck and working day labor around Montana in 1984. No machines back then but five card stud in the bars. Then I stumbled onto the Crystal Lounge and Texas Holdem. Annie Duke got her start playing at the Crystal Lounge. The joint is still going strong. Liquor in the front, poker in the rear. Karaoke 7 nights a week.
Clinton, Oklahoma
I can't explain why, but there is something depressing about these midwestern casinos located out in the middle of nowhere.
As far as scenery goes Oklahoma might be the worst state in the nation. No wonder Jackson sent the Indians there. The casinos are owned by the tribes whose ancestors were on the Trail of Tears. A good historical novel about the lead up, during, and the aftermath of the Trail of Tears is Dee Brown's Creek Mary's Blood.Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterV
Mickey! You found my favorite place!Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimm
Just kidding. While I have a fondness for The Golden Pony, it reminds me of the casino equivalent of the vampire bar in "From Dusk to Dawn." You don't wanna be there after dark.
Mickey, one question, did they ever repair the member of the Golden Pony statue out front? Somebody had made off with most of it.
Shhhhh!Quote:
Originally Posted by redietz
Don't ask, don't tell.
Years and years ago I actually lived at the Crystal Casino in LA for some time and even lived in the parking lot of that establishment. This was right before they crashed. It turned into a ghost town but it seems they survived that downfall. I suppose when Poker got popular they had the resurgence. I also realized that we have a Crystal Palace roller skating rink on Boulder Highway near Sams Town and AZ Charlies. I am sure I am just confusing some of the places with Crystal in the name. I do appreciate the correction though and will try to remember that it is the Crystal Lounge and not Palace. Honestly though, Montana is a great place to live but one would need plenty of money and income coming in and be able to deal with the Snow and Cold which would be difficult these days. I would have a problem adapting to a City that isn't 24 hours. Las Vegas is so easy to live in with the 24 hour everything and IMO everything is just so darn cheap or reasonable compared to other cities in the country. The pitfall or quicksand is the ability to go on TILT or just basically lose everything in one fell swoop like most people do.Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimm
I would not want to live in Las Vegas.
Too hot.
Too tempting, with gambling everywhere, 24/7.
Too far from the ocean (I love the seaside).
Obviously Las Vegas hits the right buttons for some of us.
Beachbumbarrister
when you live there, like when i live in reno you become immune to the type of temptation you get when you are there for a week and get antsy in your hotel room.
The novelty of having a craps table or a sports book, or a poker room, 10 minutes away.wears off and you just partake in a reasonable way.
gambling is only one of the few reasons I am going to live the rest of my life near reno. Heck I am mainly poker and sports betting...and there are plenty of poker rooms near where I live in Ca, and legal sports betting is on the way....but still if i had to make the choice today to buy a home in the reno sparks area, I would do so...even with my choice poker spots and legal sports gambling on the way.
sparks has a water park which is just as good as any ocean I have ever been to.........
ok...kidding on that one..
Those of us who are well adjusted should be able to "become immune to the type of temptation you get when you are there for a week and get antsy in your hotel room," but many of the people who move to Sin City already have if not a gambling problem then a predisposition to developing one.
Probably the best way to live sanely in Las Vegas would be to ignore gambling and casinos completely, and therein is where the house of cards falls apart.
What else of continuing interest is there to do there, culturally, socially, politically and recreationally year-round which is not inextricably tied to casinos?
Lots of shows and concerts, some sports, but the brutal heat is a killer, at least for me.
I suppose for folks who haven't lived anyplace which is better Las Vegas might seem like the promised land.
I too like the ocean (Atlantic) but the desert really awes me. Actually I love the west desert or not. Have yet to see Utah except from a plane. It looks pretty cool.
I agree about the heat. Reno is more moderate...
at least reno general vicinity has beautiful mountains surrounding it, and access to historical areas like virginia city and carson city.
but vegas beats the entertainment of reno
Although I find the acts in reno and vegas are best seen outside a casino stage. Lets face it...from the performers viewpoint,,,,they know if they perform at a venue in a city, like a concert hall or college campus in anytown USA.....everyone there paid for a ticket and are into them. And the people up front paid alot..and are really into the act.
In vegas and reno....the performer has no clue if the people in the front are fans or just high rollers looking to take a break. They have no idea what percent of the audience are fans of got a "package deal vacation voucher".
I remember sitting up front in atlantic city, for Dangerfield, and people all around me were talking through the whole act. They couldnt give a shit....they were high rollers or friends of high rollers who got tickets.
And you dont think the performer doesnt pick up on that? Sure they do. Plus the casino likes them to do a short show and get the asses out of the seats and onto the gaming floor.
The plays are condensed versions of the broadway original. Usually cut down to 100 minutes or less. I saw Spamalot at a casino and they cut at least 30 min off the original.
so as far as entertainment goes...you often get a lesser version than at the concert halls...often for more money.
I recall in the late seventies and early eighties that most of the regular gamblers in Portland went to Reno.
Lots of them drove.
Now with tribal casinos available poor Reno is dying on the vine.
I'd like to visit it again soon, maybe this year.
I was only there once, to visit the Harrah's auto museum while spending a couple days at the Hyatt at Incline Village on Lake Tahoe, so I never went into any Reno casinos.
Suggestions about where to stay and gamble?
yes, if you rent a car, then stay at Atlantis or Peppermill. They are 2 miles down virginia st......from the center city of the older casinos. It more modern.
If you go, and like cars...go for the week that is called Hot August Nights.....alot of vintage cars,, hundreds of them.....at various casinos ..in roped off parking lots and in the blocked off "strip" downtown outside the casinos.
You would like it...I really dont know much about it so I dont appreciate it like you would.
If you stay downtown, walking distance to about 6 casinos...stay at Harrahs...its the more modern of the casinos there. Although I cant vouch for the gambling.
the atlantis and peppermlll are more modern, I stayed at atlantis many times, and the rooms are nice. Never a problem.
I played craps at both casinos and they had very good crews. Alot of slots at both...and great poker rooms.
there is always agood day trip for the historian ..to virginia city...an hour away. And tahoe and hour and 15 away
And histyoric truckee ca.....30 min away
A childhood friend of mine has lived in Vegas for almost 2 decades now. When she moved there were few job opportunities available in her field where we grew up, but many in Vegas. That situation has changed, but she loves living there and would never move back east. The only gambling she does is an occasional couple $20s in Megabucks.
Her interests are shopping - she has very distinctive tastes and likes unusual things - dining out, concerts, and travel. Vegas has tons of shopping. Every band you'd ever want to see ends up coming there to perform. There are tons of restaurants of all types of cuisines throughout the entire area not just the Strip. And because so many travel there to gamble when you want to travel you can usually find decent flight options without too many connections. The only downside is that her property value declined substantially during the market crash in the late 00s, but it's been recovering and since she's not planning to sell any time soon it's not a hugely pressing issue.
Plus you don't have to drive in snow, which coming from the Northeast is a huge benefit. And her cars last forever and still look good due to no road salt to cause rust.
One thing I noticed and liked about Las Vegas was the interstate system flows well, and the main thoroughfares in town are quite wide.
I agree dealing with heat is more pleasant than fighting through blizzards and shoveling your car out of a mountain of snow just to have a snow plow drive by and undo your 2 hours of work.
If i moved to vegas from the east I would feel the same as her.
it all depends on yoru point of reference
I, like V now have a point of reference which says......"dont deal with excessive weather of any kind"...based on where we live. now
I-40, 20 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico. I went to the Joan Jett concert. She's as good live as her recordings.
Farmington, New Mexico
Have you benn finding anything in dem places mick?
Lots of stuff. The vulturing is better today than it was in the late nineties. It's going on from the West Coast all the way to the East Coast. All regions of the country.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcap
VERY interesting. Would you say you’re pretty much still
Da best damn machines pro out there.
Or have ya met your match out thurr a few times?
I only think I'm the best damn machine pro alive when I'm delusionally drunk. A half dozen shots of pop skull and I'm the world's foremost authority....on any subject. My IQ goes up about ten points with every shot. But, unfortunately, I haven't had a drink in over a year now.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcap
Most of the stuff is pretty simple so a lot of guys are doing it. Games like Aladdin's Fortune are easy. It's the more complicated games that separate the men from the boys. There's one new game I dominate everywhere I go. It's still being installed in a lot of casinos because the casino execs are reading how it is one of the top 30 grossing video games. There's only one hustler I've seen so far that knows how to exploit the game to it's fullest. The rest only know to play super huge numbers so they miss out on a lot of money because, for lack of knowledge, they are passing up the lesser plays. It's a situation where I'm working a smaller edge than them but running ten times the coin-in that they are. And I still get my share of the huge numbers too.
I've seen this movie before. The games will eventually get old and become extinct. So I'm out to make as much money as I can while it lasts....and while I last. I'm no spring chicken. I'll be 65 next month.
But I'm a hard headed bastard. Back out of the way you young punks and watch how grandpa does it. LOL!
Well, redietz, it looks like you were right. Someone did pull a Lorena Bobbit on the stallion, er, gelding.
Good grief, an purloined horse cock; better call out the braves to track it down and return it to the tribe.
Do you guys know what you are looking for? Ever seen one? Haha.
I've never seen a horse's cockQuote:
Originally Posted by Bill Yung
I never hope to see one
But I can tell you anyhow
I'd rather see than be one
High desert of New Mexico
Now, now, MrV, don't be a horse's ass.
Why in the world would anyone want to be you?!?!?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Yung
Not quite. Why do we have to be anyone?
Acoma, New Mexico
You guys should get the new Thesaurus. Under the "Freedom," entry, one of the words is: "MickeyCrimm."
And what the hell are you smoking? The "freedom" at the WoV forum?