Day 2: LA
Saturday, November 7th

Saturday and we are up with the larks....bleary-eyed, jet-lagged and hung-over larks, who crawl out of bed after midday, that is. Jim’s already head out to Santa Anita for the Breeder’s Cup while Pete and I try to pull ourselves together.

We eventually roll downstairs after 1pm for some food in the Commerce’s “Las Vegas Buffet”. Not bad, a little limited but fine for the price. Feeling somewhat refreshed Pete heads off to the Blackjack tables and I add my name to the long $2/$4 LHE list and eventually get seated about an hour later.

Nothing spectacular to report as you might expect at this level, the usual poor hand selection, chasing down draws etc. one comes to expect. After about 5 hours, I’m basically breaking even (despite the horrible rake structure) when a lady who consistently over-valued top pairs and draws backs into trip 4’s to crack my QQ and I drop a whole $32. At this point, we’re playing about 7 handed and the floor decides to move the table upstairs to the 2nd floor. I take the opportunity to end my day’s play and get some food.

I head back over to the Aztec Sports Bar for beer and a sandwich. I text Jim and Pete to see if they want to join me but Pete’s apparently ‘Got a head’ and is resting up and Jim is playing 3/6 Omaha Hi/Lo.

I’m tempted to join Jim but not surprisingly, the alcohol volume and food make me a tad drowsy and rather than play tired I decide to rest up.

After heading back to the rooms, I futz around on the laptop for a while before flaking out.

Ah, the thrills of advanced middle age! Are you thrilled and enthralled yet?

Day 3: LA
Sunday, November 8th

Feeling a little more human this morning, we meet Jim as previously arranged for breakfast and decide on the day’s activities.

As it would be rude not to spread our trade around, we short drive over to the Bicycle Casino. The ‘Bike’ isn’t as huge as the Commerce but it’s a pretty good size nonetheless.

We’ve arrived in time to register for their noon $40 tournament but I get very little traction when I lose a fair portion of my T4000 stack to a chased down flush draw and then. After about an hour, get called off in a race by the same fellow when my 88 gets beaten by KQs and he catches the river.

Ah well. I grab a seat at the 2/4 table to wait for Jim to finish up. Usual fun and games but I make consistent progress getting almost $60 up before finishing a grand total of $22 up when Jim and Pete make an appearance.

We drive back to the Commerce for some early dinner. Jim’s disappointed that the Sport’s Bar is only offering a short menu due to some special sports event. He’d set his mind on some baby back ribs but we manage with what’s available.

I consume a few more beers (hmmm...I seem to be drinking more than usual, I wonder is this factors in to the tiredness I’ve been suffering...Nah!)

After dinner, Pete does his usual blackjack thing, Jim decides to give the NLHE a shot (they don’t have a chance) while I elect to try my luck at the game Jim had some success at yesterday, 3/6 Omaha Hi/Lo.

This was fun, despite some overly aggressive moron at the table, who wouldn’t believe that the auto-shufflers actually...erm, you know...shuffle the cards, kept asking the dealer to shuffle before they were put in the auto-shuffler, kept asking for a wash before that and requesting a new set-up every hour.

Fortunately, his play was as bad as his manners and attitude, a constant pre-flop juicer he didn’t seem to understand the concept of pot odds and then bitched and moaned about missing his two-outer to win. He’d chase lows that weren’t going to be good, any two pair was good enough to go all the way in case he’d hit a full house, regardless of the fact that there was already a low there and he’s probably not going to get the best of it even if he’d hit his card.

Oh...and all of that was the dealer’s fault...natch! The floor was called a couple of times over his volume and poor attitude but no-one particularly wanted to see his money leave.

As to the others at the table, I was surprised by the continual buy-ins for the minimum $20. There seemed to be a short-stack play mentality at work which, as far as I can see, really can’t work in this particular game. To be honest, I could only see one other player at the table that had any real clue. This was evidenced by him turning $50 into 4 racks in fairly short order, mostly from Mr Attitude.

Me? I’d bought in for $200 and missed a lot of potentially winning hands due to some pretty tight starting hand requirements. Nevertheless, around midnight, I was exactly $100 up and that was enough. Mr Donator had just left and there really wasn’t enough loose money on the table to make the variation worthwhile.

Oh, and we’re heading out tomorrow too.

Probably time for a running count:

Poker: +$50.

Yes, yes, I know, it’s not huge but, at heart, I am a low limit grinder. Not to say, I won’t dabble later in Vegas but I’m comfortable with it right now.

Day 4: LA to Lake Havasu City
Monday, November 9th

Our destination today is Lake Havasu City where we are staying at the Heat Hotel which is situated right by the old London Bridge.

When Jim first suggested this roadtrip, I had envisaged us taking the more northerly route up through Victorville and Barstow before taking the I40 across to Lake Havasu City. Basically, following the old Route 66 trail, with perhaps a small side trip on what is actually left of R66.

However, Jim decided that he’d prefer the southern route basically a straight shot East on the I10 and then north on the 95. Heck, he’s driving so whatever he wants to do is fine with me.

The southerly route is a little longer but we aren’t in any real rush (although it turns out we probably should have been...more later).

We’d discussed getting me and Pete validated to drive the car at a local Thrifty but Jim doesn’t make for the local outlet as we’d thought...whatever, if he’s happy, I’m happy.

It’s about 320 miles from the Commerce to Lake Havasu City and there isn’t much to see in between. Ok, I’m kidding there’s huge amounts if you have the time which we really don’t. We skirt Joshua Tree National Park, drive through the biggest windfarm I’ve ever seen. I swear, hundreds, if not thousands, of wind turbines in the middle of the scrub desert.

We stop off for coffee at Chiriaco Summit, which is also home to the General Patton Memorial Museum. We don’t have time to browse although we do get some shots of the tanks and other WW2 military vehicles outside.

After that, it’s a straight drive to LHC. Fortunately, I have GPS and TomTom on my phone (no data charge, thank you) which keeps us on the right track...mostly. We get a little caught out by the time zone change when we enter Arizona...heck, who knew? We get into LHC and the hotel around 7.15, after dark, and we’ve missed sunset on the lake.

We initially miss the hotel by about a mile due to me mis-programming the TomTom but it’s an easy fix and we check in with no problems. Lovely rooms, all with lake and bridge views (we’re actually right by the bridge). Huge comfortable beds, Pete calls them ‘flumpy’ and wants to stay for another night so he can ‘sleep on both sides’. Enormous bathroom with Jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower stall/room.

The hotel is kind of trendy/chic which is sort of wasted on an old fart like me but I do likes me comfort and this definitely suits.

We met Jim at the outside bar on the water for a couple of drinks (hmmm...there’s that drinking again) before we walk across the road to the restaurant complex type thingy for some food. Only their kitchen is closed...at 9.30! What the F?

They suggest that we try the other restaurant within a minute’s walk which we do...and their kitchen is also closed. Incredible!

So, we jump in the car, cross the bridge to a restaurant row only to find that most are also closed. Thank the Lord for Chili’s.

Jim gets his baby back ribs, Pete and I settle on the Chipotle Chicken and all is, once again, right with the world.

Back to the hotel where there is a youngish crowd at the bar..apparently it’s “Industry Monday” which means $2 drinks...Life Is Good.

Basically, Jim doesn’t drink most of the time, in fact, I’ve never seen him do so, although he tells me he is partial to a tall Gin & Tonic when the mood takes him. He decides to head up to his room while Pete and I just have one more before crashing too.

Tuesday dawns, as Tuesday’s are wont to do and I type this report up to date sitting on our balcony, overlooking London Bridge and Lake Havasu sipping my morning coffee and surfing on the complimentary wifi.

Laughlin later.

good read so far Paulie - keep goin!! and welcome to Southern Calif!!

Day 5: Lake Havasu City to Laughlin
Tuesday, November 10th

After typing up the previous reports, Pete and I pack up our kit and meet Jim downstairs. It’s going to be tough leaving the Heat’s rooms....very plush and I doubt that we’ll see better on this trip. Even Jim was semi-raving about them and he’s tough to impress.

After dumping our gear in the car, we decide not to risk the restaurant complex by the hotel, after all, it’s 10.00 am and their kitchen might be closed!

Jim was, apparently, an early riser this morning and has already been drive-about and scouted the area. There’s a Denny’s just on the mainland side of London Bridge and we’re all happy with that choice.

As for the early rising, I’m usually an early-waker but I may not actually get up. With the somewhat increased alcohol consumption being evidenced on this trip, this pattern has continued although the advantage of an in-room coffee maker is making it’s presence felt.

Pete...can sleep for his country. In fact, I think he was county champion a couple of years back.

Our route for the day will avoid the direct northerly route to Laughlin as, for a little more gas, we can visit Kingman AZ before heading west into Bullhead City, crossing the Colorado River and into Laughlin.

Total mileage is a shade under 100 miles so the journey won’t be too long or arduous. Before we set out, Pete takes the opportunity to ask Jim is he’s happy to do all the driving. We’ve both been feeling a little guilty about not taking our turn and we don’t want to Jim to feel like we’ve been taking advantage.

Pete and I would be happy to drive if asked, we’ve both driven in the US before but neither of us is rushing to grab the keys out of Jim’s hands.

Jim shrugs it off, he has no problems with it and mentions that with our alcohol consumption, he feels more comfortable taking control of his own fate. Cheeky swine!

The drive to Kingman is an easy one and we arrive at the ‘Powerhouse’ Visitors Centre around noon (AZ time). It sounded a lot more impressive on the interweb when I was doing some research for the trip and has its own Route 66 museum.

Unfortunately, the museum, from what I could see without actually going, in was less than impressive. There is a fabulous R6 museum in Clinton, Oklahoma I visited a few years back and this is what I had envisioned. No such luck. Just a few old road signs and some photographs stuck up on boards. I decide not to spend the $5. Perhaps I missed something, but I kind of doubt it.

After refreshing ourselves in the public facilities, we leave Kingman and head out to Laughlin.

Not a long drive, only about 30 odd miles, but some there are pretty spectacular elevation changes and mountain passes have been blasted through to make the roadway. Some of the distance views were pretty impressive, not least the final crest after which we could see the Colorado River with the casinos lining the western side.

We arrive at Harrah's just after noon (Nevada time) but have no problem checking in. They don’t even ask for a credit card. Not a problem, in fact, I’m comped for the three days.

We all have our own rooms. I have to give Pete some space, I snore like a freight train (as he frequently tells me) and although he can usually sleep through anything he’s mentioned it more than once on this trip.

Whatever, I’m on the 12th floor of the Central Tower overlooking the Colorado River and the view is pretty good. It’s not a Las Vegas Strip View....but it’ll do.

As usual, the first thing to do is get the technical kit set up....Laptop, phone and camera charging arrangement.

No free wifi here (or a coffee-maker, damn it)...I think we’ve had the last of that for this trip. Accessing the wifi is easy, just open a browser, type in your name and room number, agree to the c.$11 a day charge and that’s it. All charged to the room.

After cleaning up, I head downstairs to meet Pete and Jim on the casino floor. There was some panic when we checked in when they saw the signs for the ‘Non-smoking Casino’...in fact, I’m pretty sure I heard death threats being made under their breath. However, I escape serious injury when I explain that there is a separate larger carcinogenic casino floor around the corner from that secondary area.

There were some sighs of relief...followed by hacking coughs!

Pete heads off to the blackjack tables, Jim and I run some cash through the video poker machines. As it happens, I quickly turn $100 into twice that, cash out and saunter over to the Poker Room.

You thought there wouldn’t be any poker today didn’t you..come on, I know what you were thinking!?

Well the options are $1/$2 NLHE or 3/6 LHE and that’s it...just the two tables going. I sit down at the 3/6 table with the $100 buy-in.

People, let me tell you, I’ve had some dry card spells in my time but that session really took the biscuit. Of the, what, 160+ starting hands in poker I saw nothing but the bottom 25%. Absolute junk. What made it worse was this was a full kill game and for most of the time we were short handed. Effectively, a 6/12 game for the majority of the time I was there.

My buy-in dwindled over an hour or so as I’d reluctantly limp in with 89os etc. just to try and get something started only to whiff the flop and have to fold.

With my stack down to about $30, I pick up JJ in the big blind but elect not to raise as, not unexpectedly, we are 6 handed to the flop...basically the whole table at this point.

On an Ace high raggy flop, I lead out and get one caller. This guy has been pretty loose so I don’t immediately put him on the Ace...more likely to be middle pin.

My stack means that I am committed to go the whole way with this hand. The turn pairs the board giving me Jacks-up and I lead out again, he raises and I get my last $6 in. He turns over middle set for a full house and I’m done.

Around then the 7pm tournament starts and both tables break! I decide that discretion is the better part of valour and quit while I’m behind.

Pete’s propping up the blackjack table, working on his umpteenth Corona and has no interest in solids other than the lime wedge in the bottle in front of him.

Jim and I head over to the buffet for some food before running some more cash through the slot machines. As usual, Jim runs good on these whereas I just tread water.

I’m still a little down at heart about the first poker attempt here in Laughlin so I decide to miss taking another shot. Not that it matters...the tournament is still going and there are no cash tables up.

That’s it...stick a fork in me...I'm done.

Great Report. Looking forward to the updates.

Day 6: Laughlin
Wednesday, November 11th

OK, Wednesday and it’s time to take in the sights. I grab the breakfast buffet and while I’m eating I text Jim to arrange something. Turns out he’s eating in Harrah’s cafe around the corner and when I finish grazing, I wander over.

Haven’t heard from Pete but I text him...no reply. I guess he’s sleeping one off.

Jim and I wander down to the rear of Harrah’s which is on the river. It seems there is a river taxi which plies up and down between the various casinos on the Nevada side. Only $4 for a single journey or $16 for an all-day pass. Think of it as the floating Deuce.

We board after getting our day-pass wristbands and ride all the way down to Don Laughlin’s Riverside Casino. It’s a new way of...ahem...cruising the Strip. Alighting at the Riverside we make our way inside for a mooch around. We find the poker room...not bad, about the same size as Harrah’s effort but a darn sight busier. It seems they have a very active promotional/marketing campaign including Red Aces cracked for $500 at certain times of the day, Daily freerolls with easy qualifying etc.

Jim and I make the appropriate mental notes before wandering back through the casino. As we do, we spot a sign offering the scooter trikes for rent. Jim and I are sorely tempted to start the Laughlin Grand Prix there and then but before we can succumb common sense reels us back in.

We continue on our way through the various casinos by using the river-walk which is rather well named as you can walk by the...erm...river.

We visit the Aquarius, Regency, the Edgewater and the Colorado Belle...the latter is styled as an old paddle steamer. As we’re approaching the entrance, Jim’s focus starts to wander. He spotted the koi swimming in the pool in which the Belle purportedly floats. I can see a faraway look in his eye..he’s not thinking about the video poker slots any more..he’s wondering where he can find rod and reel.
I drag him away before the angler in him makes him do something that might get him 86’d and we make our way inside. My first port of call is, as you might expect..the poker room.

Hey! Hands up all those who said it would be the bar...I’m taking names you know!

OK...well it almost was the bar...seems they have a micro-brewery on site...I file that little tidbit away for future reference.

However, by now my feet are killing me and they’ve rounded up additional support in the shape of my knees. They’re screaming like Babe at Hog-Butchering Time.

I’ve had enough and although I suspect he’d prefer to continue on, we make our way back to the river taxi landing and catch the boat back to Harrah’s. I need a lie down. I’m middle aged, overweight and on vacation...I’ll take an afternoon nap if I want one...so there.

I rest up for a while just pottering around in the room before lying down and wake up a couple of hours later feeling a little light headed. I force myself, perhaps stupidly, to get up, get cleaned up and I’m thinking of playing the 7pm tournament downstairs. Thank the Stars, just as I’m putting the finishing touches to my ensemble, I get a text suggesting we eat.

What a bloody good idea. I make my way downstairs and meet Jim and we partake of the buffet. I’m still not feeling right although the food helps but afterwards, I just wander around the casino floor for an hour or so, dropping the odd dollar or fifty in a slot machine before calling it a night.

I know, I know, you’re wondering if there is EVER going to be some poker in this story. Rest assured, I’ve already set Thursday aside for a full blown poker montage.

As it stands, I’m down $50 on poker (if my sums are right) and, I think, just about even on slot play. If I’m slightly down there I’m sure the comp points will more than make up for it.

I am thoroughly enjoying your TR. Entertainining and informative.
cheers
aces

Paulie, glad to see your trip is going well.

Lake Havasu - I have thought of this before as a road trip on one of my Vegas journeys. What's your opinion on the place? Worth the effort to go there?

Now get some poker played!

Sorry for the delay in updates, wi-fi has been awful in Primm and, as you'll read, I've been ill.

Anyway, off we go.

Day 7: Laughlin
Thursday, November 12th

OK....as promised today will be a poker day. Not that I’m going to stop me from having my usual vacation lie-in. Jim tends to get up really early and go walkabout (or driveabout) and see some of the sights but I prefer my rest.

Pete...sleeps.

However, I meet Jim at 10am in Harrah’s Cafe and we have breakfast before driving over to the Riverside Casino. I’m there to play poker as it looked like the most likely spot to find a variety of games going at this time in the morning which proves to be the case.

I get into a 2/6 spread limit game around 11.30 while Jim mentions something about going off to find out about fishing permits.

My very first hand I get Aces and in the hopes of getting them cracked (which seems to run all day) I slow play them only to river a flush and take down a $40 pot. Fair enough...a good start.

Nothing too special to report, the usual overvaluing of top pair, straight and flush chasing going on. Not once did I hear anyone say...”Nope the pot odds don’t justify the call”. All you would ever hear was...”There’s too much money in there for me to fold”. Sigh.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad if they weren’t so obvious about it. “Oh, you’ve been check-calling all the way through and NOW you lead out...Hmm, I wonder if you made your hand?”

Whatever, after 4 hours or so, I’m up a grand total of $22. It would have been more if a young lady hadn’t called all the way to the river with her gutshot draw against my flopped two pair only to get there.

After that, I wander away, a little shell shocked and find Jim. Apparently he didn’t go permit hunting but rather was running some serious money through the video poker machines...unsuccessfully this time...which is unusual for him. Guess the variance caught up this time

We drive over to the Colorado Belle for some lunch and for me to get into the Omaha Hi/Lo tournament at 7pm. Jim decides to forego food for video poker revenge. Me...I head into the ‘Boiler Room’ micro-brewery. That mental note from yesterday came in handy.

I heartily recommend this place. The beer is excellent, especially their ‘Golden Nail’ beer and the food was very tasty and served quickly.

Around 6pm, I get into a 2/4 game while waiting for the tournament to kick off and make little headway. Once again, the usual standard with some truly atrocious starting hands being played that always seem to get there.

Fortunately, 7pm rolls around in short order and I cash out only $20 down. Oh, come on, I’m break-even for the day; I’ve beaten the rake and tips at least.

I buy-in for the $30 which gets me 10k in starting chips and there is an optional $20 re-buy/add-on for another 10k after an hour. Surely this can’t be Limit Hi/Lo; we’ll be here for days. My hopes rise that this is Pot Limit...the game of champions...only to have them dashed when I’m told it’s No-Limit. I throw up a little in my mouth...if there is any game which should, under no circumstances be played as NL its Omaha Hi/Lo. This is going to be painful, sort of like sitting beside the freeway waiting for the car crashes to happen.

As expected, it’s awful, I see one guy get busted for first buy-in within the first couple of hands when he goes all in with pocket aces and no low draw. Yep, crushed both ways...He looks at the board as though someone just hit him round the head with a gold bar.

As he takes his re-buy, I predict he’s not long for this table...and I’m proved right about 10 minutes later when his wild play gets him busted. The thing was I heard him say before the tournament started “Oh, great, I love Hi/Lo”...Yeah and I bet your friends love having you play it too.

Once the hour is over, I’ve survived but not playing many hands so I take the add-on...heck, in for a penny, in for a pound. Unfortunately, shortly after I make a critical misread when I get all my chips in with a decent low draw and 2nd nut flush draw only to get called by someone with a better low draw and the nut flush draw..which gets there.

I’m down to 1000 in chips of which 500 is the SB....this is where the fund starts...I don’t have to look at my cards. I’m laughing it up as I have nothing to lose. My smile widens when I take half the pot to increase my stack to 2500. It’s balls to the wall time, I once again push blind on the button and get 3 callers...and once again take half the pot....I don’t remember the cards.

I make the mistake of looking at my cards the next hand and fold but I don’t repeat the error the next hand when I push for around 5k and river a wheel against 3 others only to make a wheel and scoop. Suddenly, I’m on 20k and back where I started.

OK, no more pushing blind for a while but soon after, I’ve chipped up to about 30k when I get moved to a new table. Shortly after, I get AAxx in mid-position and the flop comes with an Ace. An EP player bets around the pot, I stick it in and get 3 callers, the board pairs on the turn and the river doesn’t bring a low. I scoop for 120k.

Wow...less than 30 minutes ago I was down to my last chip and now I’m one of the front runners. I just maintain until we make the final table (5 paid) and a couple of short stack are surprisingly hard to knock off. Eventually, we are down to 5 and we’re all guaranteed something although 5th only pays $8 more than the $50 buy-in.

After 5th is knocked off, I propose a chop with the blinds at 20k/40k and only about 20BB on the table. Not surprisingly, the chip leader (not by a huge margin but big enough) doesn’t want to do a 4 way split. We agree to take something of the top for him and then chop what’s left 4 ways and he’s happy.

My end is $250 and I’m happy the carnage is over.

By this time, it’s after 10pm and, I can’t get the river taxi back to Harrah’s as they’ve ceased service so I walk out to the front of the hotel expecting just to jump into a taxi only there aren’t any. I guess I’m too used to Vegas where there are always cabs outside all the hotels. I consider walking back to the hotel before realising that it’s way too far. I wander over to the valet stand and enquire about a taxi and the guy there shows me the taxi call box to arrange a pick-up. The cab arrives in short order and ride back in comfort.

Enough for today.

Day 8: Laughlin to Primm
Friday, November 13th

It’s a lovely day for a drive unfortunately I seem to have picked up a nasty cough from somewhere which is a pain in the chest to say the least. Perhaps that light headedness from a couple of days ago wasn’t just dehydration or a blood sugar thing after all.

We set off around 10am but we’ll need to stop off for breakfast somewhere. The location of choice is Searchlight NV. Initially, our choices do not look encouraging as, when approaching the town, all we can see sticking out between the hill-tops is a McDonalds sign. We pull in there dreading an early McBreakfast but I remember scouting this place in Google Maps (Street View) where I found the Searchlight Nugget Casino. Yes, it’s exactly as you’re picturing it but they do a decent breakfast for a decent price although the service wasn’t exactly the most welcoming.

While waiting for our food to come, Jim wanders off and when I see him coming back with an evil grin on his face I know exactly what’s happened. He’s had a decent win on the VP machines.

Sure enough, he’s made enough to more than cover breakfast.

After a pit stop, we continue on our way towards Primm crossing some amazing desert including the northern side of the Joshua Tree National Park. We pull over to the side of the road a couple of times for photo opportunities, including the ubiquitous deserted empty highway shot.

We arrive at Buffalo Bills in Primm around noon and my cough hasn’t improved. In fact, I’m feeling pretty rough. After carting the luggage to the room we find that it hasn’t been made up yet. A call to housekeeping sorts that out in short order and while they are taking care of that we wander the floor at Buffalo Bills to scope out the lay of the land. I’m really not feeling well and decide to give nature’s remedy, a good old fashioned sleep, a chance. Alas it was not to be. I get little sleep and develop a temperature and sweats as well.

I guess there is nothing to do but dose up on over the counter medication and try and ride it out.

Pete and Jim go off to do their respective things.

Over and Out.

Day 9: Primm
Saturday, November 14th

Ugh....I get some fitful sleep but am still feeling pretty awful in the morning and most of the afternoon. Around 5 pm Pete makes me think about getting up. He says that a proper shower and getting vertical and some food inside of me will improve my disposition.

Reluctantly...Hey, if I want to wallow, let me...I agree and make it downstairs around 7pm feeling like a wrung out dishrag. Seriously, although the clean-up improved things about 5%, I still can’t breathe properly and I have zero energy. Then again, perhaps I’m wallowing.

Things are not improved by humungous lines at every food outlet at Bills. What, everyone decided to eat all at the same time?

So, we drive over to Whiskey Pete’s...me dragging along on the walk to the car, only to find that their cafe/buffet has only 3 servers and there will be a wait here too. I lightbulb begins to shine.

We give up on Whiskey Pete’s and drive over to Primm Valley Casino. They at least have restaurants open with servers so we sit down.

The buffet here was pretty damn awful with almost no selections but since I can’t taste it anyway, I just get some solids in me and rehydrate.

I’m feeling a little better by the time we’re finished and we drive back to Buffalo Bills. I can’t face going back to bed just yet and my head is clear enough to play some cards. The sacrifices I make for you guys.

2/6 spread limit is, once again, the game of choice and I get a few chips early on but drift down to around $30 after a couple of hours. Jim make decent progress (they just won’t believe he has it when he so obviously does) while I grind back to my starting stack by around midnight.

Midnight and Jim’s had enough so we both rack up and call it at a day. I’ll try and kill off what’s left of this infection overnight.

Time for a count up.

Poker +$200 (near as damn it)

Day 10: Primm to Las Vegas
Sunday, November 15th

We leave Bills around 10am to make the short drive into Las Vegas. Pete has managed to run some serious dollars across the tables and while I have a few points on my card they are nothing compared those on his. Of course, I’ve been hacking up lung for the better part of a day so I have an excuse. In fact, he has so many he gets our room comped for both nights...sweet.

Jim ignores the Interstate in favour of Las Vegas Boulevard which runs parallel to the I15 for mile after mile.

Because Las Vegas Boulevard is so long you’ll often see hotels that are quite some way out of town being describing themselves as being ‘on the Strip’. One of these is the ‘M’ Resort which, as I recall, describes itself has having Strip views.

This is where we stop for breakfast. The ‘M’ is a truly beautifully appointed hotel and casino complex. Stylish and yet understated. A lot of care and attention has been paid in its design. I loved the complimentary soft beverage service stations. Just walk up and help yourself.

A couple minutes thought makes you realise what a truly brilliant concept this is. You relieve the cocktail waitresses of the need to make runs for these allowing them to cover more tables.

The waitresses are also of exceptional quality in the looks department too...which helps.

Anyway, we head into their cafe for breakfast. For myself, I thought the service was a little slow but this might have been an aberration. The food, however, was of decent quality so not much to complain about really.

I’m still struggling with this damn cough which is exacerbated by the coughing pulling on my right side where I have a large surgical scar from a kidney operation a few years back causing some pretty aggravating pain. All in all, I’m not a happy bunny. I’m gonna have to deal with this somehow.

We finish up and head further in towards Las Vegas. However, there is some retail therapy opportunities before we finally hit town.

Our first stop is the Las Vegas Outlet Mall. Jim and Pete head on in while I just languish in the car bemoaning my health. At least Jim and Pete can avoid me bitching and moaning for a while!

Next we’re on to Fry’s which is a pretty obligatory stop for us on most visits. I finally cave and buy a 32BG Ipod Touch with a few bits of kit to go with it and leave a few hundred dollars lighter in the wallet.

From there it’s an easy run into Las Vegas. Jim seems to know all the turns to take to bring us into the Golden Nugget with no problems. We arrive mid-afternoon and check in with no problems and take a few minutes to settle into the very nice rooms.

We wander downstairs to sign up for the compulsory player’s card and a look around. Not surprisingly, Pete heads off the blackjack tables, Jim hits up the slots while I look for the poker room. I find it with no problems but decide not to bother.

I’m still not feeling right and spreading germs around the tables is not something I want to do so I play a few slots before finding Jim and we decide to get some food. As usual, Pete’s not interested in solids so Jim and I head up to the buffet.

This is the best buffet we’d had on this trip so far. I’m not saying it’s the best in Vegas but this one makes a welcome change from some of the disappointing offerings we had so far.

After food, we once again descend to the casino floor and Jim heads off for the slots again. I play the slots for a while before once again taking myself off for the long slog back to the room and nature’s healing balm of sleep.

Day 11: Las Vegas
Monday, November 16th

I rise at the crack of noon when Jim texts me for food. I meet him downstairs at the Starbucks on the street but before we head out, we wander down to Walgreens where we consult the pharmacist in duty who bar, who only hears the words “chesty cough” before pointing me in the direction of something called ‘Mucinex DM’. The pills are a little huge but since you apparently only need one every twelve hours I’ll manage.

Jim suggests we breakfast at Jerry’s Nugget, a local casino which he’s praised since he discovered it on his last visit.

We make the short drive over in a few minutes and, to be honest, I wasn’t expecting much but one should always take Jim’s advice when it comes to food. A nice restaurant cum diner with cheap decent tucker served a smile. Both Jim and I opt for the steak breakfast...it’s practically my default selection.

Afterwards, we drive back to the Golden Nugget so I can play some poker and Jim can feed his growing addiction to Video Poker. If the luckbox didn’t make a consistent profit I’d be worried.

I settle in to 2/4 limit with my usual $100 buy-in and very quickly make $184 by flopping quad queens and winning one of their running high hand promotions. I have a nice cushion now and can just sit back and wait for the cards to come and then reap the profits.

As you might expect, this plan soon falls apart once a complete maniac arrives at the table, gibbering away in some non-European language despite several requests to obey the English only rule. It doesn’t help that he’s constantly getting up from the table to play craps while not in a hand.

Oh...and the fact that he will 4-bet with any two cards. He nails me by 4 betting 68o with me calling with pocket sevens only for me to flop middle set and him...to flop the straight. Fortunately, he was so aggressive...he’d blind bet turns and rivers, I was able to limit the losses by just calling.

Finally, just as I’d had enough of this bullshit he hits a Royal Flush (only c$200) and spends so long away from the table afterwards that I decide to take my win (which is now solely based on the high hand) and call it a day.

I leave $140 in profit so I’d only dropped $40 from my buy-in but, hey, it all counts.

It’s time for food and I’d arranged with Jim and Pete that we’d walk over to Main Street Station for dinner in the 777 Brewpub. We wander over, me huffing and puffing as usual, but it’s not that far and they don’t have to break out the oxygen tank.

The place was nice enough and the food was well up to par but, unfortunately, we’d come on a Monday night in Football season so, of course, there was a game on and the volume was cranked all the way to 11; makes it kind of tough to hold a conversation.

After dinner we wandered back to Fremont Street in time for the Fremont Street Experience light show. I’d never seen it before and it’s quite impressive. Somehow, I lose Pete and Jim in the crowd and so I make my way back to the Nugget. Neither puts in an immediate appearance after and the night air has loosened some of the crap in my chest so I decide to hit the hay.

Sometimes, you just have to realise that you ARE middle aged and unfit and deal with it. This is one of those times.

Count up time: Poker +$340

Day 12: Las Vegas
Tuesday, November 17th

Still breathing...just!

I rise at my now customary time of noon. OK, I mis-spoke, I head out around noon after spending a couple of hours dossing around in the room make the most of the opportunity to lie in. The tablets seem to be working, I’m certainly coughing less than before and I’m getting some extended periods of sleep rather than the couple of hours at a time before popping a lung that was the previous case.

Whatever, I’ll try not to mention this cough anymore, it’s probably annoying you as much as it is me. I grab a frappacino from Starbucks and people watch on Fremont Street for a while. There is an international firefighters convention type thingy going on at the moment and they’re holding some sort of assault course competition right on the street. It’s pretty cool to watch.

Feeling the need for food...and beer, I stroll down to Hennessey’s which is on LV Boulevard which divides the Fremont Street you all probably know from the East Fremont district. The E. Fremont area is trying to clean up its image along with the rest of downtown. I must try and get down there tomorrow.

“Why tomorrow?” I hear you ask...well it’s weird, I’d eaten my food, had just a couple (really) of Stellas when I found myself practically falling asleep at the bar. Can’t blame this one on the time-zone change and I thought I was good for the day...Guess not.

So, I trudge back to the GN and crash out for a few hours.

Later that evening, feeling much better, I eschew the offer of the buffet from Pete in favour of poker. I ensconce myself in Seat 6 at the 2/4 table where I can see the board without straining my eyes...sheesh, it’s dark in the GN’s poker room, it doesn’t make it easy to peek at your hole cards.

Fortunately, they play is just as bad as you might expect and in little more than 2 hours, I’ve doubled my buy-in and I’m very comfortable. The Duke of Fremont Street puts in an appearance at the $1/$2 No Limit game. I have no idea if he bought for his usual $10k but perhaps can tell you. He was in that game.

The Duke didn’t stay long that I can tell, he’s certainly distinctive wearing a cowboy hat and poncho a la Eastwood.

Anyway, I’m doing alright before some muppet takes a piece out of me with his 4 kicker to his King against my AKs which I’d bet, raised and re-raised on every street on a King high board.

Only $60 up so around midnight, I end my Tuesday, except to write up this for youse lot.

Oh, and someone hit a Royal on my table tonight too...that's two in two days.

Last full day tomorrow.

Poker: +$400