Candids and Comments

As my day becomes a 8 car pile up - meaning I'm getting nothing done at all - why not procrastinate another hour or so and post some pictures from the trip that didn't quite make the cut the first time?  the trip seems so long ago!  Mollie is settling in just fine.  The Nun is busy doing all kinds of nun Stuff.  And Scampi's business is beyond busy - which is great - keeps my mind off of all kinds of things.  But whenever I get busy - Really Busy- I tend to procrastinate and spin resulting in very little ending up completed.  Half of the Laundry - 3 dishes in the dishwasher - eBay pictures taken but not uploaded.  Descriptions curtailed after I can't think of the perfect - uh - adjective.

Thank Goodness for trip pics.  Check out the Nun standing next to the Popeyes sign - she's in total sodium bliss!    If i get really busy at work I might even waste enough time to figure out the flipping flip camera!

Trip Stats

The Big Goodbye

Best Hotel - Hampton Inn in Pigeon Forge, TN - Also - Worst Shower
Most Dentally challenged Town - Pigeon Forge, TN
Favorite Place - Moab, UT
Biggest Let Down - Santa Fe
Sodium Consumed - 3,097,496,224 mg
Number of Physical Steps taken - 300 ( except for Arches National Park - race to the Porta Potties and the distance between the Wheel of Fortune Slot Machines at Harvey's Casino).
Number of Water Bottles in Scooter on arrival in Orinda, CA - 48
Amount of Fresh Fruit consumed - 2 Bananas and one Apple
Cheapest Motel - Big Texan Motel - Amarillo TX - $20.00 a piece
Best Ribs - The Rendezvous, Memphis TX
Scariest ride - Top of Lake Tahoe
Weirdest Thing - All the Salt in Salt Lake
Most nurturing - The Nun
The Most Entertaining - Scampi
The Reason We Did This - Mollie
Worst Hotel Clerk - Patryshara at The Best Western in Winnemucca, NV
Best Shower - Big Texan Motel, Amarillo, TX - also Winner of Scariest Sheets

Reservoir in Lafayette, CA where we finally walked after logging only 300 steps after 9 days in the car.  

We had the BEST time - More videos to come of course as it's hard to say goodbye and to realize that a trip we all loved and planned for is over.  The Nun and Scampi had to leave Mollie in CA where it is so sunny it is almost ridiculous and so beautiful we didn't want to leave.  But The Nun wanted to get back to Hank and her pup and Scampi her daughter and dogs.  I will miss sleeping with the Nun though - but I know she will be happier sleeping with Hank!  Stay tuned for our BEST OF Videos and pics.  And then it will really be a wrap.  Think of the last post as the Best of Bloopers Reel.

The Wide Load Bush Cows go to The Ghetto

Finally the long awaited and much anticipated movie version of our trip!  Thanks to John Christian for helping us wrestle with the Flip Camera which Scampi will be returning as soon as we get back to NJ tomorrow.  The first video is from our first day and the second from our visit to Memphis.  It was quickly realized that Scampi only could seem to video the Dashboard.  A vote was quickly taken and in addition to not being allowed to drive I could no longer take videos.

A side note here is that we looked up our blog info and discovered that we had 1597 visitors to our blog on Day 5!  Not too shabby for Mollie, Scampi and The Nun!

home stretch...

Harvey's Casino!

For all of you fans out there, nope we did not crash "Scooter" our ever trusty Volvo we are still here...  Scampi and the Nun hit gambling ville... and frankly I was informed that there would be no internet available at the Harvey's Casino (I am thinking that the lure of the slot machines was ever so powerful that there was no time for blogging.  Well in the meantime we have arrived safely in Orinda, California with a ride that none of us soon will forget.  I think Scampi should have been tied down to the roof in a box, at least she would have been unaware of the scary ride along Lake Tahoe... The Nun thought it was great and wanted to stop at every opportunity to take pictures only to have Scampi have "mild" panic attacks.----

Ok Scamps here - Jesus you think they would put guard rails along the sheer cliffs along the Highest points overlooking the lake!  Especially with the Nun and I being just slightly under the weather with all those free drinks they give you while you're gambling.  But we are getting ahead of ourselves.  Scampi woke with a quick step and so excited, she was going to be going back to a time and place that gave fabulous memories.... and so we came  around the bend on rt. 50 and there it was LAKE TAHOE!!! She started looking for her old boyfriend.

Second Floor Top Left - Can't believe it is still standing!

The Nun and Mollie could not help and be excited.  The casino came in sight and Scampi was over the moon seeing Harvey's in lights!  Then she was crushed to think that her love nest next door had been reduced to rubble.  Thank goodness Mollie is directional challenged because inadvertanly we ran into the love nest.  Scampi ran out of the car for a photo opportunity~!   From a furnished apartment that was then barely acceptable, you can now rent it by the hour!!!

Mollie and The Nun - Safely arrived at Lake Tahoe

So, it was like this, the Scamp and I went to wander through the casino, seeking employees that had been there longer than 30 years that might remember Scampi, aka Susan Boynton.  Mollie went for a walk earlier with us down main street and of course Scampi couldn't find anyone that remembered her on the street.  We were on our own for an hour or so while Mollie rested up for an exciting evening.  First stop was registration - we needed "casino cards" to earn points, etc.  Scampi was on record already so she got her updated card and after filling out the appropriate paperwork, I was issued mine, given my free gift and a book of coupons (always looking for something more!).  We got right to work acclimating ourselves and looking for the Wheel of Fortune slots.  Scampi didn't think we should start on the dollar slots, we should look for the quarter slots.  We started off helping the casino with their bottom line so we headed up to check on Mollie who was looking for us because she had forgotten the room number and was having no luck getting into our neighbor's room.  By the time we got up there, Mollie was happily watching TV.  After discussion, we decided that Scampi and The Nun would further explore their gambling acuity while Mollie napped.  We decided that Harvey's might not be so lucky (they had been bombed right after Scampi left) and took the tunnel to Harrah's.  First up were the slots and we found the quarter slots and got to work.  Scampi had her "casino card" attached to her belt loop by a long stretchy cord.  While she played it was attached to the slot machine and her belt at the same time (she wouldn't want to misplace it!).  Things were going along smoothly, each in our own vortex, when I hit the Free Spin and got 1000.  The Scamp was seated two or three seats away from me and I was very excited to let her know without wanting to call too much attention to myself for the win.  Well, no such thing for the Scamp - she couldn't get out of her chair fast enough.  "How much, how much", she started to shout. People started to gather around my chair as Scampi shouted that I should, "CASH OUT, CASH OUT" but she couldn't come any closer as she was still attached to her machine with her Casino Card and kept getting yanked back to her chair.  All the while, she was attempting to get her camera out of her bag to document the win  up while Scampi and I tried a little more and cashed in where we could. in. 

White Knuckle Photo Op

OK - Scampi here again - My main goal was to try and find someone I had worked with 30 years before.  Lots of over 30 year employees still left - but except for Rose the Transgender Dealer who freaked me out then and even more so now - I remembered no one and more importantly no one remembered me!  I did meet a pit supervisor who dated my old friend Rita - but he had no idea who I was.  Oh well - the good news is that I wasn't escorted off the property!  We had a great boozy dinner and turned in.  Our last night on the road...  Tomorrow we reveal our last days adventures!

The Finish Line!

We Made It!!!

After exiting the Mountains and Scampi's full fledged panic attack looking down at the Lake, once again the landscape changed.  Regular highways and byways, rude drivers and lots of signs.  Not so Welcome but at the same time so familiar even though we're on different coasts.  We headed towards Sonoma - home to small wineries - and Scampi's Westover friend Darcy.  What a treat to see her!  She's one of those buddies that you feel like you saw last week instead of 5 years ago!  She even pilfered through her husband's wine label and we came up winners with 3 coveted bottles that we will enjoy on Saturday.We all had an amazing lunch in Sonoma and then wandered around the square.  It was time...

Scampi and Darcy

An hour later we landed in Orinda - Mollie's new home.  Amazing mountain views - an incredible meal cooked by her kids John Christian and Thea.  Scampi was reunited with her beloved vodka and all was right with the world.  After dinner we headed out in John's new Audi to check out the views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge at night.  The poor Nun has to endure a couple of more nights of sleeping with Scampi - but I think I might miss her!

San Francisco right after Sunset

Don't worry - we're not done yet!  Just because we landed intact and still speaking in CA doesn't mean our adventures have ended.  Look forward to Mollie - Scampi and the Nun - The Movie and  candid interviews with all of us.  What did we Love?  What was a let down?  Who was in charge of who and what on the trip?  Who would we travel again with?  A little sun on the deck and some wine this afternoon we will recharge and recap.

Morning in Winnemucca

morning fromWinnamucca -- I am NOT a gambler and I have been proven right.... Yes, Scampi did get that "old" feeling yesterday.  Betting on how many miles toWinnamucca, etc.  The last signs tells us that it's 54 miles away....how long will it be before we hit town (4:50pm) ... Mollie shouts out 5:35pm, the Nun 5:25pm.... Scampi 5:20pm. Scampi is driving!!!  I wish I had Depends on and not because I was laughing.

Well - we all lost!  Except the nun and  at the Slots.  She has Scampi to thank as she had a big win and was going to keep going.  The smart gambling Scamps hit Cash out before she could pull the lever.   We are going to try and find post cards before we head to Lake Tahoe.  what an amazing morning - the light coming over the nuclear power plant reminds us why we love the good old USA.  I hear the bikers wheezing - it must be time for breakfast.

Winnemucca, NV - need we say more?

Well tonight it's Mollie who is snoozing - we had a 9 or so hour day in the car.  but what a day it was!  Driving out of Moab was breathtaking.  Every turn, every twist was a new sight to see!  We climbed to 7800 Ft and I have to say we were all a bit light headed.  Thank God Scampi was not at the wheel!  When we got to Salt Lake City Scampi was on the lookout for Big Love Sightings.  Every time we saw a Big House - I was sure they were there.  Mollie did a great job of navigating the mountain ranges with impossibly beautiful foliage and the big storm we hit through Salt Lake City.  Lightning that hit the ground in front of us, rain that was impossible to see through.  Then came the Lake - the Great Salt Lake!  Salt just laying on top of it - you could scoop it out with shovels it was so thick.  The salt flats were blindingly white.  We watched the salt being harvested.  Truly something to remember!   The Nun drove through it all.  Totally straight and so boring it could put you in a coma!  Everyone was happy to give Scampi the Wheel - I brought us into Winnemucca. The 75 mph speed limit did  wake us all up.  I could smell the gambling ahead and started to wager with the nun and Mollie.  How long til we hit Winnemucca?  A quick note to all  future travel partners.  Don't take this bet with Scampi at the the Wheel.  A one street town lined with tired Casinos and Motels.

Our Lucky warm up Casino

A side note to Margot at AAA.  The Biker convention promised to us consisted of a few old geezers actually trucking their bikes to the edge of town to putter in with their oxygen tanks attached to the back seat.  No worries as we hit the Winnemucca Inn and Casino though.  The Scamps had put on her lucky purple pants and the nun and I had convinced Mollie that a chicken fried steak was just what we all needed to get ready for Tahoe tomorrow.  After our order the Nun had disappeared....  we waited and waited.  Well she had hit the slots and after that there was no stopping her.  Big disappointment in that the Chicken fried steak was 86'd, but our last clear artery thanked us.

The Great Salt Lake Salt Flats

Mollie called it a day while The Nun and I hit the slots.  We were warming up for our big pay day tomorrow. I felt like I was among my peeps and wondered what my life would have been like if i had stayed in Lake Tahoe and not been fired from Harvey's casino.  Then I saw Sally in the Cashier cage and realized that she was probably my age and thanked whatever brought me back to NJ.  The Nun and I are both up 100.00 each so far.  Tomorrow it's Harvey's and hope that my Lucky 17 will come up on my third Roulette Spin!