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Published: February 10th 2008
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Posted by: Onaxthiel- Carson City, Nevada is much smaller than the city just up the highway from it, Reno, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have it's fair share of gambling. As the state capital, it wouldn't be able to retain the respect of any of the larger NV localities if they didn't have at least a few slot machines. To make sure that everyone knows they are there, the state has conveniently located all the bars and casinos on the main drag, within a block of the statehouse, and right across from the old governors mansion. Looking for the statehouse, we were privileged to see a few of these establishments: The Nugget casino, with the loosest lots in town! Dopplegangers, featuring Hollywood knockout oil wrestling! Hot! Hot! Hot!
We figured that the Nugget would be a good place to try our luck before we left, but the oil wrestling was going to occur later in the day, and we couldn't wait until noon to get on the road, so we knew we would have to skip it. But first, we tried to find some city sponsored slot machines. Parking Meters! Guaranteed winners of 15 minutes without a ticket with
every quarter! With no legal parking within a few blocks of the capital building, we eventually settled on the parking lot of the area school district headquarters. They were the only place that didn't have employee parking only signs up. I'm not sure anyone would have enforced, as it was a Saturday, and most things were shut down, but why take chances in Nevada? The original Statehouse is now the executive branches' offices, and the old legislative and senate chambers have been converted into a press conference room and a museum. Lastly, there are the original chambers of the State Supreme Court. Though I'm not sure it should be pluralized as it's really only one chamber, with no adjoining offices. The justices had three chairs on the bench, and the two councils shared one table below, creating a rather cramped area for the states highest court. After a few minutes in this claustrophobic building, we knew exactly why the other branches had headed off to new digs on other parts of the block. If they had been open, we might have spent more time to inspect them. As it was, we went down the street to The Nugget to try
our luck on the quarter slots. This time it was I who went broke, and Obfuscator that managed to double his money so we could break even. It was well past time to leave when we got on the road, and we didn't really stop again until northern California. Heading through Reno we drove through the gauntlet of the Guard of Honor, locked along the side of the road, flanked by police, and honoring a local casualty of war. We didn't have time to get pictures of this display on the way through, and I wish we had turned around, but alas we did not.
The next oddity of driving was arriving at the California border guard station. All people entering the state are subject to a brief questioning to verify that they aren't carrying fruits or vegetables. One of the odder things I have had happen to me while crossing into a new state.
We drove on, to a state park located up in the mountains called McArthur-Burney Falls. Named for a drifter killed in the Indian wars and a prominent local family, this spectacular falls pumps over 100,000,000 gallons of water over it's edge and through
cracks in the rocks that flank the precipice. Since we had spent so many hours driving and it was a lovely place, we took the scenic walk around the falls and river for awhile. I'm glad it was below freezing, since otherwise I think we would have been in some very deep mud, but the walk was well worthwhile, about the only stop of the day that was true for.
We drove on into the state of Oregon, and deep into it on I-5, until we finally gave up in the dark and rain that was beginning. A Hawaiian BBQ joint provided our evening meal, and we checked into a roach motel called the Travel Inn in Roseburg for the night. Unlike many of the places we have been, I don't think I can recommend this one. While the cheapest place in the route we were driving, (and that is usually our single biggest criteria.) the quality of the room, internet connection, and the fact that one of our drawers had had food stored in it long enough to have turned into a mold sculpture all made me a bit unhappy with the place. Obfuscator and Onaxthiel: checking out
cheap motels so that you don't have to!
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Kit Carson
I'm surprised I didn't see you riding the horse along with Kit. Nevada laws must be more stringent than Boston's.