Visitreno

[CaSwede]

I have been gone off this board for awhile, but for good reason. In May I found that I needed major surgery. I spent 8 days in the hospital and I have a long recovery. I am feeling better.

The strange thing about this surgery is that I felt fine, but I was not. I am one of those people that never seem to get sick. I worked 25 years without taking a sick day off of work. I finally got my first prescription in my life.

Anyway, as I was feeling better, my wife suggested a quick trip to Reno might help my recovery. How could I say no?

Short report to follow.

[stan_allen]

That's great news!

And it's good that your surgery went well, and that you're just about back in perfect shape; that is indeed good news.

But a trip to Reno - wow!

[Shooty]

Speedy recovery, CaSwede, and good luck in Reno.

[spdmrcht]

I'll be on my way to Reno via Tahoe, on fri for some free play at
harrahs, and A Keno tour. maybe see ya there. I turned the big
70 yesterday so ready for some Great R & R.

[BC Dave]

Glad to hear you're coming along fine CaSwede. Good luck to both you and spdmrcht!

[CaSwede]

Thanks for the kind words - Stan, Shooty and Dave. Spdmrcht- my trip is over, but have a great trip and Happy Birthday to you!

Sorry for the delay in getting out the rest of the report out, but I had to write this between naps. This trip was a two night deal. One night at Atlantis and one night at the Peppermill. I had free rooms at both places with some free play at Atlantis and $50 in resort credits at the Peppermill.

As usually happens, we got off to a slow start of the drive. We stopped at McD's along the way to have lunch. I seldom eat fast food. As you walk in there is a huge lighted board with more choices than I can take in. Quickly 3 people lined up behind me and the gal said-"Can I take your order?" Pressure. I ordered two medium size quarter pounder meals. The total came to over $14. I thought fast food was supposed to be super cheap? I sure tasted good.

We arrived at Atlantis to a good size check in line about 4 PM. The guy said the requested room was not available yet and I could come back or take another choice. I did not want to get in line again, so we took what they had available. The room was very nice and looked out over the pool. Great views!

The gambling was a bust. I even had to make the walk of shame to the ATM. Enough said.

We had dinner at the Oyster Bar over S. Virginia St. It was great as we watched the sunset as cars passed under us. After the big lunch, I just ordered some Sushi and my wife had clam chowder in the sour dough bowl. The total bill came to $13 and some change. It was less than McD's lunch.

The next morning we headed over to the Peppermill. The gambling was not too good once again, but I did hit a straight flush playing 3 card poker. We had lunch at Oceana where I had fish tacos (yum) and my wife just had a salad. Once again the bill was $13 and some change. Quite a cheap lunch. For dinner we did spend a lot more at Romanza and had a very nice dinner.

That is about the story. I was done in the evening by about 10:30PM, where normally I stay up late into the night. My energy level is still not back yet. It was sure nice to get away and enjoy a little Reno therapy.

Oh- on the drive home on I-80 a taxi passed us near Auburn. It said San Francisco taxi. That had to be an expensive taxi drive!

[spdmrcht]

I have the clam chowder bowl at the oyster bar every chance I get, or
the chowder at the Oceano. Good stuff! Need some thing like that,
down town! All tho the chowder at the Neva is good and plenty of it,
ordered a bowl one night and it came in a family size serving bowl.

[BC Dave]

That's a great little report from the biggest little city. Too bad the gambling was "a bust" but sounds like you enjoyed the culinary delights that Reno supplies so well.

I have visited the McDonald's in downtown Reno a couple of times. A few years ago they had a special "2 Big Macs for $2". That seems like a more appropriate price for fast food.

[stan_allen]

Nice job! Except for the walk of shame, but hey, given what you're emerging from, you're allowed some serious indulgence.

Where was this McD's along the way? It's true that out in ordinary country, prices are not what they were; you have to go to the "Dollar Menu" if you really want quick fuel that's cheap. Those meal-deals can add up quickly, and given the Reno-like display of dazzling neon choices, you really have to stand off to one side and make a careful evaluation of your options before committing to the line.

Oceano, Oyster Bar, all the goodies - you did the right thing!

Here's to an even-speedier recovery...

[Mammothgambler]

Hi CaSwede, thanks for the detailed TR, and definitely hope you're feeling better! I'm in the same boat, spent 2 1/2 decades dodging sharks and riding big mountains and what not, never even contemplating calling in sick. Then, I move to Reno and it's root canals, more molar extractions, salmonella poisoning, and God knows what else!? Speedy recovery to you for sure.

Yes, it seems like McD's and the other fast food industry leaders these days are just fast, not cheap. A recent study indicated that where they get you the most is with the numbered combo meals and the bulk of the cost is the soft drink. Soft drinks in restaurants are BAD. Even in the casinos, anyone notice how the meal might be comped, but the drink is always $2.50? My motto: drink only water in restaurants, and save the funds for 2 liters at the supermarkets! Or at least just stick with the Dollar menus.

BCDave-it's unfortunate, but the McDonald's downtown doesn't even have most of the mainstream specials anymore, and the Dollar Menu items are more like $1.50! I guess they finally jumped on the bandwagon with all the downtown stores, even Walgreens..."Hey, it's all about location, we can get away with it!"

Sorry there were no wins, but at least you got a good Reno experience in. Speedy recovery, stay well!

Mammothgambler

[BC Dave]

My wife, my mother and I all had breakfast at the Cal Neva's Top Deck restaurant one morning (late 90's,I think). My Mom and I had the 99 cent breakfast special and coffees and my wife just had coffee. The bill comes later and it's just $2.00. I told the waiter he didn't charge us for the coffees. He says nonchalantly,"Oh, I don't usually bother charging for that." We left him a good tip.

[CaSwede]

Stan- to answer your question of the McD's location it was right along Hwy 99 in Lodi I believe or perhaps Galt. I was looking for the dollar menu deal, but I was holding up the line and ordered the meal deal. I think like Mammoth mentions, they make those meal deals big on the boards and hope you will order one of those as it must be the high profit items. I have not had any fast food burgers in about 4 months and it really tasted good. It was worth the money.

[stan_allen]

Nothing wrong with indulging a bit of Ray Kroc's vision, even if they've managed to make the "meals" not much of a "deal."

Mrs. Allen and I recently tried out the new kid on the block in this area, "Chick-Fil-A", and that meal deal was FAR from dirt cheap - but holy cow (or, holy chicken, I guess), it was delectable.

Keep on treating yourself - that's the best way to a speedy recovery!