01-22-11 Winnemucca - Elko - Wendover

01-22-11
Winnemucca - Elko - Wendover
238 miles
I packed up from the motel and went to the Public Library, leaving Mischa in the warm room while I used the internet, reading email and posting to FB and my Cohalen’s journey page. Got back to the hotel just before the 11am check out time and had the manager check the room to verify Mischa hadn’t acted like a rock star and tore p the room or left a mess. She didn’t. She was a perfect model of decorum. As I loaded Mischa in the car I noticed 3 pennies by the back driver’s side tire. Not one to scoff at Ben Franklin’s adage, I picked them up. At the very least I was 3c richer than the moment before regardless of any future luck that might shine on me that day. But I could use all I could get
With Mischa in the car I retuned for some more internet time at the Library which they were happy to give me. Mischa was nestled in the car with the day warming sufficiently for me not to worry about her being cold.
We left Winnemucca around 1pm and I’m planning for Elko. But weather and elevation and lack of affordable campsites was troubling. I almost stayed at Well, Utah but continued on to Wendover (West Wendover as it would turn out) as it was just miles away and I’d been told by a trucker about a place called “The Knolls” just over the border that had camping.
When I got to Wendover I asked about this “Knolls” place. No one had heard of it or, if they had , how close it was or if there actually was camping. I was low on funds and still had a day to spend in Nevada so I asked if I could sleep in my car in the parking lot. Coby, the attendant on duty asked his manager via his headset and got an OK to park in the employee parking lot. And at the shift change at 11pm, Coby notified About 9pm I notice my watch and phone have different times. I’d just been subjected to my first of what would be many time changes through this journey. I’ve decided to keep my car clock on California Standard time to see if It in in sync when I return to California in December. (If all thinks go to plan.)
I can’t seem to get much sleep being hyper vigilant as this sort of situation puts me into. I go into the truck stop at different time thru the night leaving my warm comforter in the drivers seat and Mischa bundled and sleeping comfortably. I go in for Hot Cocoa. I go in for a bathroom break. I go in for warmth and to stretch my legs, I go in because I can’t sleep. I decide To test me Franklin’s hypothesis and take a try at the slots and other sorts of games. I put a two dollar limit on my gambling and when I got down to .10c I asked the cashier/matron for some advice as I didn’t really even under stand what was going on with the games. She gave me several options and showed me hope to play a few different ones. I settled on a game based on the board game Monopoly. I would wind and lose money but gradually seemed to be doing ok. At one point I got into a bonus round and seemed to do really well. The matron came over to check in and see how I was doing just at that point.
“How much is that? Is that a lot”?
“It’s about $54 dollars”.
“Can I cash out?”
“Sure just push that button and my replacement will cash you out…my shift is over”
And I did. I though about those 3 pennies.
I tried again about an hour later - it was about 1:30am by then. I lost $7.00 quickly and stopped.
I won’t push luck too far.