01-23-11

01-23-11
I left the Wendover Pilot Truckstop, tired and cold but a little richer for the experience. It was cold and noisy, but the kindness of Coby & later Michael (not Michelle - she went by Michael) who let me park outside overnight in the employee parking area was greatly appreciated. I had not found a suitable camping spot and the motels were too expensine to stay at. I covered Mischa in her blanket and covered that with my fleece jacket. I wrapped myself in my comforter and tried to sleep. it got dark around 5:50 pm and it was going to be a long cold night. (Actually it was 6:20 pm as I was in Mountain time there - my cell phone automatically adjusted, but I didn't switch until the next day.)
I would go into the truckstop from time to time to use the facilities or to by something from the Arby's for Mischa & I to share (a hot ham & cheese sandwich). Around 2 am, I wend in to get a soda and stretch my feet and I gave in to the temptation to play some of the gambling machines. Now, I'm not much of a gambler by nature (all indications of this trip to the contrary) but I'd found a penny on the ground next to my car tire that morning before leaving Winnemucca and had to test out Old Ben's adage of "see a penny, pick it up...")
I put in a dollar and played penny slots and quickly was down to 10c! I cashed out and asked the woman who was working the area to give me some guidance as to something I could play that I could understand what I was doing while I played it. I originally mentioned blackjack but the rewards would mount up to slowly. I wanted something that could give me a nice jackpot in a relatively short time. (Mischa travels extremely well, but I don't like to leave her along for more than a half hour at the most.)
I was guided to "Monopoly" and began but adding a dollar to my ten cent ticket.
I cashed out about twenty minutes later $56. richer. Old Ben was right!
The next day, about 8 am we drove toward SLC hoping for camping sites in that vicinity.
No chance - the open freeway areas were so white it reminded me of being back on Hoth looking for Tauntaun crossings!
(to be continuted)