Our second Christmas road trip began with the long drive from from the Bay Area all the way to Elko, Nevada. For those of you who followed our travels last year, you may recognize that we spent a night in Elko last year too. Do we love Elko or what?!
As you might guess, there isn't a lot to report from this stop. Like last year, we spent a few obligatory quarters on the slots. (We left down about $7.) Also like last year, we stayed in a hotel with a name that can only be found in a place like Elko. Last year, we stayed at the Gold Country Inn & Casino. This year, it was the Thunderbird Motor Inn. Gonna have to say, given the choice, we liked the Thunderbird a little more.
Because we arrived a little after 9, and because Elko is not the most happening place, even on a Saturday night, we struggled to find a place to grab a bite. We finally settled for separate trips through the drive-thrus at neighboring fast food joints. Salina enjoyed a 10 piece McNuggets, while Greg scarfed down a couple Whoppers. Good health and fine food be damned.
The highlight of our brief visit occurred the next morning at breakfast. Letting the $5 vouchers we received from the Thunderbird make our dining choice for us, we went to JR's Restaurant. It was part of the Gold Country Inn & Casino, so we were able to kill two birds with one stone by satisfying our hunger and gambling fix. But, that was not the highlight. Oh no.
As we waited to be seated... wait for it... we saw Santa. Seriously. We were just standing there when Kris Kringle himself walked right up to us on his way out of the restaurant. It was as if he had just finished a little breakfast before heading back out to his sleigh. A bit shocked and confused, Greg was able to muster a, "Hi, Santa." Clearly disturbed by someone older than 9 calling him Santa, the now-obvious impostor walked by without so much as a smile or a "Merry Christmas". Rude.
While Santa was not as jolly as we had pictured, it was a funny way to end our time in Elko before heading back on the road en route to Salt Lake City. I know. I know. Elko, Salt Lake City, we're really hitting all the hot spots, but there will be plenty of excitement in the days ahead. Until then...
PS - This entry marks the first official blog post by the less internet-ty, less writer-y, and altogether less blog-gy member of our traveling duo - G.
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