Day 24 - Hiking near the Infamous Mustang Ranch & Big Money

Hello Dear Friends & Family!

You know that "smell" the air gets when a snowfall is imminent?  Well, during the latter part of this cold week, the crisp, chilly air in Reno has had THAT smell!

Weather Report - Brrrrrrrr

Surprised myself to be writing about the weather, I cannot help but share the extremes that this autumn desert offered us travelers this past week.  Daily highs have been between 6 and 11 degrees, and lows have been between MINUS 1 and MINUS 6.  BRRRRRRR!  Last night was a minus 6 night, our water froze and we ran out of propane (so, no heat for the morning).  Time to start using the water tank heater installed on our "winter package" RV and get propane. 

Thursday was cold, sunny and WINDY!

Is it possible to photograph wind??  I like to consider this tree "our tree" since it sits at the head of our RV pad - and it was blowing violently in the wind, littering its dwindling number of 2011 precious leaves all over the park.  Our trailer rocked uncomfortably throughout the day and was dog-worryingly jolting to-and-fro as the wind attacked us on the beam.  Loki and Klio kept looking at me for explanation as their naps were periodically interrupted by a shocking wind punch (gusts of 55 mph).

Thank goodness I brought a touque, gloves, scarf and fleece pants on this trip.  All bundled up, I ventured out into the gale in the late afternoon to give the dogs a good walk and take a break from the RV shaker.  When we were moving with the wind, we'd walk.  Then, when we'd face the wind, we'd run with the tumbleweeds!

Approximately half an hour later, lungs filled with cold air, nose red and running (mine, that is), sweat starting to become uncomfortable under my jacket, we returned to the trailer for a reprieve from the elements.  Ahhhh! Dinner, rum and eggnog.

After the desert sun sets, the cold descends quickly (as you will see below).  This is just the beginning of a bout of cold weather for us.

Yesterday, Friday, it was COLD!  The day started with a bit of slushy rain, then that winter smell permeated again.  Below zero, we donned our cold weather gear and ventured out for a "scenic drive" and afternoon hike.

Yes, The Infamous Mustang Ranch

Fifteen minutes from our RV Park is the highway turnoff to the Mustang Ranch.  First, I must say.....no, we didn't go inside.  The foreboding gate at the entrance was enough to cause me to abandon the even the idea of taking any pictures of the ranch, let alone go inside.  Steve, on the other hand, undauntedly asked the gate attendant if we could be permitted a couple pictures.  I felt like a cheap voyeur and definitely found myself shrinking lower in my passenger seat.  The gate attendant shrugged his approval; Steve took the camera and "shot" the ranch.

So, for those who don't know - gambling, drinking in public, quick marriages and prostitution are legal in many Nevada counties.  Often thought to be near Las Vegas, THE Mustang Ranch is actually further north, just outside Reno (near our favourite dog walking areas).  This brothel is completely legal and offers customers accommodation while in the company of one or more of their "girls."  They boast that every type of girl is available at the ranch - all ethnicities, shapes, sizes, ages and the customer is treated to a "line-up" of girls from which to choose.  How primitive.

Oh darn!  We'd have to leave our "colors" at the gate!

The Wild Horse Saloon - men drink for free at the ranch.  I'm not sure that their definition of "free" is the same as mine. Finally, apparently, clients are limited only by the amount of cash in their wallets. Once you are no longer in the company of the women, it's time for you to go.  Ew!

While quite a cool sculpture, I prefer seeing the REAL wild horses in these hills & valleys.  See Blog Post from Day 15.


So, Steve and I spent approximately 4 minutes outside the ranch compound, took pictures, drove away having an intelligent conversation/debate about the repercussions of sanctioned prostitution, then sought out a more wholesome and arguably healthy activity - a serious hike up a nearby steep mountain/hill slope!

A pebbly, loose gravel and sand, steep and breathtaking "Desert Grouse Grind." Steve's in the lead....and we're losing daylight.

Mustang Ranch in the distance at the base of these lightly snow-dusted mountains (snow is from the night before last).

A wee bit of snow.

And, a sunset hike-summit kiss.  Priceless!

With only 20 minutes before dark, we had to leave quickly since we didn't bring flashlights with us.  Creating our own hill switchbacks to avoid slipping and sliding down the loose, steep terrain, we were in a race against the clock to make it to the truck before complete darkness. 

Almost at the truck (4 minutes away) - whew, cutting it close this time!  Yup, that's Mustang Ranch in the background again.

Big Money! No Whammies!

Feeling like a giddy teenager at the PNE in the 80's, I walked around the Circus Circus casino proudly with the haul of stuffed toys my husband won for me last night.  Steve won four prizes at the hotel's midway.  He popped balloons with darts, knocked over milk bottles with a bean-bag, knocked a beach ball out of the air with an even smaller bean bag and shot a Pepsi can with a cork gun!  After a fun evening out, Steve left the casino ahead in his midway wins (the proof is below) and his casino bets (won $40 at the slots).  I, however, ended the night down $19 - bringing my trip total to minus $26.

Well, in addition to his new-found success in the casinos, Steve has developed a new, daily, morning coffee shop routine.  Here's the situation:

Reno has slot machines in the grocery stores, coffee shops, airport, hotels, convenience stores, bathrooms, medical clinics, daycares (you get my point).  I know that we should be cautious, skeptical, sternly reminding ourselves that the odds are in favour of the house, and protect us against the chance of a developing gambling addictions.....but, it seems that Steve has found a divine slot machine in the nearby Sid's Casino coffee shop. 

As you have seen in previous blogs, it's a nickel machine that has been good to Steve before.  So, when Steve heads in for his morning coffee......he puts anywhere from $1 - $5 in this particular machine (yes, he claims it speaks to him).  A couple of days ago, he won $8 while spending $1.  A man outside pan-handling for change with his dog looked quite sombre, so Steve handed him his winnings and asked the man to spend it on kibble for his dog.

Then, yesterday, Steve came home with $40 from this hallowed machine and was so excited he forgot to buy his coffee.  Today, he came home with 2 bags of nickels amounting to another $80 win and a large coffee. 

For those counting, this generous machine has increased our net worth by approximately $160 to date (at a cost of $10 total money bet).  Wahoo!  Consequently, while our "take" is ridiculously heavy, to say the least, we are very excited to haul around our supplementary wealth in these dirty, plastic bags.  Big Money!  No Whammies! 

Until next time.......
xoxoxo S&S