GAMBING WITH NEPHEW CHRIS

 I finally had a winning trip.  

My pattern is to lose about $500 each trip, and this was no exception except for one hand, a royal flush in diamonds.  That arrived the second day and put me up $490 for the trip when I left for home.

Chris was with me so he got to see me hit.  

It was a strange royal. 

I was dealt KJ or diamonds.  The king was in the far left,  and the key on the machine I play sticks there, so my first attempt to save it failed and I had to go back and hit the button again.

Had I failed to do that, of course I could not have scored the royal'

But oddly, had the key failed to stick, I would in all probability not scored one either as the random number generation chooses cards very quickly and the time it took to hit the button the second time was needed to get the A-Q-10.

I had some interesting sessions on the Ultimate X DDB.  I like this game and play it in nickels, but I suppose the math is not as good at full pay JOB.

On my last day I was down $68 from live poker and wanted to get it back.  I lost $100 but put in  a second $100.

Two hands later it dealt me A-A-A which developed into a full house in the middle hand and four Aces in the top hand (but without the better kickers).  Since the hands had multipliers I ended up having $226, played $26 down, and quit even.

Playing 4-8 limit without Chris, I held 10=J in the first blind.  The flop provided 7-8 and the turn gave me a 9.  I checked and the fellow to my left bet $4. Everyone stayed in, and when it got to me I raised on my nut hand.  Folks called because now the pot was too big not to call. The river was of no use to anyone. I bet out and had almost a full table of callers, many with smaller straights, but none even tied me.  That was a great hand.

Earlier that day I had on my first hand at no limit on a new table been dealt AQ.

On the flop came A-A-X so I felt pretty confident.  I did not know that my opponent had me beat with A-K.  We bet a good bit.  On the turn a Q gave me the full house.  I check raised and bet out on the river.  He called me.  I won over $100 on that one hand.

But things did not go so well after than and I quit, frustrated with bad cards and down $68.

That was my last day.

I used my comps for a fine meal at Bobby's Burger Palace.  Blue cheese burger and onion rings.

It was fine to have some time with Chris.  His sister had died early this month in Vegas.  This was our own private Memorial.  I think it made us happy to celebrate both Melanie and family.

FOOD

As well as the free meal at Bobby's Burger Palace, we had $30 off pizza at Regina's at Foxwoods after playing 2-4 limit there for 11 hours straight.  It was good pizza but we ordered too much, thinking the pies were smaller than they were, so we had pizza enough for another meal and both of us took some home.  I still have some in the freezer.

We had a meal at the Indian restaurant Mirch Marsala where Chris could get his favorite Vegan food.  A veggie platter proved very good as did my usual mango yogurt shake.  I had a ground lamb dish with rice and it was very good.  This restaurant is attached to the Ramada Inn where we stayed, so no driving to get back.

One night we just had snacks in the room after a long day.  

And we had free breakfast every day.  No waffles.  They only do those on weekends.  But bagels, English muffins, other pastry, yogurt, depending on what was left when we got there.  The cereal was stale. The orange juice was good as was the coffee.  I took a thermos of orange juice for my trip back.

The ride back was easy.  I skipped coffee and so made it on just one rest stop late in the trip, the one just before Lee.

Traffic was not bad.

My two GPS were great and both were working.  They disagreed around Hartford where there was a good bit of traffic, but it all worked out.

TRIP AT THE END OF JULY TO MOHEGAN SUN

 Added a day to my visit after I had booked at Ramada and decided to try the Hilltop Express Inn.  

It was very clean and the service was very good.  I could not load the wi fi, but the desk clerk helped me.  I had a room close to the desk on the first floor.  

At night it was not quiet enough.  The TV ran constantly in the room next door but on low.  I checked channels, but the remote was cumbersome to operate as there were more stations in the list than were actually available.  Everything I found was loaded with commercials.  

I think the TV was just the bad luck of the draw.  The rest of the Inn seemed quiet, especially for Saturday night.

However, I would come to really like the Ramada Inn and I'll go there next trip.

I had not packed my extra speakers for the computer, and I could not well hear the utube shows offered there or I'd have watched a Sherlock Holmes.

The lights are a bit weird, but fiddling with the wall switch by the bed and the light switch there gives overhead light or low light.  From my window I can see my car.  That is comforting.

I slept well until about 3 AM and then I could not get back to sleep easily. but finally did until about 6.

I moved my computer to the corner and that helped with the rumbling of the TV.  I had a fine left over lamb chop breakfast from the Groton Townhouse restaurant.  The microwave worked. I used some butter from the restaurant and covered the microwave plate I brought.  Very good with good coffee from the lobby. During breakfast I listened to Radio Deluxe and John Pizzarelli.  Nice.  A bit of Blossom Dearie is a good way to start the day.  She reminds me of Kat Edmundson.

I looked at some Sherlock Holmes, but I tired of it.  It was a newer version.  Not my favorite.

'There was some banging noises.  Anything done on the second floor could be heard.  I was happy to have stayed just the one night to check the place out.  Ramada Inn proved the best spot I've stayed in yet.

Coffee was on time and good.  

The GPS in the phone car hookup worked much better, but it still went to a lower volume mode for no reason I could figure.  It did not take me off the 395 highway and onto 2A, but that worked to my benefit as I needed a bathroom and found one just down the road.  It was the same place I had asked directions last trip and I loved getting to use the bathroom before getting to the casino.

The GPS then took me back a couple miles and off on the exit they had missed.  I'll try to remember to go that way every time.

On the way back from the casino I finally got the sense of what I should do.  I should skip that confusing turn with the light and stay on the Mohegan Express following it around in a circle and then turning right on Route 12.  Easy.  I think I have that down.  

Once on 12, the traveling is very easy.  Keeping highways as a choice avoids that round a bout path down by the water and through the town.  That is confusing.  12 is easy.

The one night hotel is farther down 12.  I had to turn right on   Poquonnock Road.

580 Poquonnock Road, Groton, US Highway, Groton, 580 Poquonnock Road, Groton · (860) 445-0220

Along the way I passed the Rolling Tomato and I may stop for pizza as it was recommended in my reading. Also passed a Popeye's and plenty of stores and such.

For supper I drove back to the Groton Townhouse and had fried ravioli and good lamb chops.  I like everything except the vegetables that are the standard, bland fare in sun places.

I asked for the chowder to be served hot and it was.

I went early before any supper crowds.  Very few people there.

GAMBLING

I wanted to see how the poker tables were on a Saturday afternoon and I got a seat at a new table about noon.  My competition was fine.  Good players but not wild in betting.

Regardless the cards were against me.  A young player went all in when I had the A of diamonds in a flush, but he had the King for a straight flush.  I lost a good bit.

And I kept losing.  Finally, I quit down $330.  I don't think that I won a single pot. My pocket Kings were beat by pocket Aces, but the guy went all-in and I would not call.  That saved me some money.  Otherwise, it was a disaster.

I went to play VP  JOB at the Harvest Moon Bar.  That was better.  No quads but lots of FH and I played for quite a while.  Then it dealt me a straight Flush and I decided to quit up 30$.

So for the day, I was down $300.

I drank two Sam Adams Just the Haze served in a fine frosted glass.

+++++++++++

Well, tomorrow is another day.

SUNDAY

Had a really good morning and was up around $500 but some of that went away so that at the end of the day I was up just one dollar ahead on live poker.

The best morning hand was 5's full of Aces with three other players all in.  A guy with a straight had pushed the betting.  I narrowly beat 2's full of Aces.  Lucky, it was not a hand easily to hold up as one with four all-in opponents.

The VP went well until the end of the day. Then I took losses. Down $60 in total so far for the trip.

Certainly a better day than my first day.

MONDAY

I did not gamble.  Meds kept me close to the room.  I did go swimming in the pool and had a good supper.

TUESDAY

Today I played poor poker and ended down $165

The video poker did not help.  I ended down $150

RAMADA INN

I had GPS issues again, and so it was hard to find the Ramada Inn. 

The GPS would not talk to me. The directions I got from a guy at the Super 8 put me on the highway going the wrong way for many miles before I could get off and find a way to get back on and go back to where I started.

I stopped at the Gulf gas station and after talking a bit to me, a man and his girlfriend just told me to follow him and his GPS led him on a roundabout way, but the right way.  The trick is to go under the highways on 12 and go farther than necessary, then turn back and catch the entranceway to the road going to the Ramada, route  was route 184.  

I went to Mirch Marsala (an Indian place right in front of the Ramada) for supper of Tandori chicken and some garlic naan topped with a fancy sauce.  It was supposed to all be spicey, but it was really not, just tasty.  I told them of waiting an hour last time and they took pains to get me served in record time.  I had another mango yogurt drink.  

The Indian place was closed on Mondays, but I had leftovers to reheat for lunch.  

I went again for lunch on Tuesday, but there was no buffet.  It is just on the weekends.  I had a nice meal of lamb curry.  I asked for it to be spicey and this time it really was.  Perhaps I had asked for too much spice, but I really liked the meal and the mango yogurt drink.  I took back to the room enough for a small meal on another day.

THE ROOM AT RAMADA

They made a mistake and booked me twice.  The fellow in the lobby was very nice. He cancelled one reservation and showed me how to notify Wyndom of the double booking.  I called them, and they cleared it up.  I had to call and cancel one of the bookings.

The place is just great.  It even has a little elevator.  It is quiet except for a couple of running kids once or twice from a good way down the hall.  One wall of my room is between me and the laundry room.  That gets little use, and probably won't get much late at night.

The television is so much easier to use.  I listened to a bit of news while unpacking and one Western show the next day.  Tombstone I think.  It was old but I don't remember it.  Some commercials but not too bad.

Unlike the Super 8, there is a phone in the room, so calling the front desk is easy and they do have the wake up service which I need.  I set my phone for an alarm, but I'm doing something wrong as it doesn't go off.

The jacuzzi is still broken but the pool was warm enough.  It is shallow and small but refreshing. 

Bring a towel.  Ask for one just down from the pool.  I bought the two they gave me back to the room for future swims.

The area around the pool was littered with candy wrappers and such.  It is the first area that I have seen here that was not cleaned.

The pool does not open until 1 PM, but it stays open until 9PM.  I might take some swims before going to bed.

 Coffee in the room, although I used the folding coffee pot and strainer I brought, so I could use my own coffee.  Next time I'm going to pack my entire coffee pot and just use that rather than make one cup at a time.

The lighted frame on the mirror was just great.  I wish I had one at home.  Very nice touch.  It reminds me of the old "hallo light" that Sylvania once put around the television screens.

The bathroom switches for light and fan were separate.  I like that because I don't want the noise of the fan, especially in th middle of the night.

Unlike the Hilltop Inn there was plenty of electricity here.  Also, the wifi was easier to access.  No codes.

There was a fine easy chair with ottoman for reading and a good reading lamp.  

The sink plunger stuck down, slowing the draining,  and I needed a spoon to pry it up again.  Then I left it that way and it drained fine.

From my window I could see my car.

Unlike the Super 8 the locks on the outside door access do require a key for entry.

I asked and received a "do not disturb" sign for my door as I like to not have maid service for just a few days.  If the maid is in the bathroom with the door shut and the hallway door is propped open, the room is not secure. A fast in and out and there goes my computer.

My room 218 was right next to the guest laundry room, but I could not hear anything in my room even with clothes drying.  I did like it that I knew I could play TV anytime and not disturb anyone because the TV was mounted on that wall.

The room was close to the elevator, but again no noise.

It was also easy to access the pool from there.

The microwave had fine controls.  I can't always see the settings well, but this was the twist variety and it had a "medium" setting that I used to reheat everything.  It did a fine job without overcooking.

They did forget my wake up call and the phone did not give me an alarm either.  Next trip I'm taking a windup old fashioned clock.  That will work as it did years ago.

**************************************

I think the Ramama Inn will be my go-to hotel for future trips.

I met a fellow in the lobby who has been coming every year for a decade and has always been satisfied.  He could not understand the negative reviews on one site online.

On Monday I just hung out at the hotel, got organized, took a swim and read a little of Team of Rivals, a book on Lincoln's term as President.  My meds made it convenient to be close to a bathroom. My reading was especially interesting in light of Biden's endorsement of Harris.  Politics has not changed all that much over the decades.

MONDAY FOOD

Brunch was left over Indian food from yesterday.

Supper was a pizza from Rolling Tomato.  This spot had great reviews, but when I finally found it (and the GPS did not help) where I knew I had seen it when I stayed at the Hilltop Inn. 

However, it was take out only.  I was the only one ordering.  The pizza was very good, a ricotta based version.  They have a large menu.  I brought it back to the hotel with an off diet Polar Black Cherry soda.  I have enough for a taste tomorrow.

And I did not mind eating in the room, only that I had been there for most of the day.

I shopped for more seltzer earlier and bought a few snacks, but when I came to pay, I noticed my charge card was not in my wallet.  I looked everywhere.  I had left it at the Indian restaurant and retrieved it Tuesday morning.  Great relief.

Tuesday supper was left over pizza.  

Wednesday was my last day of gambling and I was a loser that day as well at both live poker and JOB vp.  The only thing I hit was a nickle Ultimate X DDB game I played in nickels.  I hit A-2-2-2-2 and the multipier brought me  up with a profit.  I played it a while longer and again hit the 2's with kicker.  Then I quit.

In the end I left down $458.

I was too late to use my comps for Bobby's Burget Palace.  The crowds were too thick.  Next time.

I did walk down to see the Chihuly.  It is a sight, but better from a bit of a distance than up close.

Thursday I just drove home.  Some bumper to bumper traffic after a truck caught fire held me up a long, long time.  

But I arrived.

INTRODUCTION

 I like   to play poker at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, but I liked to see a bit of the area as well, and especially to sample my newest interest in museums.  So I am collecting those travels here, just as I collected the Massachusetts experiences on a separate blog.

https://masstravels.blogspot.com/

Note that the posts are in usual blog order with the latest post first, so to see the first day of a trip, scroll down to the last post.
Also, the entire blog will not load at one time.  So to see the beginning of a trip, hit the link in the bottom right hand corner labeled "Older Posts" and it will load up the older posts.

MOHEGAN SUN TRIP

It was a losing trip.  I dropped more than $500 over the three days I played.  Well, they can't all be winning trips.

I left home about ten in the morning in pouring rain, but that lightened up along the way and later the sun came out. It was not hard driving. The GPS got me close to the Super 8, cut I did not have the full address and just guessed at a crossroad.

ROOM AT SUPER 8

This was quite a bargain at $60 a night, including tax. I paid more for the nearby Wyndom Micro hotel just down from the casino last time, and that was not nearly as comfortable. That used to be a great place, but it has changed and isn't worth the money.

I asked for a quiet room at the Super 8 and they gave me the last on the first floor hallway, so I only had one neighbor and it was quiet. Some noise from the door there which was not the main entrance, but a popular side entrance. And some street noise of passing cars that did not bother me.

However for my late morning nap there was lots of noise from one of those beeping trucks doing some nearby construction and other equipment.

Luckily, I had brought my noise reduction earphones and although they were a bit awkward at first for sleeping, I got the pillows arranged and dozed off for a good long nap.

The hotel was very clean. I had a king bed that was huge. The bed was very comfortable.

However, on two days they had trouble keeping the internet working and the TV is also on that.

On the third morning the waffle dough holder and dispenser was broken. The orange juice was out. There were very few pastries in packages. The last day they replaced the waffle dough dispenser. But the Microwave was out of order with a broken revolving glass plate . I had a leftover piece of pepper steak to warm up. So I used my $1.25 plate in the microwave and that worked to warm up the meat. There was always coffee

I would not count on the breakfast here.

My key failed twice and needed a reswipe. I had kept it separate from any other keys, so I don't understand what caused the problem.

There were many stations on the television. They were a bit hard to navigate, but once I figured it out, I could get something I liked. No TCM however.

I watched old Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

The television is not a huge screen. Big enough and clear.

One day I had to go for fresh remote batteries, but the desk had them. That was an easy fix.

There is no room phone. That is a bit disconcerting as I like to have access to the front desk in an emergency, but I do have my phone. I picked up a manager's card with the front desk number as well.

Going on the internet to find front desks in hotels is very hard these days. The numbers are for booking services and they know nothing about the property.

I often use one of my old printed American Casino Guides for front desk numbers for casinos. Generally, they have not changed over the years.

The driving route to the casino is pretty easy. Just get on route 12 and follow it until you get to the left turn off for the Mohegan Sun. My GPS wanted me to go a more confused route, but I just stuck to the advice of the desk clerk the first day, taking a guess at when to turn left. That worked fine. Then I used the GPS the second day with highways off and that got I-95 out of the picture, but the GPS still took me winding through a town. More direct is just route 12 to the left turn, but I find it hard to find that turn.

I do have trouble finding my way even with the new GPS. I use it so seldom that I have not really explored all the choices.

My last night I was coming home in the dark and had inadvertently erased the history, so I did not have the Super 8 to easily click.

I got lost.

I stopped once at a grocery and some young fellows helped me on my way.

But I was still lost and stopped at a truck stop on the highway. A man talked me through how I should get to the motel, and that worked. I made it home.

I should have brought the address up on my phone and then typed it in the GPS.

My phone does not work with the car radio as a GPS. It won't talk to me. Getting lost like this is what sent me home early from the last Mohegan trip.

Now I just stay with it until I figure it out. And I don't usually drive at night. This was my last night and the time got away from me.

Partly that was because I got lost trying to find the Bank of America which was just 2 miles away. It took me a long time to finally understand where to go from the hotel.

At home is seems the phone Gps will talk to me if the sound on the radio is OFF. Very odd. Usually, they program it so the GPS voice breaks in on music.

This may be the issue I had last time.

I'll use the GPS on trips around here and see if that works.

WADSWORTH ATHENUM in Hartfort.

On the way down, I had managed to easily find the Wadsworth Athenum in Hartford and had a fine tour of the place, free with my Clark membership.

Parking was free on Sunday and I got a spot very near the museum. People there were very welcoming and friendly.

I did not expect to find a Goya, nor do I remember this one of two women gossiping, although the face of the woman facing us was very familiar, being much like the faces in the tapestry paintings.

I was also impressed with all the ceramics, many from the 1700's.

When I left there and headed to the Super 8, I did not have a clear destination in my GPS and it was a bit annoying not to really know where I was. As it turned out, I had picked a cross street that was very close to the Super 8. I also talked to Elizabeth and she told me where I would find the Super 8 from where I was.

I misplaced the Chartok-Seeger interviews, so I listened for the most part to Kep Mo, the Suitcases album. Most of the numbers were new to me. I do love him.

I was down to almost no gas and stopped and filled up for almost $50.

The traffic was heavy in some places and light in others. It was not as deserted as I thought a rainy Sunday might be, but it was not too hard either.

Once again I was wrestling with my steering wheel and wondering what was up. As it turned out, there must be a setting where the car keeps itself centered between the lines. Once I figured that out, I let the car do its thing. But I think I'll find out how to turn that off. I like to ride just a bit more over to the right of the lane.

FOOD

I brought a good bit of food from home, but that was not necessary. In the hotel is the free breakfast with waffle. Not much, but enough with some carry out nutrition bars to snack on during the day. Unfortunately, someone broke the waffle dispenser of dough. And getting things fixed here seems to be no one's job. However, the refrigerator held my left overs and the microwave in the lounge heated them up.

I got lost again finding the Mirch Masala Indian restaurant I wanted to try. It took me a while

I had a rolled lamb with a very spicy sauce on the side. I loved it. I had some garlic nan and a mango yogurt milkshake that was just grand.

I liked the ambiance of the restaurant with India music playing and quite a few Indian guests.

However, they took longer to serve me than I ever remember it taking in years.

I was worried that I might have to drive in the dark, but I made it out just in time and it was only a couple minutes to the Super 8.

If I returned to this restaurant, I'd go for the buffet where the eating could start right after the sitting. 

 And the price is less.

I brought some back and put it in the refrigerator and had it for breakfast when the waffle dispenser broke.

I also went to the Groton Townhouse restaurant just a couple blocks down from the hotel. I got a great grilled prime rib, mashed potatoes, broccoli, a wonderful chicken tortellini soup and a slice of pie for dessert, all for about $30. It could easily have bed two people. The cut of meat was very large and very tasty.

Also, I could go there for supper and not have a long drive back to the hotel in the dark.

Unlike the Indian place, the meal came in record time.They don't charge an extra fee on credit cards. 

The second day I was going to search out the Lobster in the Rough place, but I ran out of energy and went again to the Groton Family restaurant for a second good meal.

This time I had the steak au pouve. I knew it would not be the French version because there would be no brandy in the sauce. It was rich in sauce, however, and tasty, but not as good as the grilled prime rib. Same good service and this time I had baklava for desert made fresh that day. Very good.

I ordered medium rare the first time.  It was a bit too medium.

I explained that, but the next time it was a bit too rare.  Well, the left overs cooked up a bit to medium rare.

I had stopped earlier for some juice at a dollar store and some more seltzer at Job Lots. And I bought combs and a ceramic plate.

I'm half tempted to go to the Groton Townhouse place for a nice breakfast. I looked at the menu and it looked good.

My last night I used up my Mohegan Sun points at a place called Bobby's Burger Palace

https://mohegansun.com/poi/dining/bobby-s-burger-palace.html

GAMBLING

I played 1-2 NL and a bit of 3-6 limit when a table opened up.

Games varied from very hard to extremely easy.

However, I am making mistakes more often now.

There is a large bad beat, but no other high hand awards on the days I was here. Sometimes there is one, perhaps a couple times a month. Foxwoods had the bad beat hit just before I arrived.

One hand I remember was 4 kings. No high hand awards here.  I need this hand in Florida.

Another hand I thought I had pocket queens that went to trips. I bet $50 on the river. My opponent had pocket kings. He folded and showed, so I showed my Q-8, surprised as my opponent. These are cards I don't play. I must have just read them wrong in the pocket.

By luck that was a good bluff.

But it also tells me that I make some really stupid mistakes.  Age is a factor, I guess, as I'm more confused with everything.

I was up and down.

For VP I played at the bar Harvest Moon. I had to be careful not to play too many coins. I decided to play JOB this trip because the volatility is less than the DDB and the payback was a bit higher overall for JOB. I think Rivers in Schenectady has a higher DDB. But there, if I lose quickly, I just go home. Here I wanted to play.

The bar served cans of one of my favorite NA beers, Sam Adams Just the Haze. They have dropped Adirondack. Nice to get the Sam when out for just a dollar tip. They opened the cold can and I could pour it in a frosted glass.  

I liked this spot and played there last trip, so I did not search out any other VPFree suggestions.  I don't think this bar is mentioned in the VP free notes.

A fellow hit a royal while playing next to me.  He was thrilled.  He hit it playing dollars, so it was quite a payout.

SECOND DAY

Now down $450, a real tough day.

I lost $220 in the 1-2 NL. It was a great table with a couple beginners. But I did not get cards. One player, Jay, liked to bet big and push people out. Annoying. He also found fault with every way the games were run. When I joined, I asked for the blinds to come around before I played my first hand, and Jay grumbled and complained.

In the end, I lost to a young fellow who I thought was bluffing as I had seen him do often against others. I have to remember that when I play tight for a long while, the other players give my bets respect. I tried to push him out of a pot with an all-in and he had trip Queens. No chance of that.

I lost $230 in VP. I tried a DDB in nickle triple play and it just took most of my money. I did hit 4 Aces with kicker but it was too late. I quit and went back to my game at the Harvest Moon  bar. There I lost $150 on JOB.

Still, it was a long day of playing and I had some fun. The bartenders at that bar are just grand.

Leaving the poker room and turning left on the circular pathway, I had to walk quite a ways and pass two other bars. I still don't have a good way of finding it.

Wednesday was a bit better but still a losing day. I won at NL, but not much. I won a bit at Ultimate X VP but it would not give me the multipliers, so I quit.

It did deal me four Deuces with Ace kicker.

I was dealt a straight flush in diamonds, the wheel at the Harvest Moon, but it does not pay much.

One other quad came my way.

Comp was $21 for free hamburger at Bobby's Burger Palace. I had a burger with cheese and bacon and crumpled potato chips. Potato chips can be added to any burger at no cost. I also had some buttermilk onion rings which were perfect. They gave me a free drink as well.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN

It is very easy to navigate by following the circular pathway.  Bathrooms are well marked and frequent.

Everything is rich in decoration.  Nothing is dull.  I love the look of it, very Indian looking.  Even the poker room is decorated.

Bathrooms are in the poker room and easy to find.

Parking at the Summer garage makes finding the poker room very easy.  

Sam Adams Just the Haze is perhaps my favorite NA beer.  I can't get it in the poker room and the NA I can get there comes in a very tiny draft size glass.  But at the Harvest Moon bar it is easy to get.  Same dollar tip.

I can usually find my way to the casino and back again.  The driving is generally not on buys highway roads.  Once I am on route 12, the driving is easy.

Poker room players are varied.  Some are not very good.  Most tables the bets are reasonable until some asshole comes who wants to bully out the other players.  Then I get up and leave. Leaving is easy because there is the VP where the odds stay the same.

COMING HOME

I went to Mark Twain's House and museum in Hartford on my way home. Again this gave me a good driving break.

The GPS took me perfectly until it delivered me a few blocks away, announcing this was my destination. A fellow doing lawns was nice enough to look up the Mark Twain house and gave me good verbal directions. Every once in a while this GPS is just wrong.

The fellow at the ticket counter knew nothing about my membership at the Clark getting me free admission. It took a while for him to understand. I've gotten so that I just keep insisting. Finally, he arranged for a ticket, which I never actually got. But he was the tour guide and I went on the tour and through the little museum rooms with interesting displays.

I took notes at the Twain museum and forgot them.

I remember that Twain came in 1871 to be close to his publisher in Hartford, and he had the house built in 1874.

It was very ornate with dark wooden walls in many places and an intricate bed of cupids, and a wonderful wooden bed that would not fit in the room, so he had the top mounted above the door.

Twain did a good bit of writing in the billiard room.  Strange, but there he did not feel distracted.

The GPS took me home without a glitch.

I left home about ten in the morning in pouring rain, but that lightened up along the way and later the sun came out. It was not hard driving. The GPS got me close to the Super 8, cut I did not have the full address and just guessed at a crossroad.

ROOM AT SUPER 8

This was quite a bargain at $60 a night, including tax. I paid more for the nearby Wyndom Micro hotel just down from the casino last time, and that was not nearly as comfortable. That used to be a great place, but it has changed and isn't worth the money.

I asked for a quiet room at the Super 8 and they gave me the last on the first floor hallway, so I only had one neighbor and it was quiet. Some noise from the door there which was not the main entrance, but a popular side entrance. And some street noise of passing cars that did not bother me.

However for my late morning nap there was lots of noise from one of those beeping trucks doing some nearby construction and other equipment.

Luckily, I had brought my noise reduction earphones and although they were a bit awkward at first for sleeping, I got the pillows arranged and dozed off for a good long nap.

The hotel was very clean. I had a king bed that was huge. The bed was very comfortable.

e, a mild blend. However, I would not count on the breakfast here.

My key failed twice and needed a reswipe. I had kept it separate from any other keys, so I don't undertand what caused the problem.

There were many stations on the television. They were a bit hard to navigate, but once I figured it out, I could get something I liked. No TCM however.

I watched old Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

The television is not a huge screen. Big enough and clear.

One day I had to go for fresh remote batteries, but the desk had them. That was an easy fix.

There is no room phone. That is a bit disconcerting as I like to have access to the front desk in an emergency, but I do have my phone. I picked up a manager's card with the front desk number as well.

Going on the internet to find front desks in hotels is very hard these days. The numbers are for booking services and they know nothing about the property.

I often use one of my old printed American Casino Guides for front desk numbers for casinos. Generally, they have not changed over the years.

The driving route to the casino is pretty easy. Just get on route 12 and follow it until you get to the left turn off for the Mohegan Sun. My GPS wanted me to go a more confused route, but I just stuck to the advice of the desk clerk the first day, taking a guess at when to turn left. That worked fine. Then I used the GPS the second day with highways off and that got I-95 out of the picture, but the GPS still took me winding through a town. More direct is just route 12 to the left turn, but I find it hard to find that turn.

I do have trouble finding my way even with the new GPS. I use it so seldom that I have not really explored all the choices.

My last night I was coming home in the dark and had inadvertently erased the history, so I did not have the Super 8 to easily click.

I got lost.

I stopped once at a grocery and some young fellows helped me on my way.

But I was still lost and stopped at a truck stop on the highway. A man talked me through how I should get to the motel, and that worked. I made it home.

I should have brought the address up on my phone and then typed it in the GPS.

My phone does not work with the car radio as a GPS. It won't talk to me. Getting lost like this is what sent me home early from the last Mohegan trip.

Now I just stay with it until I figure it out. And I don't usually drive at night. This was my last night and the time got away from me.

Partly that was because I got lost trying to find the Bank of America which was just 2 miles away. It took me a long time to finally understand where to go from the hotel.

At home is seems the phone Gps will talk to me if the sound on the radio is OFF. Very odd. Usually, they program it so the GPS voice breaks in on music.

This may be the issue I had last time.

I'll use the GPS on trips around here and see if that works.

WADSWORTH ATHENUM in Hartfort.

On the way down, I had managed to easily find the Wadsworth Athenum in Hartford and had a fine tour of the place, free with my Clark membership.

INSERT PHOTOS****************

Parking was free on Sunday and I got a spot very near the museum. People there were very welcoming and friendly.

I did not expect to find a Goya, nor do I remember this one of two women gossiping, although the face of the woman facing us was very familiar, being much like the faces in the tapestry paintings.

I was also impressed with all the ceramics, many from the 1700's.

When I left there and headed to the Super 8, I did not have a clear destination in my GPS and it was a bit annoying not to really know where I was. As it turned out, I had picked a cross street that was very close to the Super 8. I also talked to Elizabeth and she told me where I would find the Super 8 from where I was.

I misplaced the Chartok-Seeger interviews, so I listened for the most part to Kep Mo, the Suitcases album. Most of the numbers were new to me. I do love him.

I was down to almost no gas and stopped and filled up for almost $50.

The traffic was heavy in some places and light in others. It was not as deserted as I thought a rainy Sunday might be, but it was not too hard either.

Once again I was wrestling with my steering wheel and wondering what was up. As it turned out, there must be a setting where the car keeps itself centered between the lines. Once I figured that out, I let the car do its thing. But I think I'll find out how to turn that off. I like to ride just a bit more over to the right of the lane.

My room is quiet and on the end of the first floor corridor. Very nice. The AC is quiet. The refrigerator works fine and is the larger size so left overs fit in it and there is a microwave in the lounge for use at any time. Everything is very clean. It is a King bed and must be a Deluxe King as it is huge.

All of the people were friendly. One Asian woman did not speak English well enough for any detailed questions.

I left the “Do not disturb” on the door and no one cleaned the room. I always feel safer with no one entering the room when I am away.

Towels were a bit scant. I must remember to bring washcloths or ask for them.

FOOD

I brought a good bit of food from home, but that was not necessary. In the hotel is the free breakfast with waffle. Not much, but enough with some carry out nutrition bars to snack on during the day. Unfortunately, someone broke the waffle dispenser of dough. And getting things fixed here seems to be no one's job. However, the refrigerator held my left overs and the microwave in the lounge heated them up.

I got lost again finding the Mirch Masala Indian restaurant I wanted to try. It took me a while

I had a rolled lamb with a very spicy sauce on the side. I loved it. I had some garlic nan and a mango yogurt milkshake that was just grand.

I liked the ambiance of the restaurant with India music playing and quite a few Indian guests.

However, they took longer to serve me than I ever remember it taking in years.

I was worried that I might have to drive in the dark, but I made it out just in time and it was only a couple minutes to the Super 8.

If I returned to this restaurant, I'd go for the buffet where the eating could start right after the sitting. And the price is less.

I brought some back and put it in the refrigerator and had it for breakfast when the waffle dispenser broke.

I also went to the Groton family restaurant just a couple blocks down from the hotel. I got a great grilled prime rib, mashed potatoes, broccoli, a wonderful chicken tortellini soup and a slice of pie for dessert, all for about $30. It could easily have bed two people. The cut of meat was very large and very tasty.

Also, I could go there for supper and not have a long drive back to the hotel in the dark.

Unlike the Indian place, the meal came in record time.

They don't charge an extra fee on credit cards. At least yet.

The second day I was going to search out the Lobster in the Rough place, but I ran out of energy and went again to the Groton Family restaurant.

This time I had the steak au pouve. I knew it would not be the French version because there would be no brandy in the sauce. It was rich in sauce, however, and tasty, but not as good as the grilled prime rib. Same good service and this time I had baklava for desert made fresh that day. Very good.

I had stopped earlier for some juice at a dollar store and some more seltzer at Job Lots. So, I'll have a good drink of juice tomorrow even if the hotel is out of orange as they were today.

I'm half tempted to go to the Groton Townhouse place for a nice breakfast. I looked at the menu and it looked good.

My last night I used up my Mohegan Sun points at a place called Bobby's Burger Palace (???see saved photo)

GAMBLING

I played 1-2 NL and a bit of 3-6 limit when a table opened up.

Games varied from very hard to extremely easy.

However, I am making mistakes more often now.

There is a large bad beat, but no other high hand awards on the days I was here. Sometimes there is one, perhaps a couple times a month.

One hand I remember was 4 kings.

Another hand I thought I had pocket queens that went to trips. I bet $50 on the river. My opponent had pocket kings. He folded and showed, so I showed my Q-8, surprised as my opponent. These are cards I don't play. I must have just read them wrong in the pocket.

By luck that was a good bluff.

I was up and down.

For VP I played at the bar ??Harvest Moon. I had to be careful not to play too many coins. I decided to play JOB this trip because the volatility is less than the DDB and the payback was a bit higher overall for JOB. I think Rivers in Schenectady has a higher DDB. But there, if I lose quickly, I just go home. Here I wanted to play.

The bar served cans of one of my favorite NA beers, Sam Adams Just the Haze. They have dropped Adirondack. Nice to get the Sam when out for just a dollar tip.

I liked this spot and played there last trip, so I did not search out any other VPFree suggestions.?? I don't think this bar is mentioned in the VP free notes.

SCORES

FIRST DAY

Down $100, most of it NL poker. I did not keep good records dividing the numbers between games.

SECOND DAY

Now down $450, a real tough day.

I lost $220 in the 1-2 NL. It was a great table with a couple beginners. But I did not get cards. One player, Jay, liked to bet big and push people out. Annoying. He also found fault with every way the games were run. When I joined, I asked for the blinds to come around before I played my first hand, and Jay grumbled and complained.

In the end, I lost to a young fellow who I thought was bluffing as I had seen him do often against others. I have to remember that when I play tight for a long while, the other players give my bets respect. I tried to push him out of a pot with an all-in and he had trip Queens. No chance of that.

I lost $230 in VP. I tried a DDB in nickle triple play and it just took most of my money. I did hit 4 Aces with kicker but it was too late. I quit and went back to my game at the bar. There I lost $150 on JOB.

Still, it was a long day of playing and I had some fun. The bartenders at that bar are just grand.

It might be called Harvest Moon bar.

Leaving the poker room and turning left on the circular pathway, I had to walk quite a ways and pass two other bars. I still don't have a good way of finding it.

Wednesday was a bit better but still a losing day. I won at NL, but not much. I won a bit at Ultimate X VP but it would not give me the multipliers, so I quit.

It did deal me four Deuces with Ace kicker.

I was dealt a straight flush in diamonds, the wheel at the Harvest Moon, but it does not pay much.

One other quad.

SCORE WEDNESDAY

Won $49 at NL poker.

Won $20 at video poker nickles

Lost $220 at JOB at Harvest Moon bar/

$450 plus $220 equals $670 minus $60 minus $9 means the trip cost $610.

Comp was $21 for free hamburger at Bobby's Burger Palace. I had a burger with cheese and bacon and crumpled potato chips. Potato chips can be added to any burger at no cost. I also had some buttermilk onion rings which were perfect.

COMING HOME

I went to Mark Twain's House and museum in Hartford on my way home. Again this gave me a good driving break.

The GPS took me perfectly until it delivered me a few blocks away, announcing this was my destination. A fellow doing lawns was nice enough to look up the Mark Twain house and gave me good verbal directions. Every once in a while this GPS is just wrong.

??? photos from the museum

The fellow at the ticket counter knew nothing about my membership at the Clark getting me free admission. It took a while for him to understand. I've gotten so that I just keep insisting. Finally, he arranged for a ticket, which I never actually got. But he was the tour guide and I went on the tour and through the little museum rooms with interesting displays.

I took notes at the Twain museum and forgot them.

I remember that Twain came in 1871 to be close to his publisher in Hartford, and he had the house built in 1874.

It was very ornate with dark wooden walls in many places and an intricate bed of cupids, and a wonderful wooden bed that would not fit in the room, so he had the top mounted above the door.

The GPS took me home without a glitch.