I'm going Volvoing, first stop Arkansas

[June]

Slots are my favorite. My OCDness still likes to pull the handle. Pushing the button just doesn't do. And I need something to grab on to while I watch my money disappear into the sunset.

We've got a larger gaming floor (130,000 square feet) not far from me in New Buffalo Michigan. Until recently it was the largest in the 'middle US'. ~3000 slots, card games, etc. It's in southern Michigan just a couple miles from the Indiana border about 70 miles east of Chicago.

I prefer the handle as well. They had machines where the ball on the end of the handle lit on colors. The glowing red handle was irresistible! Definitely I plan on one more visit to the casino on this trip.

I am back in Northwest Arkansas going to see the famous hanging gallows from the wild west days. Also before I move on I have found several places that I want to do/go. One is to go crystal digging in Hot Springs, also go to the diamond mining, and to Blanchard Caverns. It is so beautiful here! Also I am thinking about going canoeing on the Buffalo River. A little afraid to try it without Mike who is more outdoorsy than me.

Judging by the feel of the car, a road trip is good for the engine. My S80 is normally Lincoln Town car smooth but since I did the initial 17 hour straight drive I feel a noticeable difference in the car that I can only describe as dead smooth. Maybe we should all be vacationing in our Volvos more often? June

[Rattnalle]

Engines and transmissions are made to be run continuously. Doing short trips kills them or at least degrades them. So yeah we should be vacationing them more often

And walking more, to save ourselves if nothing else.

[mrbrian200]

Judging by the feel of the car, a road trip is good for the engine. My S80 is normally Lincoln Town car smooth but since I did the initial 17 hour straight drive I feel a noticeable difference in the car that I can only describe as dead smooth. Maybe we should all be vacationing in our Volvos more often? June

It was the truck stop gas

No, seriously. Truck stop operators, at least the larger ones and chains, are known to be nutty about fuel quality and storage tank maintenance. If you're selling rotten fuel the truckers figure it out and avoid you en masse. Can spell the death of the biz. I don't bat an eye at buying fuel at a truck stop if it's a larger operation/national chain. What is more risky: a small independently owned gas station, branded or not, where everything is subject to the whims and financial situation of a small business owner with minimal oversight until the neighbors' private wells/groundwater starts testing positive for contamination.

[June]

Judging by the feel of the car, a road trip is good for the engine. My S80 is normally Lincoln Town car smooth but since I did the initial 17 hour straight drive I feel a noticeable difference in the car that I can only describe as dead smooth. Maybe we should all be vacationing in our Volvos more often? June

It was the truck stop gas

No, seriously. Truck stop operators, at least the larger ones and chains, are known to be nutty about fuel quality and storage tank maintenance. If you're selling rotten fuel the truckers figure it out and avoid you en masse. Can spell the death of the biz. I don't bat an eye at buying fuel at a truck stop if it's a larger operation/national chain. What is more risky: a small independently owned gas station, branded or not, where everything is subject to the whims and financial situation of a small business owner with minimal oversight until the neighbors' private wells/groundwater starts testing positive for contamination.

It was a Loves station. That really makes sense to me. My thoughts previously has been that because they have cheaper prices they sell sell cheap gasoline. I think you are right the more I think about it.

Here in Ft. Smith I filled a nearly empty tank with no ethanol 93 octane premium fuel. It was $3.85 per gallon. Baby is a happy girl! June

[June]

Went antiquing all day and Cherokee casino tonight. Absolutely having a ball! In the afternoon the dash was reading the outside temperature between 110° and 113°. The heat coming off the windows was intense. Well everything I spent including all the bargains I bought I won back tonight at the Cherokee casino tonight. I love the lit up handles!

I missed the hanging judge's museum because it got too late. So I'm doing it in the morning.

[mrbrian200]

I so love slots. But I always leave with less than I go in with. Except once: In that Casino in Colorado I mentioned earlier. $60 turned into $1200 in a matter of a few pulls right as arrived and sat at the first machine. I figured it out later had I 'max betted' both of the larger payouts would have totaled to around $40,000.00. Had I simply maxed out after the first bigger payout and caught the second one would have been somewhere around half to two thirds of that. But seems I'm a novice. By the time I decided to start high rolling I couldn't catch a large payout and flatlined from there out.

The blue glowing orb belongs in or on the Volvo somewhere.

[June]

I so love slots. But I always leave with less than I go in with. Except once: In that Casino in Colorado I mentioned earlier. $60 turned into $1200 in a matter of a few pulls right as arrived and sat at the first machine. I figured it out later had I 'max betted' both of the larger payouts would have totaled to around $40,000.00. Had I simply maxed out after the first bigger payout and caught the second one would have been somewhere around half to two thirds of that. But seems I'm a novice. By the time I decided to start high rolling I couldn't catch a large payout and flatlined from there out.

The blue glowing orb belongs in or on the Volvo somewhere.

$1200, was great! I kept wining amounts like $140, 170, 160 on $3,4,5 dollar pulls. Than$50-70 dollars on the pennies betting like 30-90 cents. The night before I walked outonly loosing $50. Last night I left $400 up. I noticed a couple of guys following me around and playing the machine after I would leave. I kept winning all night!

Still Roulette is my game of choice. It seems Oklahoma does not allow a traditional Roulette wheel, instead some strange wheel with a clicker and Big Six is electronic... yuck! Anyway Casinos are entertainment like Disney World, or Bush Gardens to me. We used to go to Vegas every year for the two weeks including Christmas and New year's once the kids were teenagers.

Perhaps on the standard shift models the blue orb could be installed? It sure would look cool, or better yet change colors for each gear! June

[June]

Ft. Smith National Historic site was fun! This is where Hanging judge Parker presided. It's a piece of the wild west. Here are some pictures I took. I imagine by now some might be thinking June is a degenerate gambler ! Actually I am having a ball! June

[June]

Found all these neat old cars for sale on the main drag here in Ft. Smith. Only one Volvo. June

[Rattnalle]

That Edsel looks nice. I can see why they weren't a hit but at the same time can't help but like them anyway