Casino Rankings and Trip Talk

This information might be useful if you're planning on doing a "Rancheria Run" Northern Cali to the Oregon/Washington Border.

PJ and Penzy's 5 star list also includes these additions:

CC = good car camping

F = Good food in casino

P = Good payouts (for those who don't gamble much this means what you put in if you win comes back to you substantially)

S = A good setting or where the casino is located is a rare or pretty site

So here goes:

Across the Golden Gate Bridge from the south

1) F * River Rock Casino, Geyserville, CA Dry Creek Pomo Rancheria

2) CC,F,P *** Coyote Valley, Hwy 20 E. CA Pomo Rancheria

3) CC*(Arcata Motel6 nice/nearby), F+ ** Blue Lake, CA -- Wiyot+ Rancheria

4) CC,S,F *** Cher ae Heights, Trinidad, CA -- Yurok, Wiyot, Tolowa

5) * Sherwood Valley, Willits, CA -- Pomo Rancheria

6) F, CC, P, ** Elk Valley, Crescent City, CA -- Tolowa Rancheria (nice website)

7) F, CC, S, P, *** Lucky 7, Crescent City,CA -- Tolowa of Smith River Rancheria

8) S, F,(nice Motel6 nearby) * The Mill, Coos Bay, OR -- Coquille Rancheria

9) CC, S, ** 3 Rivers, Florence, OR lower Umpqua, Siuslaw Rancheria

10) S, F, CC, P **** Chinook Winds, Lincoln City, OR Chinook

11) S,F, ** Lucky Eagle, Washington State, Ottawa lower Elwha Klallam

12) CC-, S, * Seven Feathers, Canyonville, OR, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe

13) CC, F=, P,S, **** Bear River, Rhonerville, CA(near Eureka) Cahto Tribe

13 1/2) (no players club very small) * Red Fox Laytonville, CA


So there you have it!

Best of Luck! Join the players club to get player points

Set the track now ride the rails, like surfriding, just mark your way and go for it!

And check out Pet Friendly Belknap Hot Springs. 541-822-3512 65 miles east of Eugene, beautiful setting, great camping, inexpensive, nice deviation, cabins avail. #2,#3 allow pets.

Lucky Finale

Fourteen days and thirteen and a half casinos! All of them owned and run by various bands of California and Oregon Indian tribes, five star ratings are forthcoming by Penzy and PJ. Yet let it be said for now, the smaller the casino (with no hotel attached) had the best payouts.

And for the 85 year old wild child, good-sized payouts were had!!!

But sometimes you got to stop and catch up! Not saying Penzy ever outright said she was tired or wanted to come home. Nope. Not a single complaint. Not until day twelve PJ cranked the volume of the CD in the Saturn. Eddie Vedder's Ukulele Songs. (Thanks Mitch) The only tunes played throughout the trip. A sort of opus for the journey, mellow, contemplative, stimulating to the senses...

"No, not more plink plink plink!" Penzy begged.

As PJ had to laugh until her belly ached!



Food Booze Snooze...appropriately phrased along the Redwood Hwy, at Patrick Creek Lodge of all places, not that we slept here but we dug the signage! Especially as a match to Norma's Ocean Diner (Seaside, Oregon)



Nevertheless, the journey continued after the surf session at Cape Kiwanda, reeling from the scenic beauty of side-of-the-road sweet peas and giant trees, radiant fox glove, brilliant white queen anne's lace, and wild roses. Driving to Kelso, Washington, across the Columbia River was but another reminder of Eddie Vedder's song, "Can't Keep"

It's true, experiencing stunning beauty at the same time reflecting the raw open claim that gave Lewis and Clark the travails of a lifetime, PJ for a moment only wanted "a last breath I don't let out."

Yet arriving at Cousin/Niece Linda June and husband Ken's place, there was sweet celebration and coincidence. Linda was going in for her first colonoscopy the following day! (Reminder to all aged 50+ have you had yourself checked? Early detection can avoid serious complications! This message brought to you from one who knows!!!)
And it turned out to be all good, just like our visit! Nostalgia ruled and reminiscing fueled laughter and much needed rest (no matter what Penzy said!)
And Penzie, aka Auntie June, was bear hugged


(now isn't that the best kind of luck?)

And got to hear something other than Eddie Vedder's plink plink plink




While Macky hung out with gentle Sebastian PJ got to serve some grub to Ken in his enviable "man cave" until it was time to get on the road again.






Sweet remembrances...











BUT HEY! Not enough surfriding, PJ would note, and they hadn't taken the mailboat ride up the Rogue River as Kevin highly suggested, due to not wanting to leave Macky behind for too long, but did somebody say HOT SPRINGS? PJ's pick, along the McKenzie River is Belknap Hot Springs, between Bend and Eugene.




Sweeeeet! Parking lot snacks and a long cool drink of Oregon water...Keeping it real. At least until arriving at the next casino

...to play more ridiculous slot games, fix up a martini from the trunk, with hope of a Guinness on tap at the bar, and dancing to a band playing Neil Young songs in a lounge where no one knows your name and by 2 am it's time once again to hit the sack (or seat)

Truth is, following My Mother the Car


whether car camping, sharing meals, cheering each other on as the wheel turns, laughing at the silliest moments... it's all such fun. Like another road trip taken years before. PJ aka Shel and daughter Iya at age 15, booking across country to NYC and back, in a swift but memorable ten days. XO

Adventure is in who you're making memories with. Son Nate surely would agree.

And now...


Thanks dear Candy for the welcome home gift!

Yes. Harmony.

"Adventure!" adds Penzy.

"Always," PJ agrees.

For luck always rides along in the memory making....

Any questions? ShelbyMahan@gmail.com

Or we'll see ya out there, on the road.