FestMonday, 1 September 2008
Laramie, Wyoming

Peppermill Casino
Wendover, Nevada

Ah the subtle soreness of sleeping in a car. I awoke, nestled inbetween two other burner vehicles and as I stumbled out of the car into the restrooms were greeted by other Burners asking where I was from and how my Burn was. I was a few hours away from being out of Nevada. Around 10:30 I hit Wendover, on the border of Utah and Nevada. I figured I’d find a casino with an all-u-can eat brunch buffet.

I followed another Burner into the Peppermill Grand Buffet casino, freshened up and dusted off the playa dust in their swanky restrooms, and decided to sacrifice $5 in the slots to see if I could win enough to cover the buffet. I did … in fact, made $65 which totally resolved concerns of having enough gas money to get home. That rocked. The Buffet was pretty decent, though I think I really need to stick to my guns and quit doing buffets. Too much temptation to go up for seconds or thirds with those all-you-can-eat things.

Afterward headed onwards down I80 to Salt Lake City and on into Utah. Admiring the Great Salt Lake and the interest common tradition of people to stop on the side of the road, writing things in the salt dried up pools with stones to create messages, symbols, love matches, and greetings. Hundreds of them. That was intriguing.

I called my friend Katt to see if she was around on this Labor Day … and they so happened to be having a Labor Day BBQ and grilling up some goodies and invited me to join them. Katt BBQ’s up to heaven! Thank you! It was really good catching up and meeting their neighbors. By 5’ish I figured I really needed to hit the road if I was gonna make Liz’s place in Laramie before midnight. The drive from Salt Lake City onwards to Wyoming … I counted passing 56 Burners for the day. Ran into a couple from Toronto who were coming back from the Burn onwards to Canada. They said someone burnt their art project on the playa, that they wanted to bring home, but other than that had a spectacular time. I finally pulled into Laramie by midnight or so … Liz was still up and offered me a place to crash. A real bed, soooo nice after-air mattresses, cars, tents, and wherever else this journey had me crash to sleep. A little bit of catching up and a heavy passing out and a good night’s sleep.

Peppermill Grand Buffet Casino *680 Wendover Boulevard, West Wendover, NV 89883 1- 800 – 537- 0207 *

I dropped by this Grand Buffet and Casino en route from Burning Man onwards to Utah. Playa dust-covered and all, I was welcomed. Can’t comment on the hotel or the entertainment as I didn’t partake of those services, but great penny slots with a good turnover of winnings. The Buffet, a bit pricey (but hey I won the cost from the slots) but pretty delicious. I did the Breakfast Brunch buffet and it was $14.95 all you can eat. Soups, Salad bar, Chinese food, Mexican food, seafood, and a great breakfast bar. A pretty meager dessert bar, but since I’m watching my calories, I skip that anyhow. Rating 3 stars out of 5. Visited 9/1/08.