BINGO!

We left Ouray and started heading over to Mammoth (practically home!) We really didn't want to set up the tent again so we decided to stay the night in Mesquite, NV at the Virgin River Hotel and Casino. Rooms are $24.99. No, I'm not kidding. We were in the middle of nowhere when Mesquite rose up in front of us, looking exactly like the type of place you could get a $24.99 hotel room. Our first stop was the towns grocery store where you can buy your groceries and then hit the slot machines on your way out. They even have a special place you can park your shopping cart while you gamble and smoke. Seriously.
From there we went to check into the hotel. We entered through a haze of smoke and the blaring sound of ding! ding! ding! We dropped our stuff off in our depressing and somewhat clean hotel room and went to let the kids play in the arcade. Matt discovered that he had "always wanted to play bingo" so while he anxiously awaited the next game the kids and I went bowling.

We made it back to our room around 10pm and Matt left again to play some more bingo. The kids smelled like campfire but it felt worse to put them in the shower in our room so I decided to grit my teeth and wait until we got to Mammoth the next day and I could put them in a clean shower. We slept through the night with the air conditioning blasting and that, at least was a relief. In the morning Matt took the kids to get the free breakfast that came with our room (see what $24.99 can get you?!) he ordered them a plain belgium waffle. Imagine his disgust  surprise when the kids where served a large whipped cream and strawberry syrup pie with a little bit of waffle underneath. They were in heaven and we were in for a major sugar crash in the car later. We packed up, said goodbye to Mesquite and headed off looking forward to the mountains in Mammoth and the cooler air. Another travel experience that we aren't likely to forget anytime soon!