Cheap as Chips

After a fairly slow start we piled our gear into our bags and checked out of the Equity Point to embark on the road trip phase of our adventure. After much debate, by virtue of his London driving experience, Fraser drew the short straw to occupy the drivers seat out of Manhattan. Another quick jaunt on the subway, bags in tow, had us poised to take possession of our Dodge "Caravan" people mover. The very New York receptionist (think an older version of Janice from Friends) at the hire place greeted us with

"Now you've booked the mini van, are you sure that's still the one you want?" with a look on her face like someone crapped on her desk. I think her name was Deborah.

Initially thinking it was a ploy to up-sell us we were sceptical but 20 minutes later we were tentatively pulling out onto Broadway's chaotic traffic in our fully spec'd GMC Yukon SUV. Originally quoted $4650 for the dodge, the much more comfortable Yukon only stung us $3300 for 50 odd days of cross country road trippin'. Goes to show how overseas tourists get taken to the cleaners on pricing (the cheapest quote I could establish from Australia was over $7k)

It's bigger than a Hummer

We were off, the beginning of the road trip proper. It was with a feeling of excitement and freedom that we passed under the Hudson and into New Jersey. The trees lining the interstate, dressed in their finest fall colours, paved the 120 miles to the Jersey Shore and into Atlantic City.

The first action item was to locate some accommodation so we hitched our horse beside the Tropicana to begin what would turn out to be an eventful search. Upon entering the first hotel we were met at the door and informed that this hotel is where "drugged people come" and were shown to a dubiously more upmarket joint across the road. We moved onto the fine establishment known as the Martinique Hotel and were invited to inspect one of their $60 per night rooms. The repulsive stench we were greeted with, if bottled, could only be branded "Odour de Dead Hooker". The girls bravely made it to the back of the room, passing the crumbs on the bed and ingrained filth. I recoiled at the door and when I nearly slipped on a well used condom the unsuitability of these lodgings became fully apparent. Two doors down we found a $59 dollar room, sans smell, where we checked in for our first night away from NYC.

Lunch at the Tropicana was followed by a quick scope of the gaming floors and bars. On in particular was earmarked for it's 4-7pm happy hour of $2 pints.

Atlantic City regained it's popularity as a holiday destination in the 1970's after decades of depression when gambling was legalised. Strolling down the boardwalk passed the crumbling casino facades it becomes apparent that most of the city hasn't moved on since it's hay day. It could have been the absence of people, the cackling homeless woman or the hoards of stray cats but the general feel of the place was a bit bleak and desperate. Winter is hardly peak season in a 'Resort' town and maybe things pick up in the warmer months. It's fair to imagine that gambling is propping up the place.

We took our $25 for $10 slots vouchers and headed out for a brew and then to make it big. Half a dozen pints of PBR and a few $5 Long Island Iced teas later we made our way through the jungle of slot machines to join the rest of the degenerate gamblers. A few spins later we had all beat the odd's (to an extent) and came out about $50 ahead, conveniently the same amount as the Chinese joint was asking for an entree and a main for four. I won't be recommend Beef Congee (think stirfry meets porridge) but the price was right.

High Rollers of the Slots

We left behind the bright lights and sound of falling quaters for some well earn't shut eye. It will be interesting to see if the morning casts a different light over the tired boardwalk.

Beer of the Day:
Flying Fish Extra Pale Ale - $6 Pint Glass - Not hoppy like the name extra pale ale suggests, citrus, grass clippings? Light and refreshing, delicious after several pints of $2 PBR.