Hope everyone had a good Memorial Day.. I did! I made a day trip to Black Oak Casino in Tuolumne, CA. This casino had been on my list of casinos I wanted to visit for a while. Prompted by Skee posting here that he needed a chip from there, and my desire to add a few more chips to my own collection I finally made the trip today. Got a great deal on the trip too. As many of you are aware, gas is even more expensive out here in CA than it is elsewhere in the country. I was able to find a bus company that picked me up 4 blocks from the house, and the casino offered a free lunch and $5 in cash to everyone coming up on this bus. I didn't really want to drive on a holiday weekend so this was ideal. The bus left at 7:30 and got us to the casino at 10. Got my voucher for the free lunch (hot dog, chips, soda and cookies (about what I expected except the cookies were a surprise)) and a voucher for 5 bucks cash. Found a sit down nickel Wheel of Fortune machine and played a whole dollar in it while I ate the gormet brunch. Wondered around a little bit and spread another $8 in quarters around the casino.. I don't usually do too well at slots.. not really a serious slot player.

Went up to the main cage and told them I was a chip collector and what I was looking for. The 2 ladies at the cage were some of the friendliest towards collectors I have ever run into.. they looked through there entire stock to find the nicest condition chips for my collection and traders. Many casinos in Reno and Vegas I have visited could take lessons from this small casino on customer service.

I decided to try a little blackjack since I like that better than slots anyway. The pit area consisted of about 8-10 tables.. mostly blackjack with some 3 card poker. Table minimums were only $5, not the $15 or $25 I have run into at a few other Indian casinos, so a person could actually play a bit without being too serious. The tables were pretty full but you could find an open seat here or there. I opted to sit down at a new table they were just in the process of opening up. Wanted to get those cards while they were still fresh and had some wins in them. Had a nice conversation with the dealer and the pit boss while they cracked open the new cards and shuffled them. I tried to talk them out of the jokers but the pit boss told me they shred all the cards. Very friendly folks. They use really big shoes here.. I think it was something like 12 decks. I generally prefer a single deck game, but that is hard to find in CA. They did have favorable rules on doubling down and splitting.. Any two cards or any pair.. so that helped a little. I asked about the grand opening chip and the the New Years 2001 chip.. none around at the casino but the dealer said he had both of them in his collection at home. Since it was a holiday and I didn't want to work too hard, I just played basic stratagy.. certainly didn't want to try counting into a 12 deck shoe. The casino and cards were kind to me.. managed to walk off with $114 after a $40 buy-in and appropriate tokes to the dealer.. including several First Anniversary Indian Motercyle LE chips and a $25 for my collection.

Decided to take a break and try out their restaurant. Very good French Dip sandwich, excellent service and reasonably priced at $5.95. I splurged since I was ahead and went for the 50 cent upgrade to onion rings from fries. I saw a promotion for their Dinner buffet.. they price that at $5.95 also.. will have to give that one a try if I am up there at dinner time next trip.. seems like a very fair price.. and buffet is the one game I can beat the casinos at! Looking forward to gormandizing next time.

Tried a few more rounds of blackjack but couldn't get much going.. (-10, +2.50, +12.50) Took a little break and went out for some fresh air. Came back in and set down to relax a little bit at a Red White and Blue quarter machine. I fished out that $5 half roll of quarters they gave me for coming up.. didn't want to play too seriously. A couple of bucks into it.. Bang!Wild, Red 7, Red 7.. 600 coins! I printed out the TITO of $150 to lock my winnings and played out the rest of the half roll hitting a few teasers along the way.

Stopped off at the bar for a hot chocolate along the way.. found out all drinks at the bar that do not contain alcohol are Free.. I thought this was a nice touch.

Managed to donate another $20 at the blackjack table afer playing with it for a while. Caught the bus back and was home before 6. Sure was glad I wasn't driving in all that traffic.

All in all I would say it was a very nice little trip. Very friendly little casino, good food at a fair price.. and I got several nice chips. I will certainly be going back.