Even though the Short Branch Saloon in Crystal is a little far removed from the Town of Pahrump, Kathy Bragg wants people to remember her establishment catches the first of the tourists; including buses, as they come off of Highway 95 heading for Pahrump.

She also wants them to know her zip code is 89060, and the 23 mile distance to her place doesn't mean the Short Branch is a world unto itself.

Bragg is a part of the Pahrump community and is sponsoring a poker run as an open house event for the Short Branch and to introduce her traveling clientele to other establishments in the Pahrump area.

Bragg has a sense of humor. It shows in her naming of this event. The 4th annual "Joke-her Poke-her" run starts with sign-up from 9-11 a.m. All vehicles are welcome and this is not an event for the kids.

The fee is $25 per person and with payment, riders will receive a numbered ticket, a map and a sheet on which to collect "stamps." The ticket entitles participants to breakfast at the Short Branch, among other things.

Breakfast is, "whatever I feel like cooking," Bragg said. "Most likely sausage gravy and biscuits and my special recipe French toast." She added.

The run itself serves several purposes. Bragg said she is constantly getting tourist at the Short Branch asking where to go in Pahrump. The route will include stops at businesses in the area.

Another purpose is a "best bartender" competition. The bars on the list know the riders are coming. It's up to the bartender on duty to give the best service to participants; and they will. Bragg is putting up $100 in cash to the winner.

Last but not least, five of the establishments will have playing cards. After all, this is a poker run and one of the objects is to assemble the winning hand. Playing cards will be distributed at five undisclosed bars in a sealed envelope and "no peeking" is allowed until riders return to the Short Branch. Jokers are wild, and only one stop has the joker.

To qualify for the grab bag drawings at the end of the day, participants must get their paperwork stamped by all 15 stops.

Bragg said, "I paid over $400 just to have the stamps made for each of the bars." There is a place on the paperwork for the stamp.

When participants return to the Short Branch at 5 p.m., the envelopes come open and the poker winners will be announced.

The high hand will win a trip to Beatty and an overnight stay at the Phoenix Inn, with free pizza and drinks compliments of the Sourdough Saloon.

The low hand wins a trip to Tonopah and an overnight stay at the Clown Hotel. Get it? Joke-her, poke-her and Clown Hotel?

Remember those numbers on the registration tickets? They will also serve as raffle numbers in the grab bag drawings. Thirteen bags containing things like "rider pins," commemorative T-shirts, free drink tokens from some of the bars, 20 percent discount coupons from Pahrump Cycle Tire, a bottle of Sambuca, free "Loosey's Meatloaf; a Short Branch specialty, Harley-Davidson hats and the like, will be given away in the drawings, but only to those who have a complete set of "stamps."

Votes will be tallied for the "best bartender" contest as well.

The ticket for those with all the "stamps" entitles the bearer to a "cook your own steak" dinner, complete with salad, garlic bread and Short Branch beans.

Karaoke, or "scareyoke" as Bragg calls it, starts at 9 p.m. with Dale Lynch as the host.

The new rear patio is open and weather permitting; there will be a fire in the fire pit on the side patio. Bragg has plenty of room for vehicles, and RV parking is available for those planning to stay overnight. All of the Short Branch rooms have already been reserved.

For more information, call 775-372-1717.