Greetings from the road!
Just a general update to all our friends and family, since Bill and I didn't get around to sending a holiday newsletter this year (again).
We are currently on the road headed toward Canada and having the time of our lives.
There has been a great deal of debate and confusion between Bill and I about the current whereabouts of Canada, as I had heard it was moving (along with the North Pole) West at a rate of 4 feet a year. With our atlas well over 20-years old, goodness knows where the whole country might have gotten to by now. Guess we'll be asking plenty of directions along the way!
Regardless, we found a nice little motel to stay the first afternoon, a little spot called Motel 6.
I'm not quite sure where the "6" comes in, as there were well over 6 rooms and it would have been laughable to pay 6 dollars for one, but I guess they have their reasons.
There was a pool, which was nice, since the last motel we stayed in when traveling did not. It was, however, not filled, which was a particular disappointment to Bill and I, as we hadn't noticed that it was drained upon check in and made it all the way to the pool's gate in our swimsuits, flip flops, and towels.
The gate was unlocked, so we decided since we were there we could at least enjoy a sunny day and drink some lemonade. Apparently, our being there alerted a few of the other motel guests that the pool must be filled and we were greeted by more than a few angry people who came over in their shorts and flip flops as well. Only one fellow from Denver, Stan, stayed for a nice, cold lemonade and a chat. We believe he actually might still have Bill's watch, which Bill had left on the table so he wouldn't get a tan line. (I don't know, quite frankly, whom he is trying so desperately to impress.)
The next morning we spent at a lovely little diner named Denny's, where I ordered waffles and toast, and Bill had his "cruller special" (a 2 egg omelet surrounded by crullers) after explaining it in detail to the waitress. We asked the cashier if Mr. Denny was around so we could thank him in person for the great food and hospitality, but she said she'd never met the fellow, which we considered odd for such a small town.
We gassed up at a local gas station called 76 (once again, there weren't near the 76 pumps I'd expected) and Bill chose, once again, the highest grade of gas possible. I reminded him how high oil prices had gotten and that we weren't going to get anywhere near Canada if he kept choosing the 91 grade. I watched and waited for the attendant to come out and wash the windows and check the oil, then relegated myself to the task, since I presumed he must be busy helping another customer.
We both found it fairly irritating to find out, when Bill went in to pay, that the clerk was most certainly NOT helping another customer, he was reading Auto Trader magazine and circling cars that interested him. Well, if he wanted to do business again with us, he'll certainly be surprised.
Bill kicked the tires, possibly for good luck, and we were on the road again. Unfortunately, I got to thinking about towels and realized I'd left both of ours back at home on the coffee table. Not that I'm worried about my sister coming over and finding towels on the table (okay, just a little!), but that we wouldn't have anything to dry ourselves off with should we find a filled and operational swimming pool.
We debated turning around and getting them, but settled on trying to find one at the local sundries shop.
The town, it turned out, had a nicely sized shop named Wal-Mart, which was about the biggest thing either Bill or I had ever seen. I picked up some towels with someone named "Hannah Montana" on them, but had to stop my husband while he was trying to load a 52-inch television into the cart. I explained to him the next motel would surely have TV and I'd be darned if he thought I was going to haul a television all around the country of Canada. Goodness knows what people would think of Americans if we did.
Getting out of the store proved to be a problem, as the lines were so long. Bill kept reminding me, once again, that we were on vacation and that had all the time in the world, but my head started spinning so much that we abandoned the cart and the Nemo towels then and there and made a run for the door.
When we'd gotten back to our car, Bill realized he'd left the keys on top of the towels we didn't purchase and needed to go back in and retrieve them. After 20 or so minutes, I absolutely had to use the restroom, so I figured I might as well go back in and find out what the heck might be taking my husband so long.
It turns out Wal-Mart has over 750 shopping carts and Bill was going through each one methodically. After using the restroom (clean, but nothing really to write home about), I contacted the manager about our conundrum. He put the store on something called "high alert" then Bill, he, and I scoured the carts, having to dislodge quite a few unhappy children from their seats to make sure they weren't sitting on our keys.
Well, wouldn't you know it, we found them in the 749th cart, leaving just one that we hadn't inspected. I told Bill if he'd started the other way, we'd have only had to inspect two carts, a fact he didn't quite appreciate.
The manager was nice enough to tell us, since it was so late and we were traveling , that we could sleep in our recreational vehicle out in the parking lot if we so wanted. We said thanks and let him know we had no desire to sleep inside a Buick. I don't know where he thought we were from.
We hadn't eaten dinner so we stopped back at Denny's and, can you believe it, Bill ordered breakfast again! I'm not sure which is more shocking, the fact that he ordered it, or that they actually made it for him. I really don't know what things are coming to.
The cashier was much more friendly this time and told us Harold Butler started Denny's, but he had passed away many years ago. We told her to send our regrets to his family.
As luck would have it, the Motel 6 still had a vacancy and we took their very last room (the Shriners were in town).
The ever-hopeful Bill put his swim trunks by the side of the bed for a morning swim just in case the pool had been filled while we were out.
I read a bit, then decided to write out this brief note. I'd noticed the copy machine at Wal-Mart and figured this was a good a way as any to keep in touch with you while "on the road". (Hopefully the lines will be shorter tomorrow!)
I know many of you say Bill and I don't get out very often, so I thought it'd be good to let you al know exactly how we're doing.
Pretty well considering it's just Day Two!
It feels like we're a million miles away from all of you already, even though we have yet to make it out of the county.
I'll write again tomorrow.
Love to all,
Betty & Bill
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