Well not too much to report today. Yesterday we left Key West, took the compulsory pictures at Mile Marker 0 on Rt. 1 and the Southernmost Point do dad, and headed North. We had made reservations at an Econo Lodge in the Homestead/Florida City area. Along the way, we stopped at the T-shirt outlet again, to replace a Croc Letter I had lost. You could say, "Wes lost his S in Key West" (as opposed to those who loose their S’s in Las Vegas or Atlantic City). We Easily found our reserved motel, and then the fun started. When we walked in the front door, there was no one around. Vickie rang the bell a couple times, but no one around. Finally the phone happened to ring, and all of a sudden this 300-year-old Pakistani woman came out from the back room looking like she just rolled out of bed. She answered the phone and then tried to check us in. After banging the mouse on the counter several times she looked for help. About that time the second shift desk clerk arrived (a pretty red head in tight jeans with a stunning body) She also tried the computer, but with no luck. Then the owner came in who was apparently the 300-year old woman’s husband. After much very loud talking, it was established that the computer was locked up. They gave us keys and told us to go on to the room, we could check in later. We got to the room, which was ok, nothing special, but clean and discovered a unique set up. It had said on the board at the desk that the refrigerator and microwave were an additional charge. The way they accomplished this was totally hi tech. There was a crude wooden box affixed to the wall, and the plugs for the fridge and microwave were locked inside. After I agreed to the $1.00 per day up charge, they told me to tell the cleaning woman in the hall to turn the things on. Well I told her, and she looked at me like I was speaking Swahili. I waited for 15 or 20 minutes, and then checked again. They told me they had given the approval to another guy. He finally met me in the room and we got everything plugged in and tested. Of course to save money, the AC unit had been left off, (it was 92 outside) so it took quite a while for the room to cool down. Another interesting aside about this particular establishment: they are apparently in the middle of a large painting project (roller and tray with paint in them sitting in the hall most of the afternoon) but the person who is doing the painting is blind. All over the motel, there are large globs of paint on everything possible that isn’t supposed to have it. Since the place did have a coin laundry, we decided to do that chore because we really needed to. All that went reasonably well, and while the clothes were drying, we went just down the road to Sonny’s (Sonny Tillman who is apparently famous) Barbecue, and had "Ribs for 2" which was quick and good. We returned and forgot to look at the lunar eclipse. After a good night’s sleep (listening to the AC unit cycle on and off 745,692 times, I believe t he control logic of these particular units could use some massaging) we arose to the free Continental Breakfast. As I have espoused before, there are different levels of Continental Breakfast service. This particular one was not advertised as "Deluxe", so I figured it would be basic. What it ended up being was downright cheap. You had your choice of toast (wheat or white) margarine, grape jelly, coffee, and tea. There was instant oatmeal, but no milk. There was no fruit of any kind, and the usual weird juice machine with orange and apple. They had also taken (what looked like) Little Debby Honey Buns, and cut them in half, still in the wrappers. Of course, there was no microwave (unless you had sprung for the $1.00 one in the room—but the sign expressly forbid returning to the room with any food) so what you got was what you saw. We dined gloriously, then set about planning our Everglades adventures for the day. More later.
Wes and Vickie
p.s. Had meant to write about this sooner but it was again this morning emphasized to the greatest degree I have seen so far. As frequent travelers may already know, Holiday Inn Express started a great idea by using curved shower rods that greatly expanded the area inside the shower (a good idea which I adopted at my own house). Since then, most (even the small ones) motel chains have stolen this idea. Only problem appears to be in execution. No one seems to have told the installers that the desired end result is more space in the shower so 90 percent of the newly installed rods are installed 6-8 inches back from the old rod mounting points (which are usually visible due to patched mounting holes). End result is they actually make the shower smaller. A good idea gone sour.
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