Wednesday Feb 3rd – Location Montague-MIDid not sleep too well last night. Went to bed fairly late because I was waiting for the nightly phone call or text from my daughter on her progress to Washington State. She had a very dangerous and close call with a semi-tractor trailer and that made for a restless sleepless night for me. For her too as she did not drive again on that long way out to their new home. Weather is almost constantly on our mind these days. Nothing like in Florida or our days in the Caribbean.
We decided to wait out winter storm Kayla, rather than trying to make it to Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and our friends Amy and Jeff.
We decided to wait out winter storm Kayla, rather than trying to make it to Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and our friends Amy and Jeff.
Instead we decided to have a relaxing day today. Went back to the soda shop for lunch, spoke with two elderly (86 and 87) yet lively sweet gentlemen who had some amazing stories to share, ate a delicious extended lunch, ordered some soup to take with us and hung out in the room the rest of the day. Sometimes you just have to turn the action meter down a couple of notches to pure lazy. Snowy cold outside helps with that.
Thursday February 4th – Location Montague- Michigan (Still)
Sleep was better last night. Thank goodness. Woke up to a snowy winter-land outside.
During breakfast this morning the GM of the Inn asked us about the night clerk. Being previous innkeepers, I would have surely wanted to know if I had someone on staff who was actually a rude and unfriendly person.
We don’t take complaining about someone lightly, unless well deserved and we were even going to let this one slide. But since she asked us, we felt the need to be honest. We were apparently not the only ones who felt that she could be more friendly. We had a lovely talk with the GM and traded some whoa’s of being an innkeeper.
Beyond that we decided another somewhat relaxing day was in order to gear up for a traveling day tomorrow. Went to the cozy Book Nook for lunch, took some pictures, took our time packing then relaxed in the jacuzzi again. Now watching some of our favorite TV shows, one being the Big Bang Theory, as it never ceases to make us laugh. Carpe Diem gets a new meaning when you’re snowed in. But we also learned that you can find marvelous deals at hotels and guesthouses. At $55 plus tax a night (special), we have a great time.
Friday February 5th – Turning South on US 31Woke up irritated by inconsiderate people. People, people………if you are staying in a hotel, inn or B&B with jacuzzi’s or in-room whirlpools…..please be considerate and not turn them on at midnight and wake everyone up. I guess in our case they apparently could not read the sign that stated the hours of operation.
Yeah, that was my night. Throwing some clothes on and stumbling out to the front desk to get them to call the guests directly above us. Han slept through it, so he must have been exhausted, or his sailor years have made him immune to the sound of rushing water. I made the mental note however to ask for top floor room for our further travels.
Packed up the car to head south for Memphis Tennessee.
The roads were still snowy and partly icy, so the first hours were hesitant but still we progressed nicely out of Michigan into Indiana. We decided that since US 31 had been such a delight (cleared and light traffic with hardly a trucker on the road, on our way up, we would also take it down, rather than go west to Chicago and then dropping south to St.Louis. Well we’ were not that lucky this time. A couple of hours into 31 South we stopped over for a quick bite and a look-see at an Amish store on US 31.
First thing that was pointed out to us when we entered the store was a letter from an irate person complaining how the horse outside was treated by the owners. Here is it for your perusal and amusement. Click on Pic.
The food and flavors (Chicken livers, gizzards and breads) were nothing short of amazing and strolling around all the yumminess while chatting with the friendliest people made it a perfect little stop. Rarely do we miss the opportunity to eat beyond the daily staples. Chicken, beef, shrimp can be had anywhere these days, but gizzards and liver……not so much. We’re already looking forward to Cajun food next week. Oh yeah, Bathroom breaks were taken in pink outhouses, clean but a bit cold.
Back in the car we went as far as Mt. Vernon in Southern Illinois and stopped for the evening at the weirdest Holiday Inn I have ever stayed at. It looked like something out of the movie “The Shining”. I expected to see “redrum” written on the walls. I was also concerned that the elevators would get stuck in between floors with all the shaking and rambling as we went up or down.
In the public bathrooms were ashtrays attached to the toilet paper holders. Yes, I think it’s time to renovate. LOL
Breakfast was horrible, horrible. Not the best way to start another long day of driving.
Saturday February 6th – Destination Memphis Tennessee
Yes, the kids and grand kids arrived safely to their destination and love the Seattle Washington area.
I am very happy for them. And with that information safely tucked away, this nonny’s heart arrived safely in Memphis in the mid afternoon.
We thought it was a bit strange that to get to Memphis we had to cross the Ole’ Man River twice while driving through Missouri and Arkansas and coming in from the west, but hey, our “leaders” must have had a reason to complicate this trip-state Mississippi River triangle a bit.
We took the opportunity to move everything out of our car in an effort to re-arrange luggage and necessities. Two lorries full. Traveling with a shotgun and a guitar case may create some confusion in other cities, but in Memphis no-one seemed surprised nor alarmed.
Dinner was at Louisiana Kitchen Popeye’s across from the hotel, a good ole southern Cajun staple and filled us up for the evening. Relaxed and gearing up for an exciting event filled day tomorrow. I am so very much looking forward to our trip to Elvis’ Graceland first thing in the morning.
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