If you're gonna have an adventure, HAVE an adventure

[gurdymonkey]

Made remarkably good time through the 580 corridor out to I-5, resulting in my pulling onto the main drag of Barstow around 10 PM.

I'd read widely divergent reviews of the Route 66 Motel and decided to try it on the grounds that (A) I'm Having An Adventure, (B) said widely divergent reviews tended to separate the bikers from the yuppies and (C), surely there are karmic rewards for supporting a local business as opposed to a name-brand chain.

Vintage motor court layout with a swimming pool in the center of the parking lot, only said swimming pool is now filled in and decorated with Barstow/Route 66 stuff. Likewise, the lot has some vintage cars parked in it. I could tell when I pulled in that they'd re-windowed and doored the units.

The office reeked happily of curry and I was checked in by a very nice East Indian (or possibly Pakistani) lady who presented me with a Route 66 Motel post card and a travel sized tube of Colgate. The credit card machine coped admirably with my Visa gift card (might as well use my "Christmas bonus,"). I had to jiggle the key slightly in the lock and the door has to be closed just so to get the deadbolt to line up with the niche it slots into, a side effect of putting a mass produced Home Depot door into where a much older door originally fit. 

The room has a round bed! The chairs and dresser are a bit dinged up, but the heating unit looks brand new and works like it, the TV gets a decent selection of cable stations, and there's even a small fridge and microwave in the unit. The plaster and moulding are old but freshly painted, the fixtures in the bathroom are likewise old, however, everything is clean and there's enough soap to outfit an expedition or something. I'm right next to the office. There's a little street noise, but it's not bad.

Onward tomorrow!

 

Comments

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you are having quite an interesting adventure!! :D Please continue to keep us posted!

[antoniseb.livejournal.com]

Get your kicks!

[ladycelia.livejournal.com]

I love old motels. If you ever get up to Chico, stay at The Matador.

[la-peregrina.livejournal.com]

Go, you! Yes, please keep us all posted. Makes me think of fixing Brian's laptop once I get work and doing something similar once I have vacation time.