You get what you pay for…sometimes. When it comes to overnight accommodations for weary road travelers, though, standards vary considerably. Back in the day when I had the attitude that cheapest was best because after all you just need a place to sleep, I was able to put up with a lot more. Now I find that I’m more concerned with creature comforts. Like heat.
Last night we stayed in Redding at an okay-looking, medium-priced place called the Thunderbird Lodge. It has all the modern-day amenities — flat-screen television, cranky wi-fi, a microwave, a coffee machine and even a refrigerator. We didn’t really care about any of those except the coffee part. And, of course, that was our first disappointment. One pre-measured cup each. Period.
Redding is situated in the shadow of Mt. Shasta. At this time of year it is cold – down to freezing last night with predictions of snow today. So, one of the creature comforts that seems of importance is warmth. The heater in this motel is situated next to the closet alcove and is high on the wall – so high that I cannot reach the controls. Nyel can reach them (barely!) but cannot see them. So… it was a matter of turn the dial until the heat goes on, wait until you get too hot, then turn to off and wait until you are miserably cold. And did I mention that there was only one thin blanket? Period.
It’s one of those thin-walled motels. We could hear the people above us clumping around into the wee hours and the people next door having a party with their TV cranked up to the max. Fortunately, ours is a corner room and not all that near the railroad tracks. We only heard one train whistle during the night.
The soap is like none I’ve ever seen before — a thin wafer enclosed in clear plastic. And, the shower looks iffy – the old blowing shower curtain clinging to your legs variety. I’m considering skipping mine. On the plus side, the toilet flushes (though slowly) and there were no bedbugs that I know of. I strongly suggest that you stay somewhere else if you come to Redding – unless you are in the seven-foot range.
Dave and I were talking the other day about how we had each “made do” with less than perfect accommodations in terms of appliances, “But,” he said, primarily speaking of the old refrigerator in our “new” house, “at our age we shouldn’t have to.” Well, it will make for interesting Friday talks when you get back to Oysterville. Hurry, you might find a Chinese family living there since someone put it on the market! They are buying up Seattle and Bellevue at a great rate and,I heard, turning their attention to more out of the way places! (Note tongue firmly planted in cheek)
We can compare lodging stories on the I-5 corridor when you get home. I found a truck stop motel in Coburg that was a riot! I was the only woman there. Got called “doll,” and “honey,” at the counter at the cafe. $56.95!
And it was super clean!
Redding…enough said. We drove through a few years back…..