Tuesday, May 3, 2016

And then I saw Jupiter




Road weary.... and its only Tuesday. I left home early yesterday, drove to Mount Airy, then up to Bristol Va, spent the night in a skank motel, it was free with my Choice Hotel points, good thing because it sure as hell wasn't worth paying for. There were holes in the carpet, holes in the shower ceiling, it had an odd odor.... I'm just so tired of these "economy" hotels. They suck!

 I have a minimal travel budget that does not allow for Marriotts and Hiltons, which I am used to staying in, and I am not enjoying these stays one damn bit. In Charlotte, the desk clerk gave me a room that was the one and only room in the entire hotel that had construction going on literally right outside the window, the construction guy was looking right in at me when I entered the room and he watched me as I turned right around and went back to the desk clerk. Honest to God, how could she not have figured this one out!??  I'm going to have to talk to somebody about this. I am gone for the next three weeks and I can't take many more nights in these toxic chemical boxes. 

I ended my day today in Asheville NC and my listed hotel was a Quality Inn that I am familiar with. The hotel just direct bills my company so it is nice to not have to pay and turn in expenses. This place was fine, but the smell of the cleaning chemicals in these places is killing me. My allergies go into overdrive every time I walk into a room. I left the door open in this room and turned the AC way down, ran the bathroom fan and it went away. I had to go and get something for allergies, my head just completely closed up. WHY!?!?!?!? 



I needed some real air, so I went down the road to Whole Foods, got some good fruits and salad and a six pack and drove up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and had myself a little picnic, watching the sun set. Heaven.... I have sat at this same spot so many times with Wesley and Gerry, homesick now....


And then I met Jim from the local Asheville astronomy club. While I ate, I watched from a distance as he fiddled and fiddled with this gigantic telescope and wondered what he was going to look at. He walked over after a bit and said if I would like to see Jupiter, I was welcome to come over, it was just coming into view. Well now, why not? Beer, Kale and a Jupiter viewing....

I saw Jupiter and three of its moons, the same ones Galileo saw years and years and years ago. Jim lives five miles down the road, travels alone in his little RV there and hangs out with the local astronomy club. I admire his contentment with his solitude. He said he comes to this spot nearly every night when its clear and sets up his telescope. What a life.... he was very kind.


Then, when I got back to my hotel it was lit up like.... well, like I don't know what! I just burst out laughing at this sight. What in the world?!  It was like they were waiting on the Wizard of Oz to show up or still celebrating St. Patricks Day. Sure was festive and an interesting follow up to the mountain solitude and Jupiter with her moons.


Life on the road is good and bad. Lonely sometimes, but never dull when you just look around. I'm ready to get back to my bed though!

8 comments:

cookingwithgas said...

It's those chance encounters......being on the road takes mega guts!
Sleep well.

Tracey Broome said...

Takes mega lack of good sense, haha! Some days are fun though....
xo

Dennis Allen said...

Hey, there are plenty of cheap motels that use no cleaning products at all. Try them. Seriously, all those smells bother me too. Good luck

Tracey Broome said...

HA! Dennis, I'm not sure which would be worse :)
What I need is a camper!

Michèle Hastings said...

I feel your pain, I totally hate staying in yucky motels/hotels. We have finally found a decent inexpensive place to stay when we travel to NH. We always plan our day around being at that hotel by night time.
I think a camper is a great idea... except for the gas mileage.

Anonymous said...

The sight of the light show at the hotel might have put me over the edge! Maybe your company would buy you an RV to travel around in? You could have a little bit of home with you wherever you go.

Brenda Neall said...

I vote for the RV as well ... one like Jim has .... or even better ... one like Dennis's :)))

Lori Watts said...

I live in Maine. I know ALLLLL about idiot governors.