JUNE 16, 2019, DAY 3
Up again at 7 am, we staggered through our morning routine. Cats fed, box cleaned, baggage repacked, morning showers, cats medicated. It was becoming all too familiar both to us and to them. Wrangling the felines was becoming a little more difficult as they gradually caught on. The best friend grabbed the first one and I positioned myself in front and tried to pry open Smitty’s mouth. With jaws clenched he just looked at me like I was crazy. Little by little I wiggled the syringe in and just as I was about to press down the plunger, he opened his mouth to voice his opinion and in went the drug. Perfect. Olive reacted the same but we were able to shoot it in through the side of her mouth. Eleanor, aka the screamer, performed up to par and actually was the easiest one of the bunch because her mouth was open much of the time.
While waiting for the drugs to take effect we decided to go down to the lobby for what we thought was the standard free breakfast. (Not remembering that this was the only hotel that didn’t offer that). Since we came in the back door the night before, we never realized what a confusing layout was before us. Our room was 3110 so one would think this would be on the third floor. But no, 3110 was actually in the third section of the building. That meant we had to wind our way through section two and section one to get to the lobby. This involved many right and left turns.
When this hotel was last decorated is not known but let me tell you, they made a disastrous decision in the carpeting. Down those long halls were woven undulating ribbons of various colors curving and spiraling like snakes on the run. It was enough to make you slightly nauseous and really didn’t help in trying to find our way.
Upon finally arriving at the lobby we were informed there was no free buffet but we could go to the restaurant. Not having time for this, we decided to get something on the road. We now had to navigate our way back to room 3110. You can just guess that Lucy and Ethel made one wrong turn after another. We were five minutes into our search and still no room 3110. We weren’t even in section 3. Somehow we went from section 2 to section 4. We came upon another guest who tried to help us but to no avail. Round and around we went. We even asked a housekeeper who said 3110 was on the third floor. Well, we may be lost but I was quite sure I had climbed no steps to get there. Great, lost in a Best Western in Gillette, South Dakota.
After another few minutes, but the grace of God, we finally found the right door. It was time to pack up and get on the road.
South Dakota is nearly as wide as Montana but we still had to travel the width of it. No mountains but lots of green prairies to see. But oh, the billboards. Annabelle’s Adult Super Store, Olivia’s Adult Super Store, and my favorite, Dick and Jane’s Lingerie and Naughty Emporium. I can’t even imagine enough of these items gathered together to fill a super store let alone an emporium. I do admit I don’t have much knowledge of these items but it just boggles my mind. Yes, the muse was right, farmer’s like their kink. Plus, I don’t think they have enough to do way out on the prairie.
Soon we came upon signs that advertised Mt. Rushmore. You know, that place with the giant heads of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt carved into the side of a mountain. We weren’t going to get to do anything touristy on this trip and really, would either one of us ever get this way again. That is why we decided we had to stop and see this monument.
Now, for the past two days we had perfect weather, not too not, not too cold, no rain. But wouldn’t you know it, the one time we decided to exit the car and enjoy ourselves it clouded up, lightening cracked, thunder answered and it began to pour. There we stood at the foot of Mt. Rushmore, gazing up at the faces of four of the most important men in our history and it was raining cats and dogs. We took as many pictures as we could and then hightailed it to the gift shop. And then, of course, ice cream.
When we parked it was cloudy but not raining so we thought it would be prudent to leave all the windows slightly down so the cats could have some fresh air. Arriving back at the car we quickly found out what a dumb idea that was as the front seats and floor boards were flooded. Great. Not only are we wet and our shoes soaked but we had no where dry to sit. I’m telling you, traveling with the best friend and the magical mess is always a little daunting but somehow we survive.
Our destination that night was a hotel in Fairmont, Wisconsin, right off the freeway. Smuggling in the cats was becoming routine. At this hotel there was a $100 fine for every pet not registered. YIKES. Should we drug the cats at night so no one can hear them? Only we didn’t have enough medication to complete the trip if we did, so we gambled and took our chances. It was a clean, updated room with a king size bed. Oh, good, room enough for all five of us,
The only bad thing was there were no decent restaurants open at 9:00 at night so we ended up at the McDonald’s next door. A fish filet sandwich and a Big Mac later and it was time to hit the hay. As I drifted into never, never land I realized we had two more days to go. Will this madness ever end?
magicalmess 