The Superior Express -

This spring and summer, people in America are ready to burst out, make a break for it and get away. Much like a caged bird, Americans were confined long enough following the COVID-19 scare and lockdown, and are ready to get out of the cage.

When trying to make reservations at hotels while forming trip plans, it seemed rooms were all booked for months ahead and the prices had risen. If a person was looking to purchase recreational vehicles they were selling like hot cakes. If a person was fortunate enough to have or purchase a camper, making reservations to camp at a favorite lake was almost impossible for the weekend. At some places, even the week days were fully scheduled. Gasoline prices inched higher making traveling plans more challenging. It appeared everyone was ready to get out and enjoy life, see the sights and take the family to fun places.

My farmer husband and I began making plans for a trip to visit cousins and see the Black Hills. After making numerous telephone calls and visiting touring websites, plans were made. We tried to stay away from all the places where we figured the tourists would go, trying to avoid the crowds and traffic. Our best stay was with our cousins who had a beautiful home in the hills with wonderful views. Then it was onward and upward into the hills. The next booked place was a pricey hotel. It was so pricey I avoided filling my husband in on the cost until we were on our way there. I explained numerous phone calls had been made trying to find a room in that location and this place was the only one that had a few available rooms so I threw caution to the wind. My husband added he sure hoped it would be a fantastic hotel with a lot of amenities at that price. As we walked into the hotel lobby to check in, there was a line and only one person at the counter to aid with the registration. We waited and waited and finally got our room key card. People of all ages were in the lobby, in the gift shop and in the game area. The desk clerk asked if we were interested in playing some miniature golf at the hotel’s course. We thought that would be a good idea so she gave us two tickets. Next she said we would receive a free drink of our choosing in the food court. We decided to get the free drink. As we entered the food court, all the tables were taken. Another line of people was at the counter waiting to place their orders but we remained determined to stand in line to receive our free drink. After a half hour wait, there we stood counting 10 people ahead of us. There was only one employee waiting on people and grilling. We headed to the miniature golf course. Well, that was a mistake as the course was full. Realizing how tired we were, we decided to call it quits and went to find our room.

As we walked down the long hallway, we couldn’t help but notice that in front of each room’s closed door, there was a bundle of towels and a filled waste basket, all awaiting pick up. Finally we found our room. My husband used the key card to “swipe” open the door lock but the open light kept refusing to come on. He tried the card upside down, then flipped it over and “swiped” the other side but nothing. I could tell he’d come to the end of his rope. I grabbed the key card and walked the hallway back to the check in desk, leaving my husband at the hotel door with the luggage. Thankfully there was only two others standing in line to be helped at the desk this time, and then it was my turn. I explained the key card had not worked and had been tried several times. The desk clerk looked at the key card and showed me the correct way to “swipe” it. I explained it had been “swiped” in every direction possible. She scanned it once again and handed it to me with a big smile saying, “Here this should work”...I thought to myself, well I sure hope so. I did thank the clerk and headed back down the long hallway to find my husband leaning against the room’s door. Thankfully it worked on the first “swipe.”

The room was clean but the wall unit air conditioner rumbled as it worked to keep the room cool. The rumbling air conditioner made sleeping difficult that night but we finally dropped off into a deep sleep.

The adventure continued the next morning as we went to the breakfast area to get out free meal. A sign posted at the door told us we had to go to the front desk to get our “to go” breakfasts that needed to be heated in our room’s microwave. There was a coffeemaker and a juice container where we filled our cups and with our sacked breakfast in hand. we dined in our room. We both couldn’t help but laugh as we thought of our expensive stay in the hotel with numerous amenities.