I Need a New Goal

The weekend before last, I rode 151 miles over two days from Houston to Austin.  I am just starting to get feeling back in three of my toes on my left foot.  My right foot is fine, and after nine days, I have come to the conclusion that my butt is not, in fact, broken.  Perhaps sprained.

It was a tremendous ride, and the weather held out nicely.  The nasty cold, rainy, 40 mph windy weather waited till a few hours after the ride.

I thought about doing the MS150 for a few years, but was held back by a few small details.  First (and most importantly), I was in terrible shape (till about two years ago).  Second, I didn't have a real bicycle (see also two years ago).  Check, and check.  The final obstacle was my utter and complete lack of interest in camping / sleeping in a tent.  After the first day, riders get to LaGrange, where a pop-up city (for 13,000 people) forms in a big park.  There are tents, food vendors, and infrastructure.  Political structures form, bonds get passed, corruption creeps in, and then everyone leaves Sunday morning.

I can't picture myself riding 75 miles, getting little to no sleep in a tent with bugs and loud people, and dirt, and then successfully getting up to ride another 75 miles the next day.

So to solve this final hurdle, I booked a hotel room when I signed up last September.  You can't actually get a hotel room in or near LaGrange.  They have been booked till 2035 by Halliburton, BP, and other oily businesses.  The MS 150 has a shuttle to various other towns.  I started close and worked my way out.  Full.  Full.  Full.  One more room at $350, no wait - full.

I eventually got to the Weimar Motel in metropolitan Weimar Texas.

"Yes, we have a room available."
"How much?"
"$35."
"I'll take two. Do you need my credit card information or anything to hold my room (just kidding about two)?"
"No."

Both the $35 price and the lack of any reservation infrastructure made me nervous, but I had a room.

In February, I called to just be sure.

"I am calling to confirm my reservation for the MS150."
"I have it."
"Do you want to know my name?"
"What's your name?"
"Russell Smith."
"I have it."

Certainly, this is now three red flags, but Gloria had my reservation (I asked her for her name).

The Wednesday before the ride, I debated calling again.  I didn't want Gloria to think I didn't believe in her business model.  Or that I was a nervous freak.  But since I was a nervous freak, I called.  The number was busy.  For hours.  With cell phone technology, I think it's been ten years since I heard a busy signal.

I checked on-line for anything about the Weimar Motel.  The only thing I could find was a Facebook page with the notation:
"May be permanently closed."

Not really what I want to learn about the Weimar Motel.  I call the number again.  This time I got voicemail, which had the suggestion you could try this other number.  I called the other number and it went to the generic "If you'd like to leave a message" message.  I left a message.  Later that evening (now about a day and a half from the ride), I left more messages.

I then called the Lions Face Hotel (the only other establishment in Weimar) and asked the guy who answered whether the Weimar Motel was still open.

"I think they aren't closing for good till next month.  The thing is, there's nobody ever on site.  I bet they gave your room away."
"Do you have any rooms?"
"No, we sold out six years ago."

For those keeping score, we are now up to 11 red flags.

I called Gloria again.  No answer at the Motel.  On the other number, she picked up, sounding as if I just woke her up.
"Um. Hello?"
"Yes, I am calling about my room reservation for two days from now."
"Uh, I'm not there right now, let me check and call you back later."
"Do you need my name?  Or my phone number?"
"What's your name and phone number?"

Gloria didn't call me back that evening.  Very late, I started looking for alternatives.  I finally found a room in Brenham (on the shuttle route).  It was over an hour away, and would necessitate me getting up at 3:30 am on Sunday to catch a shuttle back to LaGrange.  But they took my credit card!  And e-mailed me a receipt! I love the America's Best Motel in Brenham.

Late the next day, Gloria finally called me back.  I explained that I felt I had to find alternative arrangements because I hadn't heard from her.

"Oh, that's OK.  I converted the Motel into efficiency apartments and I was trying to figure out if I could get someone out for the night."

Gloria, this is likely information you could have shared with me earlier in the year.  If you had any idea who I was, or had my contact information.  You suck at running a Motel.  Which I guess she figured out.

But it all worked out in the end.  And now I need a new cycling goal.  And for the rest of my toes to come back to full functioning.