Things You Just Can’t Plan For: Part I

Last September 25 of us set out for Arizona and places in between. The first night we intended to stay in Alamosa, CO. All along the route, I was making phone calls to let people and stops along the way know our ETA. All day long I was able to make contact with actual people on the phone and things were going along swimmingly….well with the exception of one place; our hotel.

I kept trying to call and would get their automated system. I’d punch the appropriate number, but the system wouldn’t let me leave a message. I would keep trying all along our route. Never was able to speak with a real person. This bugged me, but I wasn’t super concerned.

Perhaps I should have been.

When we arrived, the hotel lobby was buzzing. Another bus was checking in. I waited our turn…usually they have our keys ready for me to distribute and the process is simple. Our busdriver had only 2 minutes to spare on his day of driving, so we were all unloaded and ready to hit the hay. The young man at the desk was very capable but sure seemed nervous when I was asking him questions. Not a good sign.

Finally he told me that they did not have us down to come in that evening…they actually had us down for the same day of the next month! Another bad sign. 

We needed 16 rooms and they only had 9. Our bus driver was out of minutes and I needed places for people to sleep. I could get enough rooms for all of my people to have a bed that night, but it required transportation to get them to those other hotels. 

The hotel where we were supposed to have 16 rooms did not have a shuttle to get my folks to other hotels….what to do…what to do…..

Well, it turns out that Alamosa, Colorado does not have any Uber or Lyft services. Alamosa only has “Little Stinkers” cab company. And I might add that Little Stinkers only has one cab; a Chevy Equinox that has a skateboard and large backpack in the front seat as well as a cinder block, gallon jug of water and a gallon jug of wiper fluid in the back.  Oh, and the windshield was cracked all the way across….

Needless to say it took some doing, but we got everyone shuttled to a hotel and in a room with a bed for the night. Was everyone comfortable? I wouldn’t say yes….but what’s one night? Especially on your first night out on a 8 day trip?