(continued from "More On That Trip")
After finally getting into the airport, and off the plane, we still had to get to our rental car and head for the hotel. Judging from the travel paperwork, the trip would take close to an hour.
It was more of a hike than a walk from where we got off the plane to the pick-up zone for the rental company. Did I mention earlier that this is a BIG airport? Since we arrived close to 9 hours late, it came as no surprise that we didn't have a car waiting for us any more. There were no more mid-sized cars on the lot to be had either. They did offer G a 2-door-gnat. (he negotiated as everything was on his card) It was with mixed emotions that he ended up haggling his way into an SUV.
The SUV had all the latest and greatest gadgets in the world. While that is nice if you plan on owning one, when renting, it is another story. I swear we sat in the parking lot for 15 minutes just trying to find all the lights and basic controls so we could safely drive the behemoth. Did I mention this wasn't a small SUV? It was a full sized beast. He was happy since it was almost as big as his van...but that is his thing.
For further entertainment, the weather reports we heard before leaving on the trip did not mention any bad weather. I'm glad snow isn't bad weather. Because it was snowing like a monster when we hit the road. In fact it snowed the whole time we were up there. Not bad, just a steady rain of flakes the whole time. Can't remember seeing it snow so steadily, yet not accumulate. Very weird.
All the way to the hotel, we bantered about whether we would still have rooms. Though they were already paid for, and confirmed, we were (by now) almost 10 hours late for check in. We were happy to find that not only did we have rooms, but they were warm, with a large comfortable bed. And spacious, equipped with a microwave, a fridge, and a coffee pot. They did not however come with food. And because of the late hour, the hotel restaurant and bar was closed. We would have to fend else where.
The person at the counter gave us a detailed map with about 25 places nearby we could go to get something to eat. What he didn't tell us was they all closed 2 hours before we set foot in the hotel. We discovered that by driving away close to half a tank of gas in the SUV.
What we did find, was a bar, with the word "GRILLE" lit up in neon. Close enough for us.
Walking up to the building, I looked at G and said, "hope you like bikes." He gave me a funny look. Once through the door, he realized what I was talking about. Inside, we were surrounded by leather, chains, and more ink than you could find at a publishing company.
He lit up, smiled, and said, "Alright, we're home." I had to laugh at his reaction. We we're both fine and comfortable with the situation. Though I will have to admit, two guys in slacks and company jackets, looked a bit out of place there. Even if it was after midnight.
The name of the place was "Stingers". Large and rustic looking on the outside, like a hunting lodge. But inside, it was all biker. Tanks, fenders, engine parts, and handlebars covered everything. However, for a bar, it was one of the cleanest, brightest, quietest, most well mannered places I've ever been in. We got quick, courteous service. And the waitress/barmaid (forget her name, but I'll call her Tat...you make the connection) was very apologetic about the "Grille" sign still being lit up, as they closed the grille about an hour before we walked in.
However, Tat was quick to point out that the fryers were still going, and she gave us a list of appetizers to choose from saying it would be easy to put together a meal from all they offered. She was right. This place had close to twenty different item to pick from. And one could, with ease, make a meal from the offerings. A meal that would sustain life, even if it was fried.
We ordered wings, okra, cheese sticks, mushrooms, mini-tacos, salads, and some other things. They all looked good by that time. When Tat took our drink orders, she told me I'd have to wait on the coffee, she just started a fresh pot and it took a while for it to brew. Seems they brew a BIG pot because they pour a bunch of coffee, truckers hit the place for fill-ups until they close. Nice to be close to the highway. And, it was darn good coffee to boot.
Then it was back to the hotel, fed, tired, and ready for sleep.
Great bars happen.
any cherry pie on offer?
Posted by: bod | April 05, 2008 at 06:52 PM
Isn't it great when something that you think is going to turn out bad ends up being pretty darn good?!
Posted by: Heathen | April 07, 2008 at 12:09 PM