It was a gray December day with a prediction of freezing rain and snow. Twas not a day one would consider for a road trip, but this was no ordinary road trip. For today, I was heading to the wedding of my best friend, Josh.
Josh and I have been best friends since we were 4 years old. We’ve seen it all, done it all, and one couldn’t ask for a more loyal pal. I moved out of our hometown of Fort Dodge, IA in 1993 when I was 15 and I am now 36, so that should give you an idea of the solidity of our friendship.
Tomorrow I am going to be putting in a lot of driving as I will be bouncing through multiple towns for various reasons so I decided to split my trip up into a couple of days to make things a little easier on myself.
I think I prefer road trips to flying because there’s something peaceful about driving, especially when one takes the back roads and travels through a lot of small towns. There’s just a purity about watching the scenery and the character of small towns always seems to bring a lightness to my soul.
It doesn’t hurt that small towns usually possess my lodging of choice: the bed and breakfast. I fell in love with bed and breakfasts about a decade ago when I attended a mystery weekend at the Victorian Villa in Union City, MI and since then, I try to stay at them whenever I can and am embarking on visiting as many as I can for my own enjoyment and for this blog.
Why do I like them so much? I suppose it’s because, unlike a chain hotel, each establishment has its own character and history. They’re also small (4 or 5 guest rooms is the norm) which guarantees peace and quiet and also allows me the chance to meet all sorts of interesting and fascinating people. They’re also private homes, so it’s always quaint and cozy. And the breakfasts. . .delicious and always a surprise.
“Aren’t they expensive?” you may be thinking. Yes, some can get kind of pricey. But experience has shown me that the going rate is usually on par with a decent hotel, so for a similar price, I’ll always take a bed and breakfast.
I’ve stopped at Carroll, IA for the night and am currently ensconced in the Adams Street Bed and Breakfast. This fine establishment is owned and operated by Joan Reiling, who warmly welcomed me into her inn. I was ready to take a load off as it was a gloomy, bitterly cold day. I had arranged to stay in the Vintage Retreat room, but, to my surprise and delight, Joan said she had upgraded me to the Magnolia Suite, free of charge.
Regrettably, there’s a bit of freezing rain going on so I didn’t do much except look at some Christmas light displays in the neighborhood. Right now, I’m sitting by a roaring fire and am getting ready to enjoy a long, hot soak in the whirlpool tub. So I wish you a good night and ask that you come back tomorrow for another tale.
Chris' Corner 