I feel compelled to let everyone in on our weirdest stories from our trip.  We have had adventures… some good, some simply strange but all really entertaining. It has made the trip special.

The Oklahoma Toilet Explosion

We knew we weren’t really going to make it to Oklahoma City to stay the night, and honestly, we had no plans to sightsee in Oklahoma City, so we stopped just inside the state in a place called Elk City. Elk City Oklahoma had much going on.  We were so disappointed to have arrived too late for the 22nd Annual RV and Boat Outdoor Show, and too early for the 2nd Annual Scrapbookin’ Annie’s Crop & Shop. At any rate we pulled off at the Holiday Inn because they advertised free internet access.  I bargained the $95 room down to $49.99.  Fresh linens, free toothbrush, and a nintendo sixty-foooour! You can even request a firmer pillow.

Some time at five thirty or six in the morning, the toilet exploded.  Not a gentle overflow caused by an errant clog.  No, the sound of a crack and a literal explosion of fountainous toilet water, clopping onto the tile and pouring into the hallway through the bottom of our hotel room door over beige and burgundy nubby carpet.  I squealed and called the front desk, and Fritz grumbled.  After an hour or so of maintenance men and cleaning ladies jiggling handles and throwing around wet towels (quietly, because I told them they better not wake Fritz), we reluctantly shuffled over to the continental breakfast for unlimited biscuits, gravy, chocolate milk and unidentifiable eggs. They still hadn’t fixed the room when we returned, so the $95 room was had in the end for only $25.

And then we slept late.  Kansas City at night was a welcome relief between Elk City and the vortex that is Iowa.  More on Iowa later…

I sold the microwave! To a rusty gentleman in a temporary stay complex.

I’m in LA. Now all I have to do is cool my heels, plan the route, and wait for Fritz to get here! It looks like my original route is the worst possible choice, going through many mountain ranges. The best options are: north through Salt Lake and Wyoming on HWY 80 OR south past the Grand Canyon, Albequerque, and then up through Tulsa Oklahoma.  I’m leaning towards the second option, partly because its warmer, and partly because I’ve always made fun of Tulsa and I owe it an apology.  Also, it would be nice to show Fritz the Grand Canyon!

It seems that the ear problem is a mysterious low grade infection not so mysterious histamine reaction that appeared when I went back in my place. Hmm… and the mold is totally harmless, right? This is good news