Smithgall Woods Redux – Day 7

21 November 2024

I slept really well and was awake by 6 am. I checked email, read the news, had a cup of hotel coffee (ugh!) and then showered before breakfast. We were not impressed with the breakfast. I did have my Raisin Bran. I finally left Macon around 9 am.

Traffic was mostly light and I didn’t have any slow downs or stops on the interstate other than rest room breaks. It put me into Ocala a little early for a 3 pm check in – 1:40 pm. However, the very capable clerks at the front desk found out my room was not available but provided me with another room on the 9th floor with a king sized bed. That’s an upgrade and I don’t know if I’ll be charged for it but what the hey, it’s a Hilton.

They have a bar/restaurant. The bar has a happy hour at 4 and I made reservations for dinner at 5 pm. I’ll definitely visit the happy hour first.

Life on the interstates is pretty good with a book downloaded from Chirp. I’ve listened to three books this trip. It beats listening to political news and repeats on NPR. You can keep an ear on the book while you keep an eye on the road.

Well, happy hour was a bust. I don’t know what’s wrong but I started feeling ill. I ordered my usual martini and a meat and cheese plate. When the plate came out, it was huge! I ate a few pieces and the more I ate and the more I drank, the worse I felt. I left half a martini on the bar when I signed the check to the room.

As I headed to the elevator to go to the room, I got in and punched 9. Nothing happened. It keep saying it was in progress. When I opened the door on 1, there was a woman standing by the elevator button. I tried again. Same thing. I wonder if she was hitting the button when I went in. Two gentlemen went in while I stood outside on the 1st floor and the woman wandered away. After the gentlemen punched in a floor, the elevator started to move. I then punched the call button for the second elevator. The woman was very weird. Either that or 1/2 a martini made me drunk.

I’m heading to bed at 5 pm. Of course, I’ll read but I really do think I’m coming down with something, Just what I needed. Stay tuned!