13 July 2024
A day of no dizziness, no falls, no health issues! I did put a dent in my Jeep on the right side when I hit the wooden gate of the Waterfront Hambleton Inn. I’m not sure I was the first one to do that but if it was on me, I’ll pay to have it repaired.
The trip was 9 1/2 hours. Most of the time was spent in gridlock in DC and then getting across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
This is my second time across the bridge. The first time was when I was around 5 years old and traveling with Archie and my parents. You can tell the traffic was moving slowly if I took a chance on a photo. There was no real reason for the backup but for gawkers and rubber neckers. The trip was 9 1/2 hours and I’m exhausted.
I got a phone call from Bobbie that I had left a large packet of pills and a shirt. I have no idea how that happened. I didn’t hang any shirt in the wardrobe and I couldn’t find the packet of pills before I left. Maybe the maid service put a shirt in the wardrobe and put the pills in a drawer?
The Waterfront Hambleton Inn is pretty nice if not a little old. I think it dates to the 1830’s and there are no even floors in the place.
The room is certainly purple. It even smells purple!
There’s a reason it’s called the Waterfront Hambleton Inn. This is a view from the inn.
St. Michaels reminds me of a very clean Duvall Street in Key West and a lot of the houses and businesses remind me of the Keys. The shops are a little more upscale.
Jasmine provided me the information I needed and she recommended a restaurant, Plates at 208. I couldn’t find it. I even had a map. Finally, I found where the restaurant was located and it had moved to the neighboring town. Jasmine needs to update her spiel.
In any case, I ate at the Limoncello Restaurant. It was outstanding!
I didn’t have a reservation so I sat at the bar. Shay was the bartender. I had the Sacchetti con Pera & Gorgonzola which was petite pasta purses filled with pears and cheese, Gorgonzola sauce, and crushed walnuts. It was bliss!
One correction from yesterday. The restaurant Bobbie recommended was the Americano, not the Americana. Big difference. The Americana is a burger joint 2 hours away. The Americano is just across the state line in Tennessee and is recognized for its steaks. It’s been voted the best steakhouse in the tri-cities, winner of the Reader’s Choice Awards Best Steak 2022, and selected one of the best restaurants of 2022 by Open Table.
Bobbie made reservations for 5:30 and told me it was around 2 miles past Elk River Falls. That turned out to be 6-7 miles past Elk River Falls. I walked in and mentioned to the host that Bobbie made the reservation for me and she gave me a choice of seating. She said they treated Bobbie’s guest special. Since it was a steak house, I ordered steak. It was a filet and it was one of the best I’ve ever eaten. You could almost cut it with a fork. Troy Boane is one of the owners and he stopped by the table to make sure I was taken care of.
The profits of the steakhouse go to charities, particularly in the area of Appalachia to help alleviate the “food desert” in which some people find themselves.
I meant to include this in an earlier post. Janet told me what it meant to be a Select Registry Inn. They are inspected every 3 years. Someone comes and stays at the inn for a few nights and checks on everything, top to bottom. They make a list of corrections they need to make and then re-inspect they are done. Four Oaks in Camden, SC is due for an inspection this year.
My experience is that Select Registry properties are a cut above most inns. They aren’t perfect. For example, the hallway between my bedroom and bath at the Lodge at River Run. On the whole, I like their properties. None are perfect.
Tomorrow I intend to sleep late and take a leisurely tour of St. Michaels. I may even spring for a massage. I’m up to no good tomorrow.
Stay tuned!
