Our efforts to recover from that navigational faux pas were quickly rewarded by another ill-timed occurance. The lone highway which took us back to the wonder storm was completely blocked due to a poor valet job by a local turnip farmer. 
The day ended just north of Goodland, KS with us taking photos of power lines backlit by continuous lightning strikes. At 9 PM we headed to our favorite lodging in town - The Holiday Inn Express. It was after 9 PM and the town was rolling up its streets for the night. We had to grab dinner somewhere quick, or resort to Conoco burritos once again. Fortunately the drive-thru window at Taco John's was still open, for another 20 minutes (this ain't no college town).
We still had the radar up and noticed two straggling storms bringing up the rear of the tornado-warning parade. They were screaming north at 50 mph with a bullseye on Goodland. I dawdled over the order window menu - trying to decide between the grilled opossum tacos and the "curiously delicious" Cheese Cruds. The car shuddered in the 40+ mph south winds, with gusts to warp 3. As we pulled up to the pick up window, the two teenagers inside took their time preparing our meal. Minutes passed. The storm was at the city limits, with a radar image which used all the colors available. I knew we shouldn't have ordered the extra gwok.
Finally the window opened at the taco dude hoisted our 3-bag order to the window. The wind tried its best to slam the window shut, and I had images of our taco plates blowing into Nebraska. The window-to-window exhange was made with only the loss of a medium-hot taco sauce package. We warned the two guys inside that they may want to leave work a few minutes early, or head for the veggie fridge in back.
As we headed south a mile to our Shelter Inn Express, the winds intensified. Gravel pelted our car. The covered registration parking area was jammed with 5-6 vehicles. I doubt there was a rush on rooms as opposed to a bunch of weenies afraid of a little hail. More gauling yet was one vehicle was a pimped-out Hummer H2 with oversized chrome rims. It makes me hate Hummers even more - built for combat, but afraid of a few hail stones!
Just as we pulled to the curb, only minutes away from tacos in bed with the Laker-Suns game on the widescreen, the entire town lost power. DOH!! As John tried to exit the drivers side, his door blew shut on his leg - DOH!! He actually said something else.
We scampered into the darkened lobby with our taco plates under each arm, and pushed through the gawking Hummer boys at the lobby door. With the emergency lights on we could at least sit at a lobby table (I like the word "lobby") and distinguish the difference between the guacamole and the cheesy-goo tubs. John checked us in as I layed out the Mexi-feast under the best-lit complimentary-breakfast-buffet table. It seemed to work just as well for the not-so-complimentary cold taco dinners. The huge picture windows rattled hard, as though they were going to come crashing in at any moment.
Just as we were about to take our first bite of "real" food in over 12 hours, the horror struck! The Bud Light was still in the car!! Dinner was halted immediately, and then we noticed...there were hardly any people around the lobby area anymore.
Just as we pulled to the curb, only minutes away from tacos in bed with the Laker-Suns game on the widescreen, the entire town lost power. DOH!! As John tried to exit the drivers side, his door blew shut on his leg - DOH!! He actually said something else.
We scampered into the darkened lobby with our taco plates under each arm, and pushed through the gawking Hummer boys at the lobby door. With the emergency lights on we could at least sit at a lobby table (I like the word "lobby") and distinguish the difference between the guacamole and the cheesy-goo tubs. John checked us in as I layed out the Mexi-feast under the best-lit complimentary-breakfast-buffet table. It seemed to work just as well for the not-so-complimentary cold taco dinners. The huge picture windows rattled hard, as though they were going to come crashing in at any moment.
Just as we were about to take our first bite of "real" food in over 12 hours, the horror struck! The Bud Light was still in the car!! Dinner was halted immediately, and then we noticed...there were hardly any people around the lobby area anymore.
Why? As we took a short bathroom break, we noticed what appeared to be a line coming from the Women's Restroom. Yes, yes. That's typical. But not with a bunch of men in the line too. The Women's Restroom was the Tornado Shelter, and, that's where everyone had jammed themselves. Of course, being the knowledgeable meteorologist that he is, John knew that there was NO tornado risk from these storms.
So we resumed our dinner supping, alone in the lobby area, while everyone else cringed terror-stricken in the Tornado Shelter. But wait!! What about our libations?
After sending John out into the hurricane-force winds and horizontal rain for the Buds, we resumed our meal. Soon after we headed up to our dark but dry room. We pressed the elevator UP button and waited. Hmmmm. Seems as though though it too runs on lectricity. We gave it another minute then headed for the stairs. Yelp will hear about this.
After sending John out into the hurricane-force winds and horizontal rain for the Buds, we resumed our meal. Soon after we headed up to our dark but dry room. We pressed the elevator UP button and waited. Hmmmm. Seems as though though it too runs on lectricity. We gave it another minute then headed for the stairs. Yelp will hear about this.
No comments:
Post a Comment