No room at the inn/campground

[ragtoplvr]

When I enter the state I think I might be spending the night in, I try to detour to a interstate.  I know, I hate interstates too, BUT at or near the border there will be a rest area state info center.  Ask the staff there about places to stay, they are there to help and they have been good to me.  Once in Iowa there was some stupid race going on, they must have made about 50 phone calls for me, all rooms were full, and found me what was about the last available room in the central part of the state.  Oh and that room was far from free, 115 for a super 8!.  But it was going to rain.  And hail, flood, tornadoes.  That room was cheap at 2X the price, but do not tell super 8.

rod

[swingset]

First and only time it happened to me (I usually plan well), I tried to get a room in Upstate NY when I was travelling years ago, and everything was flogged for some festival that was going on in the area. Ended up going into a restaurant to grab a bite, look at the map and figure out where to go. Talking to the waitress, who was mighty cute, she offered to let me set up camp at her place which was close by. After going to her place and setting up camp in her back yard....talking to her the whole time, we hit it off and I ended up crashing on her couch, where we sat and shared a few drinks, watched some TV, and made out for a while. Ended up staying with her for the whole weekend.

Good times, and no it was never a "dear Penthouse forum" letter. Nice time, nothing freaky, just a pleasant weekend with a cute girl.

[bomber]

happens all the time with motels . . . . who knew that the Mississippi river had become a tourist trap? ;-}

it wouldn't be so tough if chain motels would reach back into the past and adopt a habit from lil roadside joints -- a Vacancy/No Vacancy sign -- you could just keep riding, instead of making multiple stops

[PatM]

Always start looking by 4 - 5 PM. I do get caught once in a while. I guess you never learn.  

[Geoff]

I got burned twice while looking for a motel. First time was during a trip to Sturgis. My riding partner and I thought we'd wing it. Big mistake. We wound up in some Bates Motel lookin' place a few miles off the interstate. Second time happened in Green Bay, Wisconsin the nite before a Packers game. When I told one desk clerk I had no reservation, he laughed like Joseph Stalin after he enslaved most of western Europe.

[mlinkibikr]

Years ago my buddy Dan and I rode up to Smoky Mountain National Park - figured we'd just camp there. Had no idea it was fully booked ... we found a campsite where the occupants said we could sleep, but the Ranger came by, saw our bikes, and threw us out. This after our 4 beer post ride workout - so now we have two slightly tipsy bikes finding our way in the pitch dark down the hill ... we spotted a pasture, stashed our bikes and slept on our ponchos. Woke up wet and cold, and completely surrounded by a herd of curious cattle.

Second "oops" was a long, hard, hot day culminating in Sun Valley, Idaho. To my dismay the town was "sold out" for some ice skating competition. It was a long and numbing ride back down that mountain to the chain hotel on the interstate. I detest figure skating to this day.

Planning is only important when you fail to consider it.

Dave.

[Snowbird]

it wouldn't be so tough if chain motels would reach back into the past and adopt a habit from lil roadside joints -- a Vacancy/No Vacancy sign -- you could just keep riding, instead of making multiple stops

Yeah, good point. Only the mom and pop ones have those nowadays.

I think anyone who travels without a rigid agenda is going to encounter problems finding a room sooner or later. It's happened to me recently in NH. I finally found a room at about $60 more than reasonable, but the alternative was to get onto the Interstate at night where fog was setting in. Keeping $60 in my pocket was not nearly so attractive compared to the potential for death... so I made the wise choice and paid.

It might be a good idea to pack a tent and a couple of blankets.

[GoneRacin]

Since I ride alone, I just wing it. If I have to crash on a park bench overnight, Its no biggie. I have stealth camped several times just because I couldnt find a motel. Most churches dont mind if you get out back in the woods. I always carry my tent with me on trips just for such occasions.