I think I have lost my motel-lovin’ mind.

I booked a room at a Best Western hotel here a month ago. I thought I had booked with points.

I hadn’t.

I thought it was a new hotel. It wasn’t.

Huh?

The receptionist told me although it was a pet friendly hotel, it didn’t smell.

She lied. We left.

Fortunately for us, the hotel next door was not pet-friendly, didn’t smell, had an available room AND a pool. Thank you, Holiday Inn Express.

Still, my reputation for finding great hotels is ruined. Banjo Man keeps giving me worried looks.

We had such a lovely visit in North Platte with Nancy and Ned. Bonus: discussing paint colors for the office and the gorgeous upstairs tv room. Want a design tip? If you don’t have a rich navy blue paint chip, take off your dark blue jeans and hold them against the walls.

While wearing your underwear.

It worked. We loved the color. And I put my pants back on before we sat down to lunch.

Our view this morning:

On to Lincoln to meet special friends Tom and Cynthia for dinner. So much fun to talk and laugh and share stories!

The restaurant loved pumpkins. And I loved this one.

I’m now in bed, having done a lot of stretching in the pool. My Sunday afternoon hike up to the Pictograph cave was long, steep and hot. So much steeper than I remembered, but I had no doubt that I could do it. After all, I spent the last five months doing water aerobics three times a week. And hiking up and down the hill to the lake is great exercise. I am in shape!

I was so wrong. My right hip has been complaining ever since. I am limping and taking Tylenol and walking like an ancient person.

Am I too old for archaeological adventures???? Oh, please, no!!!!!!

We are off to Omaha tomorrow!