We got up at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday (yes, the time is correct), finished loading the car and took off from a dark Mankato at about 6:30. After a full day of driving we decided to not stay at the motel in Wichita where we had reserved a room but to go further into Kansas. After cancelling the reservation we got to the fine community of Pratt, Kansas, a little town full of bad motels. We reserved a room(at an EconoLodge) via the phone before we arrived, really taking a chance not knowing what it would be like.
Well as fate decided, the room was an insult to motel rooms everywhere. We asked to look at the room before committing to it and are we glad we did! It smelled of something, the lights were at least 40 watt bulbs, the floor slanted toward the shower, and basically was the perfect description of a dark and dank environment.
Obviously we told the young lady helping us out that we were going to keep going and not stay at her establishment. I think she was used to that and say, "okay" and we were off looking for a new motel.
We found a better place and stayed the night and left the next morning at 6:30.
End of day 1, more later.
