Sophie in the Woods

Where did we leave off? Ah right, dialing other hotels. VERY fortunately i was able to book us, what i would come to find out was the last available room at an incredible historic preservation village from the 1800’s! A literal dream. Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill.

Driving up we passed fields of sheep corralled by stone fences, very picturesque even in the pouring rain. We checked in and brought our things to the room- which was absolutely lovely. We both took a much needed shower and decided to take a walk and explore some and hopefully catch a mean at their farm to table restaurant. When we stepped outside there was a rainbow. All the horror from room 301 fell off of me at that moment and i felt so relieved and at peace. The restaurant wasn’t far down an old stone path and even though we (obviously) hadn’t made a reservation they were able to fit us in and we had one of the best meals of our lives. For appetizers, Kevin ordered us a charcuterie with the best candied walnuts and bacon jam. We also got complimentary biscuits for the table. And for dinner, a fall pasta for Kevin and I got a steak that melted in my mouth. We also had delicious desert, a fall maple treat and a cheesecake of sorts. This was the fullest I got on the whole trip everything was entirely delicious and i would love to go back.

We stopped in the gift shop after dinner and in our happy haze bought some Christmas gifts and preserves. Back at the room we tucked in for the night, very happy, and slept.

Awake at 7am we dressed and rushed to the dining room as advised to “beat the large group of cyclists” that were also staying there. The dinner was so delicious that we could not find it in us to break the tentative breakfast reservation we had made- although still quite full. We both had coffee and I got granola and yogurt. I stole some strawberry preserves from Kevin’s biscuit arrangement. Breakfast was delicious but we rushed to pack up and check out and get on the road to get in line to enter the event! Brandywine here we come!

Seven AM wakeup after probably one of the worst sleeps of my life. It seemed like every little sound woke me up. We caught the sunrise over the same mountain and packed up./ Thank you campsite T5 for all of your beauty. Started drizzling at 8, right on schedule. Thankfully we had planned for that and were already backed up. Tylenol x2 at 8:30. This is the day with the longest drive. Possible 7 hours. So goodbye Stonewall and hello road and next stop Harrodsburg Kentucky!

Okay so it was only like 5 hours of driving before we got to the hotel. Which was… a 2 star Quality Inn and let med tell you about it. Firstly, when wee walked in it smelled like cigarettes and cleaning solution and the receptionist had missing teeth and the word PSYCHO tattooed down her face. She said she’d only been working there 4 months and he boss was on vacation. Our room hadn’t been cleaned yet at the time of check in so they switched us to room 301. Oh room 301. Let me tell you about room 301. Room 301 was a very odd long L shaped room. The TV was. i would say, over 10 feet from the bed. Not optimal watching distance, obviously. Here’s where it gets interesting though. I made Kevin get out the blacklight- as is customary for me- and boy did the place light up. Every corner, every wall. The carpet. The leather chair. And the most horrifying find of all… actual writing on the wall in mystery bodily fluid. Possibly spelling out KNKK? (Which upon research later may be connected to sex trafficking?) At this point i was pretty desperate for a shower and how was I supposed to get clean when even the shower was splattered with – well you get the idea.

Safe to say i had a panic attack, and immediately began dialing other hotels.

TO BE CONTINUED….