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Timeless Travel Tips: Motel Moves by Ogling Oafs

 As an experienced traveler, I've seen my share of odd behaviors, cultural differences, and situations that could appear to be random, or just coincidental.  Most of the time, a cigar is just a cigar, but when it isn't, I wonder what the purpose is, and whose agenda is behind such actions? 

After I checked into a major chain motel in Phoenix, AZ on October 9, 2014, I drove around to the building with the assigned room number, and noticed a man standing next to the adjacent building.  The lot was empty, except for a bright orange semi body was parked on the other side of the building I was to be in. The man glanced in my direction, almost as if he were expecting me, and sort of smiled.  I parked, and rummaged around as I waited for him to do something.  Like millions of others do, he appeared to be busy with his phone, so I removed my bag from the trunk, as he headed for the entrance.  He said something, but I didn't hear it.  I saw him pulling a luggage carrier with several items on it about 20 mins. later.   He glanced at my car and plate as he passed by it; I suppose because it was the only thing in the lot to view.  Cigar, or Smoke? 

About an hour later, I took a walk down the street and into a residential neighborhood for a bit of fresh air before stopping at Arby's for dinner.  The counter staff was friendly, and I placed my order.  Another customer came in as I was waiting, and we exchanged a greeting.  He had some remarkable skin troubles, bad teeth, and was built as if a beer keg was between his ribcage and pelvis.  His order was ready before mine, and he left. 

I walked back to the motel, and fully expected he would be lurking around.  Intuition is innate in all humans, and mine is usually highly tuned.  As I exited the lobby after receiving extra coffee packets, there he stood near the edge of the building as I was turning the corner to walk to my room.  He said something like, "I thought you'd be staying here," and yapped on a bit as I walked briskly past him.  I had my key card out, as it was needed to get inside the building and the room.  Apparently, he was also a guest of the property, and practically chased me into the building.  I tried to pull the door closed, so he'd have to use his card to enter, and my room was the first on the hall, so I got into it as quickly as possible.  I peeked out seconds later, after I heard passing footsteps, and believe I saw him disappear into a room down the hallway.

Clearly, he knew which room I was in, so I wasn't surprised when my room phone rang a few hours later.  I had moved my car up near the lobby, but hadn't notifed the front desk; so I answered with a "Yes?"  and the other party hung up, as expected.  What a relief not to hear a bout of heavy breathing or crude words!!  

I'm calling this incident as Smoke.

I phoned the front desk, and asked if they had phoned my room, and the reply was "no."  I then stated I had moved my car to the front, as some creep had followed me.  We exchanged goodbyes and I unplugged the phone. 

It's another sunny and beautiful day here in Phoenix, and I'll be out and about looking for a place to rent.  Can't wait to see what the Elves have on tap next!  I'll have my camera ready; there's nothing like a visual to give one "the rest of the story," as Paul Harvey used to say.