May/June 2001 Trip -- Part 44: Back to Columbus, Ohio

[BarryHom]

June 2, 2001

The cast:
Me (the 29-year old)

I headed to Paramount King’s Island. I headed down I-270 and stopped at the post office that I marked before. I passed Columbus and I was sure that I would make it to the park. Then it started to pour. I tried to drive some more, but after a few exits, I had to stop.

I pulled over for some gas and there were pools of water all around the pumps. I had to jump my way around to get to the pump. I decided not to go to PKI and I headed back to Columbus instead.

I decided to stay in Columbus for two nights, since we were planning on a DIS meet at the Columbus Zoo the next day. I had gotten the TownPlace Suites by the airport off Priceline. I got it for $25 a night. I had used my Mapquest.com directions to find the place. TownPlace Suites was the only place where I had to sit down to check in. I’ve never encountered that, not even at the Breakers or Portifino Bay! You would think that if you paid over $100 for a room, you’d get to at least have a seat instead of leaning against a counter!

I got my room and it was very nice. There was a kitchen, a sofa, a good-sized bathroom, and a bed. Sometimes I’m amazed at the hotels I get off Priceline. You would assume that cheap hotels would be wall-to-wall roaches. For $25, this is a bargain! I would hate to see what the rack rates are at the place.

At this point of the trip, I didn’t want to see another burger. Since I had a kitchen, I decided to buy some groceries. I looked in the phone book and Kroger’s seemed to be the closest. I didn’t want to go to some faraway place and get lost on the way back. Kroger’s prices seemed a little higher than what I was used to in Florida. I noticed that they offered a discount card and there were plenty of card markdowns. I wondered if they jacked up the prices a bit so the discount card is the “real” price. Maybe I was being too suspicious.

I went back to the room and made myself a sandwich as I watched the Cartoon Network. I’ve never seen so many ads for Six Flags World of Adventure and Wyanaot Lake. I also worked on some postcards. I then fell asleep.

Tomorrow is the DIS meet at the Columbus Zoo.

 

[pumba]

Thanks so much for all the reports that I have read .....You are a good writer.....have you seriously given it any thought that you should do a book on rides throughout the US.......I think that you should....

 

[Marla Hellwig]

It's a shame you didn't make it to KI this trip - oh well there is always a next time!