Souvenir

Recently, the company I work for was commissioned for a consulting project.

The client is a mining company that produces something that is used by lots of other companies including, they said, four other mining companies in Wyoming. These companies are all their clients, they said, and they wanted us to talk with them about something. We soon established that (a) the stuff isn't used by the Wyoming companies for that the client thought and (b) only two of them are actually clients. I wonder about clients sometimes, I really do. After much dicking around with the two, I got agreement from both of them yesterday (Wednesday) to meet tomorrow (Friday). I then bought an obscenely expensive plane ticket. That was an ordeal in itself; my country of residence isn't the same as the billing address for my Amex.

This morning I got up at 3am. I flew from Ottawa to Chicago. I waited a bit, then I flew to Denver. I waited a bit, then I flew to Rock Springs WY, on what appeared to be a converted crop-duster. Rock Springs airport is very small (a handful of flights each day) and in the middle of nowhere. There is very little there. One of things that wasn't there was the hotel shuttle meant to be collecting me. It also has no taxis and no ATM. I was out of cash. The shuttle problem was eventually sorted, about an hour later, and I got to the hotel. I had a nasty feeling that I wasn't going to like what I saw when I opened up my email, so I went for a beer instead. Then I opened up my email.

I didn't like what I saw. One of the two guys I talked to just yesterday had changed his bloody mind and doesn't want to meet. This leaves me with a 7.30am meeting tomorrow and then nothing to do until I fly home at 6am on Saturday, arriving at 7pm. Rock Springs is an ugly nothing place and it's cold here. I can't even change my flights.

I'm narked.

Atlantic Xpat

Well a quick google of 'Rock Springs WY' came up with the Sweetwater County tourism site. Apparently in Rock Springs...'Fun filled days, exciting nights...it's all here!'
So what are you complaining about?

Heres the link in case you are interested. http://www.rockspringswyoming.net/

Alternatively....have another beer.

AX

AmyDavid

Ooh sounds like someone is going to have fun tomorrow with all that there is to see there.....!!!

Deffo have another beer and then one more.

windward

You could get involved with the Springs Series Barrel Racing, or any one of the other exciting events at the SEC tomorrow... http://www.sweetwaterevents.com/calendar.asp
Not much but I checked the map and you really are in butt***** nowhere aren't you.

... There's a silver lining to be found here somewhere though Souv. I am certain of it.

edit - I think AX and amy have found it.

montreal mike

I would be annoyed too. And I can think of at least one more place in the US where there is absolutely nothing to do.

Has anyone here ever been to Blytheville, Arkansas?

It is pronouced BLAAVILLE (no kiddin!)

Souvenir

If there is fun to be had here, it probably involves cousins. I'm unlikely to be going anywhere tonight. I'm knackered and have an early start tomorrow. I'm thinking room service, some hockey and a 5am wake up call.

bazzz

Anything... entertaining on the TV? You know, for a few dollars extra?

Atlantic Xpat

Ah yes, what we knew in automotive circles as 'technical videos', room service, some beer and redneck porn. What more could a man desire?

Anyway Souv, it could be worse. There could be no internet!

Souvenir

Call me old fashioned, if you wish, but in nearly two decades of travelling on business, and I don't know how many hotels, I've never felt the urge to do that. It just seems sad and pointless.

Souvenir

A productive meeting tomorrow morning followed by a taxi to the airport and an early evening beer on the deck at home. The second two of those ain't going to happen. I've got doubts about the first.

fuschiagirl

Looks like you could go and see the Sand Dunes or, as it is cowboy country, perhaps you could go for a horse ride

Or ......have another beer

Wannabe

I hope you've brought your own alarm clock, because with your luck, the wake-up call won't come, and you'll wake up 10 minutes after your client has decided not to wait for you any longer...

montreal mike

This is what I have learnt over the years ... did my fair share of travels too.

Ask for two wake up calls spaced 15 minutes apart. At least you will get woken up this way. If they fail to call you, likely you will lie awake looking at the clock wondering why neither the first nor the second call failed to materialize.

Another technique, which I do not recommend, is to pick a real cheap motel. Likely you won't need a wake up call as you will be kept wide awake most of the night by the bedframe in the next room mercilessly banging on the other side of the wall together with those predictable moans, groans and 'Oh God's as the couple in the next room makes out.

Rich_007

K. Well, say what you said above, very loudly, in a redneck roadhouse bar. Start a fight with the locals.

That'll keep you busy til you get the hell outta dodge.

Always happy to help.

R.

Souvenir

Funny you bring that up. I've just had a few beers with some oil/gas drillers.

Hardcore people, from Oklahoma. We slagged off most things on this planet. A skinny bloke with a silk tie and some big blokes with baseball caps. Go figure. I think I could quite easily become fond of everyday Americans.