I have done it! I managed to wait out the old man and get our rooms booked in the Mio Motel. Now, there really isn't anything special about the Mio Motel. However, to book a room you have to listen to at least 5 minutes of the owner discussing the necessity to fill up his rooms with NO CANCELLATIONS in the summer because "aint no body up here in the winter". . . . and you have to listen to this each and every time you call. I called about 8 times.
He also does not like to book one day, Friday and Saturday is really what people want to do on vacation, ya know. Somewhat out of laziness, somewhat out of stubborness, and somewhat out of not wanting to now look FARTHER from the START and FINISH lines or last years resting place (although, it was a great night for me!!), this one motel room took me a long time to get booked.
Here are some reasons why I have been set on the Mio Motel -
"After 5 1/2 years I can tell you that Pete is a teddy bear. Most people have no idea how many people Pete has helped in his life, and how many people have taken advantage of him and his kindness, His standards for the motel are the same as his life, (5 stars for Pete) Clean rooms are the norm as is the service to his customers. have you ever had a bad day? Walk a mile in Petes shoes. Thank you Peter"
"I have been staying at the Mio motel 3 times a season for 10 years or more. Pete's bark is worse than his bite. He really is a great guy once you get to know him. Although i can see how others could get the wrong impression. And after all your not there to get to know the owner.He does care that the rooms are up to par. Always clean. Rightly priced and the motel is conveniently located. Every year he is constantly remodeling and/ or updating. The mattresses, pillows and linens are better than hotel grade. Always hot water. Frig and microwave with a grocery store in the same complex.All I can tell you is smile and tell him how nice the rooms are... you'll see the proud Pete I am familiar with. That's all he wants to hear, that the room was comfortable and you had a restful night. Afterall thats what you came for isn't it?"
"Be prepared for the old man at the front desk. If you like conflict this is the place to stay. He needs to retire and get out of the hospitality business. I needed a room with one bed. he insisted I take a room with two beds. He kept asking me what my problem is, aren't his rooms good enough for me. Make sure you close the office door on the way out or you will be in for a verbal tongue lashing. If it wasn't for the fact two other friends were already staying there I would have gone down the road. Believe it or not the rooms are clean."
We just had to stay with Pete for the GLR. He seems like the perfect fit :-)
Here is the full list of motels
Thursday night:
Rest-All Inn - right on Lake Huron, true coast-to-coast this year! Make sure to get out and touch the water.
4270 N US Hwy 23 (Huron Rd.) Oscoda, Michigan (MI) 48750 Phone: 1-989-739-8822Website: www.restallinn-oscoda.com
~$25/person
Friday night:
Mio Motel - I think this is located right across the street from where we ate in Mio last year. Remember every group was a party of 10!
http://www.miomotel.com/index.html
~$30/person
Saturday night:
Woodland Motor Lodge ~$22/person; 0.8 miles from the finish right on the final leg of the day. We can cheer from the parking lot!!
267 S I 75 Business LoopGrayling Twp, MI 49738
http://woodland-motel.com/
Welcome!
Your hosts, Rob and Diane, welcome you to Grayling and Northern Michigan. We are sure you will enjoy the variety of activities and pursuits that the area offers. We continue to operate the Woodland Motor Lodge as a clean, quiet family motel that has served its customers well for over fifty years. We have many repeat customers, and many who have been coming to this motel for longer than we have owned it.
Enjoy privacy in wooded, scenic surroundings. Our large lot places our cabins and most motel rooms off the road, facing a wooded central courtyard. Here you’ll find an outdoor cooking area, with picnic tables and a barbeque pit. Please look through the descriptions and photos of our motel rooms, cabins, and setting with the links on the left.
We’re constantly working to improve and update our facilities to maintain our high level of customer satisfaction. Some of our recent projects include:
High Speed Wireless Internet Access - For Blogging!!
cabled Internet Access to each room
VOIP phone system
new beds
new carpeting
updated bathrooms
3 fire pits — free wood cut and split!
kids play area
Sunday night:
Galvin and I have looked over the campground information for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We have settle on attempting to get a campsite at the DH Day Campground in the North end of the park. This campground is very close to the water (0.1 miles or less?) and only 7 miles from Empire. This should make for a very enjoyable Sunday night post race celebration.
Here we GO!
