Hiya. Sasquatch here. Squatch for short.
Newsflash. I've never been into humans.
But I DO love to treat myself to an occasional hot bath at Lodge 902.
Partners in the Lodge, Ellen and Sarah cornered me in the tub last week. (Not that awkward considering I'm all fur.)
"We'd like you to step in and host for a night," Ellen said.
"Meet the guests. Make them feel welcome," Sarah elaborated. "Maybe shed some of your winter coat for souvenirs.... Kidding." Her smile faded once she saw mine.
"Yuck!" I replied.
Ellen leaned in slowly and dove down into my soul. "We'll comp you two gallons of citrus body wash and a carafe of rosemary bath oil."
"Done." She had me at 'two gallons.'
I hate to talk. I was not looking forward to this. But I did it.
To my surprise, I hardly had to use my delicate talk box. These humans were deee-lightful extroverts! They were happy to trade stories --- which is generous because my stories were all: "I saw someone. I ran away." THEIR stories, however, were detailed and funny and fascinating.
There was a married couple who live in two different states and meet in between every two weeks. Romantic. Followed by the British couple visiting for 3 weeks to make lasting connections with their grandkids. Awe. Then a woman here for an E-Bike job interview. Nerve-racking. Plus, two German dudes who booked a room because of the steady 20-knot kitesurfing wind on the River. Spontaneous. Oh, and a mother and daughter scheming to rent out the whole Lodge this winter. Lovely.
You humans! After hosting a few nights, well, I almost like you.
Lodge 902 partners Ellen and Sarah, see the ethos of this funky new bed and breakfast as this: ‘family, community, humanity.’ To them friends are family. That's why they asked me to host.
Their belief in inclusion is similar to that of the Hood River business community. They tend to complement each other as members of the community. Businesses offer separate products and services from each other, i.e. windsurfing outfitters offer differing brands for rent and for sale. Live music venues coordinate their schedules, filling up the busy calendar -- together. When Lodge 902 is full, they refer people to nearby Hood River B&B. The Lodge's self-serve espresso bar serves locally roasted Kickstand Coffee and the hosts can't wait to recommend local businesses for shopping, eating, renting, buying and taking lessons.
So if you come to the Lodge this summer, although you'll check yourself in and out, you might be hosted in the evening by Ellen or Sarah, or one of their friends. They'd love to hear your story, tell you about the local hot spots and help you fire up the espresso machine.
Not Looking Forward To Meeting You (but I'm getting there),
Squatch
Lodge 902 Bed & Breakfast in downtown Hood River has been renovated this year with new beds, rugs, linens and a fresh find-your-sense-of-humor vibe. It’s got six bedrooms (all with bathrooms) and comfy common areas like a veranda with views and rocking chairs and a front porch with Adirondack chairs. It’s available to rent for off-site business meetings, family reunions, wedding lodgings, men’s and women’s biking/kitesurfing/golfing/hiking/yoga/culinary/wine-tasting getaways.
So if you come to the Lodge this summer, although you'll check yourself in and out, you might be hosted in the evening by Ellen or Sarah, or one of their friends. They'd love to hear your story, tell you about the local hot spots and help you fire up the espresso machine.