A real Dog's Dinner

Day started with a walk in Charlottesville before it got too hot, then a trip to the airport to return the hire car (remembering to fill it with 'gas' before returning it and having the usual battle with the self serve pumps).  The hotel sent a Shuttle bus to pick us up for free, unfortunately meaning that I had to forgo a ride in the 'Hallelujah Taxi' which was waiting for customers. Another walk saw the Mechanic strangely attracted by the 'Big Dawg Tattoo parlour' - professional body piercings, get one and get a second half price!  We then had to walk the bikes down to the Amtrak station to check them in before returning to collect the bags. It was stinking hot again so we just waited for the (late) train in the air conditioned station - which appears to have about 10 staff around to cope with a total of a maximum of 6 trains a day............

The journey was unremarkable, other than for the slow speed of travel - despite which we arrived earlier than our late departure might have suggested. It took three trips from the station to the hotel to get everything moved but we got here in the end. This is a posher place than we have been staying in since our first few days here (this is the place with the pillow menu) - it has a VIPaws Pet Program 'Our pet friendly hotel will welcome your guest of honour with treats, amenities and plenty of pampering'. This leads me to the post title. This place has an arty farty restaurant called 'Art and Soul' and (no kidding) it has a Dog Menu, featuring The Hungry Dawg, Gravy Train, The Raw Deal and to drink with their meal 'Bowser Beer' (non alcoholic beer costing around £6 for an unspecified amount). The world truly has gone mad!!!  Having said that, anyone prepared to pay $35, plus 11% sales tax, plus a minimum 15% tip for a Power Dinner presumably wouldn't blink at buying their dog dinner and a drink. The Power Dinner consists of soup or baby lettuce salad, a crispy cornmeal cake and a homemade cookie.........

Anyway, picture of the day is of the ubiquitous sausage gravy, served with 'biscuits' (unsweetened scones to you and me) at virtually every hotel breakfast. I have spared you the grizzly details of the eating habits observed, but today we had a good 'un.  Man helps himself to scrambled egg with steak and cheese, fried potatoes and biscuits, the whole lot liberally drenched in aforementioned sausage gravy. His wife then came up to him to ask him if he wanted any of the fresh fruit salad on offer, showing him her bowl. Off he charges and helps himself to a generous, juicy portion - spooned on top of the sausage gravy (and everything else). The only surprise was that he didn't add a dollop of the squirty cream provided for the waffles!

To the airport tomorrow, so fingers crossed the flight is not overbooked and is on time