Vagabond Inn Buttonwillow North I-5

It was a basic roadside place to sleep, shower, and get back on the road, and I didn't feel unsafe. Traveling with family, we found the service okay. Breakfast had waffles, cereal, juice, milk, and coffee, all okay, but the cappuccino machine was broken. The room looked old and run down, with outdated paint and a poor structure. There were cobwebs, and the sheets, blankets, and pillows were old, with some torn or cigarette-burned. The room itself smelled okay, though outside there was a strong odor of cattle feces and urine that didn't reach inside.

After an 11 hour drive down from the north, I arrived at Motel 6 to find the light out, figuratively and maybe literally. They had no vacancy, so I crossed the street to the Vagabond Inn in Buttonwillow. I've stayed in plenty of motels and hostels in third world countries, and I've had far better value elsewhere. See the photos if you doubt it. The Vagabond lived up to its name. The one bright spot came at check-in: a friendly woman at the front desk greeted me with a smile and gave me a room number that matched an old house I once owned. It seemed like a good sign, but that was as good as it got. Inside, the sheets had burn marks that looked suspiciously like they'd met a crack pipe. The decor was so basic it made an IKEA showroom feel like Versailles. I set my bag on the laminate table and didn't bother unpacking. There was a faint stale urine smell, and the toilet was unflushed. It was 35 degrees outside, so I checked the thermostat, only to find it disabled and not working. At least it was set around 55 degrees, technically heat. Tired as I was, I figured I could manage a few hours in semi-warmth. I stayed dressed in two layers, hoodie wrapped around me, gloves on, like I was getting ready for Everest, except Everest has better plumbing. The single pane window and constant trucks made it sound like jet engines spooling up at LAX or LaGuardia. Lying there, I started imagining bugs crawling under my clothes, then eventually fell asleep hoping I wouldn't bring home any new “guests” or bite marks to explain to my wife or a doctor. A few hours later I woke to blood-curdling screams from the neighboring truck stop. I assume a lot lizard found something she hated, in her room or in her life. Honestly, same. Then the super diesel trucks started up around 4am, and I left before sunrise had to see my choices. One helpful detail: breakfast runs from 2am to 9am. I wondered about that at check-in. Take it as a warning. You'll be awake. I paid $51 with tax, got 3 hours of sleep, and priceless memories, in the way a tetanus shot is priceless. My takeaway is that I need to learn the same lesson again and again: when the Motel 6 light is off, don't take it as a sign to try harder. Keep driving.

I wedged the table and chair against the door, floor, and "dresser" because the security latch wasn't attached to the wall. The front desk staff were awesome, and breakfast was served. It's a decent place to sleep for a few hours while crossing the desert.

Wasn't bad, and I've stayed in worse places. Just don't feed the local feral cats, or they'll keep pestering you.