An unfriendly woman in Sequim, Washington

I was driving into Sequim, Wash., which is famous for three things: Only 10 inches of annual rainfall (it's not far from Seattle), its lavender fields, and its growing population of retirees. I was hoping to stock up on groceries and get some propane (missions accomplished!). As I drove into town, I spotted a bunch of railroad cabooses in the distance in a circle like pioneers' covered wagons.

The place was closed -- gates across both entrances. Still, it was worth a photo and a short story; I could call the owners later for more information.

I pulled the mo'home off the road and walked toward the business. The sign said "B&B," so one mystery solved.

No sooner had I snapped two photos (from the street), than a woman appeared from a parked car on the property. I smiled and waved. "You can't take pictures here!" she barked. She was very mad, a total surprise. I asked, dumbfounded, "You mean I cannot take a picture of your business?"

Can you imagine any hotel, motel, campground . . . or any other business, not permitting you to take its photo -- to perhaps share with their friends or, in my case, share with thousands of friends. That's plain stupid!

"It'll cost you $20 if you want to take a photo," she said, again appearing totally annoyed with me. I mean, there I was, on the street -- public property -- and she was telling me it would cost me $20 to take a photo of her cabooses. Well, too bad for her, I had already taken not one, but two photos, and I was not about to pay her.

I felt like yelling back at her, based on her meanness. But instead, I figured it wasn't worth it. I concluded, right or wrong, that with an attitude like that her business was probably bad and she was frustrated.

Anyway, a short distance away I stopped at the local chamber of commerce office. "What's wrong with that woman at the motel?" I asked, and I realize now I just blurted it out before I even said hello. I sensed that the two women working there were not fans of the place, but they didn't come right out and say it because the caboose motel is a member of the chamber and they should not say bad things about members.

Anyway, thinking about that mean-spirited woman upset me for 15 minutes as I drove toward Port Angeles. Then I forgot about her. Until now. And now I am upset again. I would never stay at her motel.

AFTERTHOUGHT: I made an assumption that the woman was the owner. She may not have been. But she did say "We charge $20. . . " implying that she was, at the very least, a representative of the business.

What? You're not a subscriber to the FREE RVtravel.com newsletter? You should be. Now in our 11th year. Sign up.