The Notable Noble

When I arrived in Lander I heard about this place that will house NOLS instructors and students on the cheap. I walked into the Noble Hotel, the lights were dim if not off, and as my eyes adjusted the woman at the front desk says, “Let me guess, you’re homeless.” Well, I didn’t quite think of it that way but yes, yes I am homeless. She asked how long I needed a place to live and I ambitiously answered, “Just till Friday.”  She grabbed a key that was attached to a 3 by 5 inch block of wood with the numbers 235 written. She asked for my card and said, “That’s a grand total of $35 to stay till Friday.”

The Noble went through renovations and is quite delightful upon entrance; stained glass ceiling, old hardwood floors, grand fireplace, framed pictures of Shoshone tribes, Paul Petzoldt, western cowboys, and dead animals heads covered the walls. While this renovation is quite appreciated, the stench of my room was quite horrendous. It reminded me of my moldy tent I didn’t dry and rolled up after a storm in Alaska adding the soiled underwear I had coming off the Grand Canyon after 16 days along with the smell of my used Band-Aids after backpacking 21 days in Utah then multiplied by 10 recycled bins of unwashed beer bottles that have been sitting in an airtight container for a month or two. Tired and happy with the price, I couldn’t complain, there was a basket full of clean twin sized flat sheets and towels. There was a pillow on each of the mattresses covered in plastic. I made my bed and dozed off to be later awakened by the water heater housed next door that sounded like a drill sawing through beams on a new house. I got zero sleep and got ready in the community bathroom down the hall drowning my eyes in Visine before heading to my second day of work. After getting ready for work, I headed up to the 3^rd floor where the community kitchen was to find another guy cooking an omelet that smelled amazing. Not sure of my bearings, I asked if I could have some of his hot water to make coffee to later find community coffee and a French Press, then felt like a dick.

As NOLS students come here before their course, Thursday night was poppin’ at The Noble. A group of seemingly 21-year old guys checked in to slam doors, sing in hallways and talk about going to the bars around Lander. I went to Safeway to buy a bottle of liquid Sleep-Aid and for the first time I actually got sleep and woke up to navigate through the hallways stepping over backpacks to get to the bathroom.

Friday came fast I got one lead on a house for rent with two other co-workers. The available date to move in is May 1^st so I extended my stay at The Noble. I was fortunate enough to move rooms to hopefully get have a quiet night. So far, it’s been good. The Noble is located approximately 90 steps away from work and nine-ish dollars a night, I can’t complain.