We
were traveling by cache coordinates in Georgia, I think, on Wednesday (April 3)
when we realized that both Mike’s GPS and Nuvi were confused. They took us off
the interstate, which we expected, and then we looped around a country
settlement until we came to an unpaved road into woods, but it was gated.
Fortunately Mike opted not to hike into that area on foot. Something didn’t
seem right.
We
tried again and came out on a beautiful four lane highway eerily absent of traffic.
I think one car went by in the ten minutes we stood there. I couldn’t help
but think that this road was a colossal waste of the taxpayers’ money, but of
course, I know nothing about the politics of this area. We were just passing
through. Mike found the cache and we thought we were on our way.
Unfortunately,
both GPS units were still confused, and we continued this “Twilight Zone”
experience by driving sandy back woods roads. It didn’t seem right, but we did
it anyway – and this after I vent about people who go off and get lost while
using global positioning navigation systems and failing to use rational thought!
We passed a parked logging truck and the driver gave us a friendly wave. A mile
or so later we drove through a hunting camp and I joked to Mike that somehow we
had made it to central Arkansas and “Boiling Pot,” his family’s place on the
Ouachita River.
When we came out, we were on the back side of that gate
mentioned in the first paragraph. Obviously the satellites were persistent in
having a bit of sport with us.
There
was nothing for it but to turn around and go back. “I hope that log truck
driver isn’t there,” I mused aloud. “I hope he is,” said Mike with some force,
so that he can give me directions out of here.” Mike got his wish. The truck
driver was there and Mike told me to ask him for directions. “Not on your
life!” I retorted. "You do the talking." I did roll down my window, and the driver told us to
maintain our course and it would take us out – and politely wished us a good
day.
“I’ll
bet he had a good laugh!” said Mike. But he was polite enough not to laugh in
our faces.
I was reminded of some adventures I had with my mother and dad when growing up.
They loved a drive into the woods, but sometimes we were temporarily lost in
the maze of logging roads. And that was when we didn’t have GPS to “help” us.
KW
3 comments:
I think it would be great to have GPS when traveling unfamiliar roads, but I have heard of people ending up where they don't want to be. Even with a few glitches, I'm glad you think having one is well worth it.
I like Dad's shirt. I don't remember seeing that one before.
The Garmin Nuvi is a simple unit. You can just enter a specific address (anywhere), and she will calculate the shortest route. Problems arise when the shortest route is not the quickest, you want to make side trips, think for yourself, etc. She does not approve of deviating from her prescribed route. "Recalculating."
I think that shirt is fairly new. He likes it, too. Your dad's wardrobe is mostly "add-to." Very few deletes.
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