Being lost = underrated

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

I seem to have found a new pastime: getting lost.

 

Don't get me wrong, it's probably the scariest thing in the world. However, I've done it so much lately that I can truly say I'm a veteran.

 

My parents came up to my school this weekend and gave me my car FINALLY... so I was faced with the dilemma

 

I started out by going to McDonalds on the other side of town. No big deal there, I've been on main street and stuff... so, on Monday, I went out to Burger King out by Wal-Mart. That involves highway driving, so it was a little more dangerous (heh). However, I arrived there just fine and whatnot.

 

Tuesday, I was bored. My roommates and I all went to Wal-Mart (My roommate drove) and when I got home, I was bored. Since I need to take a test drive to the airport, I decided to take off and look for it. I start driving, hit up the highway, go to 219 south and arrive at a junction... I thought I saw a sign to the airport about two miles back, so I take the exit and start driving. I drive for about five miles and I realize "Oh, shit, I've got NO clue where I'm going." I forge on and see no signs for the airport. I start getting scared because frankly, being lost is scary. FINALLY, I realized I was on the right road and I realized that what had seemed like an hour was really about 15 minutes... and the trip was fine. However, I was very lost for those 15 minutes and it scared me.

 

I got home after class and realized I didn't want to eat cafeteria food again today, so I decided to trek out to Olean, NY (about 30 miles away) to go to Applebee's. Uhh... not exactly gourmet dining, but hey, it works. I start driving and listening to music... I was having fun for a while; that is, until I started to get lost again. I'm driving along at sixty five miles per hour and I can't find the friggin' exit. All of a sudden, I see the I-86 junction turn off... and I'm in the wrong lane with about 100 feet to slow down and get over two lanes. I managed to do it without skidding (it was close though) and that should have been my first sign that I shouldn't have been going to Olean. Well, I drive along on I-86... 65 miles per hour in the pitch black... and I start to get a bit freaked out. If I almost missed the turn off the first time, I'm gonna miss it again. I saw an Applebee's sign in some other town (apparently, it's a pastime in SW New York) and just decided to cut my losses and go to that one, instead. I get off the highway and start driving towards the food signs and I end up in some tiny hick town in the middle of nowhere. I keep driving and, with Slipknot blaring through my car, start to panic. I have NO FUCKING CLUE where I'm going and the music isn't helping my temperament. FINALLY, I find the restaurant, go in, calm down, eat a good dinner... then leave and get ready to drive again. I put on the CD player again (probably a mistake) and start driving back the same way I came. Well, that's when the fun begins.

 

I drive down the road the same way I came and I reach that juncture where I came to this God-forsaken town. The sign says I-86 East, Olean. I don't want to go east, I want to go west. However, I at least knew where Olean is... so I debated (all in about 5 seconds) whether or not to turn onto the highway and just go to Olean, turn around, then come back to Bradford. However, I decided to just look for the I-86 west juncture, instead. I mean, how hard can it be to find? So, I drive along and I notice after a bit that it seems to have been way too long... I debate turning around, but like a typical guy, I think I'm right so I keep going straight... for about 20 minutes, when I realize I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A FUCKING INDIAN RESERVATION, IN THE PITCH BLACK, ON A ONE LANE ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS. THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE GET SHOT AND ARE NEVER, EVER FOUND BECAUSE NOBODY LIVES THERE. Heh, so I continue along this road for a while and see a sign for "Ten Mile Road." I think, "Well shit, I've seen that road... it goes to the interstate highway! I'm saved!" Only, it turns out to be another fucking one lane road and I hang a quick u-turn. I look around me and, sure enough, there's a "Nine Mile Road", "Four Mile Road", "Seven Mile Road", and... the topping on my sundae of confusion, "Ten Mile Drive." At this point, I'm about to cry because I was so lost. I decide to simply turn around and travel back about a half hour to the highway and go to Olean instead. At least there I know I can find my way back to Bradford.

 

I'm flipping out and FINALLY, I make it to the highway. I almost blow through the intersection, but my trusty car's breaks hold up and I make it onto the exit ramp... when I finally saw the first good thing I've seen all night; the juncture to I-86 WEST is right there! I could have saved AN HOUR by just going there. Great thinking, Mark.

 

I continue down the highway and it seems to fly by. I'm back in a good mood because of my utter genius in finding I-86 again. Heh. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, the 219 juncture hops out at me and, AGAIN, I'm in the wrong fucking lane. I am so happy nobody in the world lives near Bradford, PA, or I'd be so screwed. I barely manage to get onto the ramp, then I drive as slow as possible in the pitch black night back to campus... FINALLY.

 

Then, I sat down and calmed down a bunch, almost laughing at my stupidity and telling myself I'm never going to drive around and get lost again. Until I get bored again.

[Guest Thoth]

Driving = teh roq

[Guest crusen86]

Um, I used to get lost in the backstreets surronding Muzz's house. I'm good now.

[Guest Muzz]

Indeed, those back streets are hard to navigate. It's good when certain relatives can't find the house though.