The lesson from today’s journey is about GPS (Global Position System). It is the clever invention that is in our cars and on our phones that help us find our way in the world without maps. You remember maps? Those are those large sheets of papers that look like your grandmother’s varicose veins and are intentionally made not to fold back into their original form.
While GPS is great, it is also not perfect. Once when I was visiting Ireland instead of leading us to the port city we were searching for, we ended up face to face with a ram on a goat path in the middle of nowhere. It was obviously his path and we decided to retreat.
Things have improved over the years and GPS is much more dependable but we still have had our troubles with it on this trip. Several times it told us to make a right turn when our destination was clearly on our left. I should trust my GPS. It’s only trying to help me get where I should be but I got a little angry at it this morning. I punched in my destination of Grand Junction, Colorado and it gave me some screwy route going west into Wyoming then down a multiple group of 2 land state highways to get there. I have made this drive several times and I have always gone down to Denver, made a right on Interstate 70 and enjoyed an absolutely beautiful drive through the mountains on my way to Grand Junction. So, I called my GPS several nasty names, and then headed the way I wanted to go. It should have only been a 6 hour drive but about a half hour after leaving Wyoming and crossing into Colorado, we saw a flashing sign telling us that Interstate 70 was closed due to a mudslide. I grumbled a few nasty comments under my breath, then turned around to head back to my starting point in Cheyenne and start following the GPS’s directions. I’m pretty sure I heard that familiar Siri voice quietly saying “I told you so,” in the background.
According to GPS, the drive should have only taken six and a half hours but it did not take into account the multiple road work crews, closed lanes, and heavy traffic, since everyone’s GPS is sending them on the same route and one particular guy in a UHaul Truck was so afraid of driving in the mountains, he wouldn’t go over 45 when the speed limit was 65. There were plenty of angry drivers behind him, who were behind me since I was stuck in that position. I asked my GPS to talk to his GPS and tell him to get his ass in gear.
Though I was not thrilled about driving over 300 miles on two lane mountain roads, I have to admit that it was a beautiful drive. We were well over 8,000 feet for a lot of the drive and the scenery looked like the cover of a John Denver album. Also, with all the Cannabis Dispensaries we saw it explains their Rocky Mountain High. (I couldn’t resist, even though you hoped I would.)
We did make one stop on our long and circuitous route, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I have never in my life ever thought of visiting the famous ski resort, but today I did. We decided to take a lunch break from all the back and forth on the highway and have lunch there. It is also a very popular vacation spot for those trying to escape the heat. I felt like I should have brought my credit score with me.
We are now ensconced in our hotel overlooking the beautiful Interstate 70 in Grand Junction and decompressing from a stressful but entertaining drive. I’m still a bit angry at my Siri GPS. I think it was getting back to me when we arrived here. All the exits have roundabouts and it sent us down the wrong one when we first got off and another 6 mile detour. I’m sure I heard some giggling.
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