I Need a Map to Get from the Driveway to the Front Door
It is absolutely official: I have no sense of direction. I may think I do, because I can read maps and I can follow directions, but the sense of direction? The remembering where I've been? The "oh, this looks familiar?" None of that works in my head.
Today, while on a ten mile in the North Carolina woods, I was feeling pretty good. Going from 6,000 feet to sea level will make you all high on oxygen. My brother-in-law was good enough to come with me on the first 2.5 miles and then left me to my own devices for another 2.5 and then, mistakenly as we all know now, assumed I could follow the exact same trail back to the car. The EXACT SAME TRAIL. Well, you know, all them there fire roads just look a heck of a lot alike. (Do you like my new vernacular? It's something I've picked up, just for fun.) So, instead of fire road #6, I turned down fire road #5 ( which I would find out later; the roads were not marked) and then proceeded to get lost and go in one, giant, never-ending, oh-my-god-this-is-my-very-own-Blair-Witch-Project circle.
Eventually, I came across one person. One. In two hours. He was a man in his forties, dressed in camouflage, sitting on a stump eating lunch, next to a chainsaw. Yes, I know how that sounds. But, one person in two hours, you take your chances. Thankfully, the good man had a map and was willing to show me my way out. No, as you probably guessed, I wasn't far. "I always go out with a compass," he said. Yeah, good idea. But probably a better one for me is to always go out on a leash.
12 comments:
Scary, really scary. Because I know it could happen to me, oh-so-easily. I'm glad you made it out safe. And I'm glad Mr. Camo-chainsaw was a nice guy.
So, stick with a buddy, carry a map or if you know how to use it and where to go with it, a compass. I know I'm not telling you anything you don't know, I'm just being your internet Mom and reminding you. Stay safe!
"He was a man in his forties, dressed in camouflage, sitting on a stump eating lunch, next to a chainsaw."
Oh. My. God.
nothing like a little adventure on vacation, eh? At least with the cammo, he wasn't packing a gun . . .
Sounds like compass chainsaw man may also never leave home without a pen knife, some freeze-dried food, and the last five issues of 'Maniac Survivalist Monthly'.
Heh.
Well I'm glad you made it out alive.
glad to know i won't be reading about "north carolina chainsaw massacre" anytime soon :)
Kinda scary!! Glad you are ok. Of course in NC that sort of guy is normal in the woods. He was probably looking for a Christmas tree to take home to the family.
Did this man have teeth?
I'll bet you were wearing camo and carrying a chainsaw too. Come on, admit it.
Well, it could have been worse. I'm with Ginger, there's nothing like a little adventure!!
You and I? In the same boat, my friend. Though 10 miles seems insurmountable when compared to my measly 3! :-P
Next time take a string with you, tie it to the car...:) OK, how about a Garmin?? Of course my Garmin I don't know if I'd be able to use it to get home, I just know how to use it to tell me how far I ran...
Chainsaw...at least you weren't in TX!!
Post a Comment