By Trent Rosser
We took another trip recently, this time to Ruidoso. We went to stay during the week to see the largest firework show in the state of New Mexico. It was something special! It was the drive up there that I want to talk about. A short driving trip and all should be fine. A 5 hour driving trip with just one stop to eat and all will be good, right? Well, at least I thought so.
Technology is great, don’t you think? I have only been to Ruidoso once before and that was about 3 years ago. I used to have a map, but like a lot of things, it has been misplaced. So, with the speed and ever so smart technology, I figured, “Map? We don’t need no stinking map!” So, I pulled the address up on the cabin that we were staying in. Alto, NM is just on the outskirts of Ruidoso and that is where we are headed. I remembered a few things from before, so I really did not pay much attention. But, the thing I really wanted to test out was the OnStar that came with our new car. I was excited to hear a voice tell me where to turn and how far before I turn, and how many miles before we get there. It was going to be quite a bit better than having to stop to double check the map. Boy, was I in a surprise of my life!
We left our house at 8:30 in the morning. Stopped at a local convenience store to get all our snacks and drinks. After walking around and getting the one last thing that someone just had to have, (mainly me), we were set to go. Before leaving the parking lot, I hit the OnStar button and the automated service came on. I set a destination by giving the address. At 9:15 we were pulling out of the parking lot and headed out on our trip. It went well for the first 10 miles, before my wife realized that she forgot her knee brace. Instead of turning around we stopped at a Wal Mart that was just down the road. When I took the exit, the automated voice went crazy. “Warning! You are off route” Do you need new directions?” No, I will be right back on the route shortly! Just let me stop at the store! Shortly we were back “on route” and back on the road.
One of the things that I really wanted to do was bypass Roswell. Not because I don’t like Roswell, but because I have nothing but bad luck when I go through there. Last time we went, my wife wanted an alien souvenir. So, we ended up going downtown, where our truck at the time just happen to overheat. Then, on the way back, we were trying to beat a blizzard and a flat sidelined us there and we had to purchase 2 new tires before we could go any further. We did beat the blizzard, but it did cost us a pretty penny. Needless to say, bypassing Roswell was a requirement for this trip. Thankfully there is a loop around it. But, like all good plans, things change. The crew was getting hungry and this was the only place to stop. Plus, I had to pee!
As we are coming up on the exit that I need to take to go into town, the OnStar system starts to go crazy! I’m trying to turn down the radio and lower myself where I can hear the automated voice say, “stay on this road for another few miles” Same time, I hear from the back seat, “Turn Right! Its McDonald’s and Wal-Mart!” next to me is my wife yelling “Turn left, you need to turn here!” As everyone is yelling at me, music is blaring, and the automated system is whispering I look up just in time to see my exit go past. Yep, I missed the exit! So, then I hear “I thought we were going to stop to eat?”
“WE ARE!” I screamed.
Yep, I lost my temper. I make a U-turn and head into Roswell and eat right by Wal-Mart. Which was a good thing because after we ate, my wife told me that she forgot to pack her hair brush. 2 stops at Wal Mart, thankfully we will not need to stop any more and I can see the mountains in the distance.
By this time with everyone telling me which way to go and how to get there, I was very frustrated! We take the back road which is where we are going and of course in the mountains we lose the connection for the OnStar system. It keeps saying that I am “off route” do you need updated directions? How can I be off route? There are no other roads for miles? How could I go off route when there is no other route!! We finally get back to where there is service, and we are back into a populated area. I am looking for the cut off to turn to the cabin and the OnStar is back on telling me to “turn right in 100 yards”, my stepson is telling me to “turn left right up here!” my wife is telling me “you already passed it!” and again, I look up to see the exit go past. This time, on the side of a mountain, there is no place to turn around. Finally get to the cabin, as I step out of the car, I hear my wife say, “I love road trips!” Now, I’m wondering if she is serious, or being sarcastic. Maybe it is a set up to push me off the side of the mountain? A 5-hour road trip turned into a 7 hour nightmare. Now I know how to get home, but next time we go somewhere, I’m buying a map, atlas, globe, and will be downloading all directions before we even start to pack. I just hope we don’t leave it at home and must stop all every Wal-Mart on the way!
