What to do when your GPS gives you two road direction choices “Not so Great” and “Worse”!
Jim and I were to be dismayed to be in this position as we tried to take the picturesque Netherlands back-roads from ‘s-Hertogenbosch back to Amsterdam. Blissfully driving along, we were in heaven as we wound our way through miles of green fields dotted by graceful windmills and stopped in tiny hamlets.
Jim and I were to be dismayed to be in this position as we tried to take the picturesque Netherlands back-roads from ‘s-Hertogenbosch back to Amsterdam. Blissfully driving along, we were in heaven as we wound our way through miles of green fields dotted by graceful windmills and stopped in tiny hamlets.
But.....Jolting us out of the personal reveries into which had fallen as we took in the stunning Netherlands countryside, our GPS dinged loudly demanding attention.
It asked us: Which route did we wish to take…. The “Ferry” route or the “No Ferry” route?
Naturally, we immediately punched in “No Ferry” since we had no idea how the procedure for Dutch ferries worked and just like a typical tourist, the very idea made us anxious. So we turned around as directed relieved that we had a “No Ferry” choice.
It asked us: Which route did we wish to take…. The “Ferry” route or the “No Ferry” route?
Naturally, we immediately punched in “No Ferry” since we had no idea how the procedure for Dutch ferries worked and just like a typical tourist, the very idea made us anxious. So we turned around as directed relieved that we had a “No Ferry” choice.
Three minutes later, heading back the way we had just come, we finally began to wonder where we would be turning and checked our new projected distance to Amsterdam. Ahhhg! GPS (in this case Tom Tom) wanted us to go back over a hundred miles from whence we came before heading north again!
Pulling off to the side of the road, and discussing this new dilemma, we came to terms with the fact that we were going to have to take the “Ferry” route. No way were we going to add over a hundred miles to our journey.
Pulling off to the side of the road, and discussing this new dilemma, we came to terms with the fact that we were going to have to take the “Ferry” route. No way were we going to add over a hundred miles to our journey.
Resolutely turning around and back onto the road Jim assured me that everything would be fine. Being from Southern California, ferries were not a particularly familiar mode of transportation for me and I began to think about what might be ahead of us. How big would the ferry be? Where did we pay… at an office or on board? Would anyone speak English if we screwed up something? My fantasies of disaster grew as we drove closer to the Ferry launch.
As we sat and watched the Ferry slowly pull toward us from across the river I saw other cars pull up behind us which filled me with relief. You know.... safety in numbers? Fears of lacking a ticket began to rise again, but I didn’t mention my apprehension and we drove onto the Ferry.
As with most imagined fears, mine turned out to be pointless. The ferry ride was easy! The attendant came to our car and held up five fingers to signal how many Euros we would need to hand over. After that quick transaction we were free to relax and enjoy the ride and the view as we crossed over to the other side.
As with most imagined fears, mine turned out to be pointless. The ferry ride was easy! The attendant came to our car and held up five fingers to signal how many Euros we would need to hand over. After that quick transaction we were free to relax and enjoy the ride and the view as we crossed over to the other side.
Sometimes, fate forces us to face our fears and especially when traveling, can lead us to fantastic new experiences we would otherwise have missed. I’m all for pushing through!
We were on our way again through the beautiful Netherlands.
We were on our way again through the beautiful Netherlands.
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