I was getting burnt out at work and needed to take some time off to get my head back in the game. It has been a very tough year. My husband of twenty years decided that he wanted out of our marriage so he left me and our two kids. The kids and I still don't understand what happened.
Fortunately, my boys are old enough to take care of themselves, the oldest is going to college in the fall and my younger son is going to be a senior in high school. This summer they have been hanging out with their friends more than with me so I have had a lot of time alone.
After the divorce was finalized I decided to take a road trip to clear my head and get away from everyone I know. The boys went to their dad's place so I was free to do as I wish.
I took a couple of weeks off of work so I could enjoy myself. I decided to just get In my car and drive no real destination in mind. I live in a nice size midwest town and I decided to head northeast.
I was seeing some amazing sights that I never noticed before. I brought my camera so could capture all of what I saw so I can show the boys. I decided to go through Illinois first I stopped in Chicago for a night. The view from my room was stunning and I took in some of the tourist spots like the museums and the aquarium.
I then up the west coast of Michigan to the sand dunes. I stayed in this artsy town called Saugatuck. It was really nice I definitely will go back there again. I rode on the dune rides and learned more about the area. Then I went to Oval beach to swim in Lake Michigan.
From there I went to Traverse city which was also beautiful. When I reached the end of the lower peninsula I decided to go across the Mackinaw bridge to the upper peninsula. The bridge is a well structured and amazing to drive across. Then while I was in the upper peninsula I got on a ferry and went over to Mackinaw Island I loved the atmosphere there, no cars are allowed. So I took a horse and buggy ride around the whole island.
I spent the night in St. Ignace before heading back over the bridge and along the east coast of the state. I will honestly say I truly enjoyed the west side of the state more than the east side. Before I left the state I stopped in Detroit I went downtown to Campus Martius park then walked to Hart plaza and finally the river walk along the Detroit river. I can say that Michigan was not what I expected. I will definitely come back with the boys I think they would enjoy it as much as I did.
I then got on interstate 75 south which took me to Ohio, I decided to go east on the turnpike 80/90 and found my self in Pennsylvania. I drove up the west side of the state along Lake Erie. I stopped in the city Erie to crash for the night. I decided to keep moving without any sight seeing there. I got into the western side of upstate New York.
I was driving along interstate 90 and as I was heading to Buffalo but there was major construction. There were signs warning of back ups so I was following a group of cars and turned off onto Interstate 86. So change of plans I was driving in the mountains and it was gorgeous. I was stopping and taking pictures of the mountains and valleys.
I lost track of time but I was heading east so I was going in the right direction. I kept driving to see if I could find a bigger town to get a hotel room. I see a road sign for Olean 25 miles. I decided that is where I would stop for the night. But I didn't quite make it there.
I was driving and I heard this god awful noise then thump, thump, thump. Damn It! I got a flat tire! I pulled over to the side of the road with my hazards on. When I went to the trunk there was no jack in there, I thought I checked everything to make sure I was okay. I know I confirmed that I had a good spare tire but I guess I forgot to look for the jack.
I shut the trunk and went to get my phone so I could call for help. Hell, my phone battery was almost dead, but I was out in the boonies with no reception. I turned off my hazard lights opened up the hood of my car to show I am broken down, then grabbed my purse and started walking. I figured I would have to run into someone or some business sooner or later.
It was starting to get dark and I was not finding anything. I finally noticed around a curve a mailbox. Thank god! I got to the end of the driveway and I could not see anything but woods. I stood there for a few minutes debating on what I should do. I finally talked myself into walking up the drive it is literally the first drive I have come across.
Hell, it seemed like a mile long driveway. I finally came around a bend that opened up and there was the house. It was a nice home with a large porch from one end of the house to the other. I instantly thought It would be wonderful to live here surrounded by all the woods and the peace and quiet.
I noticed the front door opened up with a man holding a shotgun towards me. I stopped dead in my tracks. I threw my hands up. Then he yelled at me, "What the hell do you want?"
I still had my hands up while I replied, "Sir I have been walking for the last few hours trying to find someone to help me. I got a flat tire but my jack is not in the car."
I heard him snicker while he lowered the gun. "What kind of dumbass does not to have a jack in the car." He said to me with laughter in his voice. All I could do was agree with him.
"Sir do you have a phone that I could use to call a garage or triple A?" I asked him while I put my hands down.
"You mean you don't have a phone either? You don't seem to be very prepared." He commented to me. I let out a big sigh, "Sir my phone battery is now dead and I have no signal out here in B.F.E." was my response to him.
"You're not from around here are you?" He asked me. Then he told me to come up on the porch.
I answered his question, "No sir I am not from here I am on a road trip east." I said as I came up on the porch.
He was looking at me oddly not suspiciously but kind of in wonderment. Hell, he lives so far out he probably doesn't see many people I just shook my head as I walked past him. "Have a seat and I'll get you some water." He instructed me has headed into the house before I could even say thank you.
He came back out with a bottle of water while he was handing it to me he introduced himself. "Since you're here and don't seem to be leaving to soon. I am Ed what is your name?" I just shook my head at him and laughed. I told him my name was Anna.
"I will go get my truck and take you to your car to help you change the tire." He told me as he was walking away from me. I jumped off the bench to follow him before he left without me. I had to lift myself up into his huge pickup truck. Hell, I am a tall big girl and I still had to jump to get in.
Ed was sitting there in the driver's seat chuckling. We got to the end of the drive and I told him to turn left. We kept driving but we were not coming to my car. I was starting to panic, Ed could see that I was getting worked up. "Anna we'll find your car don't worry. Take a deep breath and relax." He instructed me so I did and it did help calm me down a little.
But we never found my car so he turned around and even went past his drive in the other direction to look. "Great what the hell am I suppose to do now? All my stuff was in there." I said out loud to no one in particular. Ed went back to his house and when we got there we just sat in his truck for a few minutes.
"Why don't you come inside get something to eat and we will figure something out." He suggested to me and he was being nice about it. I followed him into the house where he led me to the kitchen. "Have a seat at the table I was just going to start a fire before you showed up. I am making hamburgers is that alright with you?" He asked me in a voice that sounded like he didn't care what I thought one way or the other.
"Yes, I do like hamburgers. Do you need help with anything?" I asked him before he headed outside. He yelled over his shoulder no thanks. So I just sat there waiting for him. Ed kept going in and out of the house making dinner. When he was done he put a plate in front of me with a delicious smelling burger and a salad.
He sat down across from me and started eating so I joined in. I could feel him watching me so I looked over at him and raised my eyebrow in question. We finished eating and both of us sat back in our chairs full. I let out a deep sigh. "Thank you, that was delicious," I told him and when he got up nodded his head and said you're welcome.
I got up to help clean up but he told me to sit down. "Nope, you cooked so I clean up," I told him as I started dish water in the sink. He sat back down quietly for a bit and when I was almost done he started asking me questions.
"So what brings you out here? Do you know someone we could call?" He asked me. I finished rinsing the sink before I turned around to talk to him.
I let out a big sigh and sat down at the table with him. "No, I am on vacation. I needed some time alone so I was driving east with no destination in mind." Ed was just looking at me before he asked me "Why?"