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.