A first for me when I visited the kids this time - driving from the airport. I've never been confident about driving in the US. In fact, my last visit was the first time I'd felt bold enough to even try it at all. Something about the way they overtake each other on both sides which freaks me out, that and the turning right on a red light. But not having a car in the US suburbs really does limit what you can do, so on my last trip, I summoned up as much nerve as I could and rented a car from a place near where the kids live. Still didn't have the temerity to take the car on any major freeways, or into the city, but I did get to drive the kids around a bit and found it far easier than I'd feared.
So this time, I'd arranged to pick up a car from the Hertz rental place at the airport and navigate the big, scary roads out of the city. First nasty moment was before I'd even got out of the airport building - got through customs and realised I'd left the paper part of my driving licence in London. Did a swift about-turn and started heading back before realising this was a bit fruitless. Decided to brazen it out at Hertz instead. Needn't have worried as it turned out, they didn't ask for it.
Next sticky bit was trying to work the satnav which was, awkwardly, different from my one at home. I'm a creature of routine and always find it mildly upsetting when I have to learn new ways of doing things. Even learning to call it a GPS rather than a satnav was mildly distressing. After a good half an hour making myself happy with that and the car's controls, I set off, through the security barrier (well, not literally through it, more sort of under it, but you know what I mean), out of the car park, took a left turn as directed.. and found myself right back in the car park.
I set off again, found the exit, found the right road, and found the freeway. I also found a fourth thing - myself heading in the wrong direction. My satnav immediately piped up "Do a U-turn at your earliest opportunity." A U-turn. Righto. That's going to happen. I turned off at a convenient exit and gingerly - with the reluctant help of the satnav, which seemed to be sulking that I hadn't done a handbrake turn across three lanes of traffic - made my way back to the freeway, this time heading south.
By now, the sun had gone down, and the roads out there were no longer just big and scary, they were big, dark and scary. The satnav, showing its growing contempt for my driving skills, opted to take me off the big ones, and onto the back roads. Now the back roads in the area where my children live can be even scarier at night than the main ones - less traffic, but also fewer lights and much more wildlife. It's not unknown for startled deer to jump out in front of you - and I'm not greatly keen in wiping gore and raw venison off my front grille. I rapidly lost all sense of direction and it came as a great relief to see my children's house some two hours later.
However, that little adventure aside, I got pretty confident by the end of my trip. A journey in and out of the city to go and watch the local ice hockey team - no problem. Driving Orla to work at the weekend - piece of cake. Taking Kitty on a trip to find a pet store at a giant shopping plaza - pffff! I was even making journeys I didn't need to make - just for the hell of it. There'll be no stopping me next time - environment, you have been warned.
So this time, I'd arranged to pick up a car from the Hertz rental place at the airport and navigate the big, scary roads out of the city. First nasty moment was before I'd even got out of the airport building - got through customs and realised I'd left the paper part of my driving licence in London. Did a swift about-turn and started heading back before realising this was a bit fruitless. Decided to brazen it out at Hertz instead. Needn't have worried as it turned out, they didn't ask for it.
Next sticky bit was trying to work the satnav which was, awkwardly, different from my one at home. I'm a creature of routine and always find it mildly upsetting when I have to learn new ways of doing things. Even learning to call it a GPS rather than a satnav was mildly distressing. After a good half an hour making myself happy with that and the car's controls, I set off, through the security barrier (well, not literally through it, more sort of under it, but you know what I mean), out of the car park, took a left turn as directed.. and found myself right back in the car park.
I set off again, found the exit, found the right road, and found the freeway. I also found a fourth thing - myself heading in the wrong direction. My satnav immediately piped up "Do a U-turn at your earliest opportunity." A U-turn. Righto. That's going to happen. I turned off at a convenient exit and gingerly - with the reluctant help of the satnav, which seemed to be sulking that I hadn't done a handbrake turn across three lanes of traffic - made my way back to the freeway, this time heading south.
By now, the sun had gone down, and the roads out there were no longer just big and scary, they were big, dark and scary. The satnav, showing its growing contempt for my driving skills, opted to take me off the big ones, and onto the back roads. Now the back roads in the area where my children live can be even scarier at night than the main ones - less traffic, but also fewer lights and much more wildlife. It's not unknown for startled deer to jump out in front of you - and I'm not greatly keen in wiping gore and raw venison off my front grille. I rapidly lost all sense of direction and it came as a great relief to see my children's house some two hours later.
However, that little adventure aside, I got pretty confident by the end of my trip. A journey in and out of the city to go and watch the local ice hockey team - no problem. Driving Orla to work at the weekend - piece of cake. Taking Kitty on a trip to find a pet store at a giant shopping plaza - pffff! I was even making journeys I didn't need to make - just for the hell of it. There'll be no stopping me next time - environment, you have been warned.
