We gotta get out of this place
I am so ready for my Maine Vacation. Unfortunately life has a way of throwing a curve ball. Sweet Rocky
had to go to the vet for another B 12 shot then the only time I could get an oil change for the car was Saturday morning. After that I forgot to run the dishwasher before I left for the auto mechanic so I had to do that when I got back. I turned it on and started loading the car but by the time I finished and I could retrieve Rocky’s clean dishes it was 1 pm. Sometimes I think leaving on a plane is easier than a drive vacation.
On the road to Maine
Finally on my way I topped off the gas tank and made a stop at the bank. As I left the bank I punched in OnStar. I had no idea where I was going so I was pretty sure using their directions was the best way to go. I didn’t research it ahead of time. As expected, they routed me through Boston. They just love to do that! The traffic was so so. There was a bad accident on the southbound expressway but I was going north so traffic only slowed down so everyone could gawk, then moved on.
OnStar Strikes again
The desk at the resort told me to gas up in Lewiston Maine. I thought that meant I’d be on back roads when I got to Lewiston. But Noooo, not the OnStar way. I was on the highway and watched exit after exit to Lewiston and Rangeley pass by. I even saw one exit marked Bar Harbor. I had no idea Rangeley Lakes was so far north!
Eventually I got the alert to leave the highway. That began a scenic ride through various quaint little towns. I was getting restless now. I was ready to find my home away from home for the next 7 days.
You are arriving at your destination, On Left
Finally I began to see signs for Rangley Lakes region. I was starting to think OnStar had me lost. The navigation system beeped to take a left on Chandler Rd but Chandler Rd was not a through street and besides, it had a big locked gate across it. Alternate directions later I was cruising down Maine’s Route 4.
I thought for sure I was getting close but when the Navigation said, in 1/2 mile you will reach your destination, on left. I wasn’t so sure anymore. I was in the middle of nowhere.
Sure enough when it beeped that I had arrived, the only thing on my left was a big dirt bank. I tried calling OnStar again but couldn’t get a connection. I tried to call the resort but there was no cell service. I was truly on my own.
Gosh, you are really taking us on an adventure. Now I’m curious to know your thoughts on Onstar and have you tried the navigation app on a smartphone? I heard that some parts on Maine have no cell service, did you perhaps have a map handy or maybe a triptik? I must say you are very brave to venture off like this.
OnStar is usually pretty reliable especially if they have the zip code. They got me very lost a couple of weeks ago but it was my fault. I only gave them the address in Boston – no zip so they sent me to the wrong neighborhood. There’s no cell service in this part of Maine, at least not very reliable service so I’m glad I didn’t rely on the app on my smart phone. I’ve had trouble with that too even with a co-pilot trying to use it. (That was a New Hampshire adventure) Paper maps are probably the most reliable but who wants to deal with that?!And I’ve seen them be wrong too. I use mapquest a lot but I didn’t do that this time. I was just too busy. I guess you just need to have a sense of adventure and believe that sooner or later you’ll get where you need to be.