Bradford Lad: Left, Right, Left - We're Lost!
Mike Coatesworth goes on an hours-long trip to nowhere.
While recuperating after a short stay hospital, my daughter Lesley and son-in-law Neal took me for a drive in the countryside. With my wheelchair safely stowed away in the car boot we set out, heading into North Yorkshire.
The sun was shining, the sky was blue and a breeze came in through the open car windows to ruffle my hair.
Is there any place you would like to visit? Neal asked as we drove along the country roads.
I told him I would like to go to the Lake District. So Neal changed direction and headed for Kendal.
As we drove along I was taking pictures with a digital camera. My left hand found a lever at the side of the passenger seat. I pulled it, and suddenly I was flat on my back as my seat collapsed.
Once they realised I wasn't hurt, Neal and Lesley laughed until tears streamed down their faces. Neal had to halt the car for a while.
When everything had settled down again Neal asked me to navigate. There was a detour from the normal route. There was a problem though. He didn't have a road map.
I read the road signs, giving him directions in plenty of time. "Take a left here, then another left, then a right.''
Soon we were lost. Nowhere near where we wanted to be. We were almost in Blackpool!
Another motorist directed us to the M6. When we reached it we saw a sign saying that Kendal was 39 miles ahead of us. In four hours of wandering around country lanes we had travelled 90 miles, yet Kendal is only 47 miles from our home. Four hours to travel eight miles towards our destination!
"I thought you knew the way to Kendal?'' Neal said resignedly.
"My brother takes me there,'' said I.
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