Neither of us knew where we were.
Neither of us knew where we were going.
Considering we set out on this trip having no idea where we were going, it’s not too surprising that, finally, we got lost.
We took a right turn, we took a left turn, but before long we found ourselves in a dead-end with no way out. We made a u-turn and back tracked the way we came, or at least we thought we did. Secretly I think we turned right and then left instead of turning left and then right.
Dean started getting a little hot under the collar. “Where are we?” he asked rather bluntly. His voice prickled with impatience.
“I have no idea!” I said, just a curtly.
I could tell we were getting frustrated with each other. That happens sometimes.
“It has to be this way!” I exclaimed, pointing off in a new direction. We headed off in that new direction but just as quickly discovered it led us back the way we came.
We retreated and made another turn that led us to another dead-end. At least this one contained a rest area, and we decided we were thankful for the ‘rest’.
We reversed correctly this time and continued on, making turns this way and that, travelling through unfamiliar territory, desperately trying to find our way.
“HOW – HARD – CAN – IT – BE?” Dean was getting really frustrated. By now he had lost his patience altogether. I could tell by the way he was talking through his teeth. He doesn’t have much patience at the best of times, so this was absolutely testing his mettle.
I needed to find our way, and I needed to find it soon.
“Stop!” I said finally. I needed to study at the map.
I had Google Maps open my iPhone. I could see the little blue dot in the middle of the screen, but the rest of the screen was devoid of lines, devoid of the map. The network signal too weak and unable to pinpoint our exact location.
I referred to the printed map I’d collected earlier at the Tourist Information Centre. I turned it upside down, back to front and then back around the way it had been and still couldn’t work out where we were.
There was no identifying mark on the map that matched what I was looking at.
I swallowed my pride and asked a local. Surely someone familiar with the area could point us in the right direction.
“Oh, I’m sorry deary,” she said. “If my husband was still here, he’d be able to tell you.”
I walked away thinking how sad it was that even that lovely old lady didn’t know where she was.
I decided we were going too fast, we needed to slow down. I needed to pay closer attention to our surroundings, surely this would help me find our location on the map and if I could do that, I could find our way out of the pickle we’d gotten ourselves into.
Suddenly something looked familiar. Suddenly something looked like a one of the points on the map, but I couldn’t be sure. I was struggling to read the little numbers and the tiny little words. Why do they have to print things so small anyway?
I took a chance. “Here!” I said. “We need to go this way.” Dean was apprehensive, but followed my directions anyway, turning left and then right and finally . . .
We saw light at the end of the tunnel.
Just over yonder was where we needed to go.
We laughed, we giggled and all was right with the world . . .
Still . . . Neither of us can understand why it was so hard finding our way out of the Stockland Shellharbour Shopping Centre.
Shopping centers, some of the most dangerous and baffling spots on the planet. Great post, had me laughing out loud.
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Unfortunately, we weren’t laughing at the time, but we have had more than one giggle over it since.
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You got me! I didn’t see that ending coming!
Well done – they can be atrocious, can’t they? : )
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Absolutely Dayna,
And even more so when they are unfamiliar territory.
Clare
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I think they make malls so large, just so you stay there and, “shop more” with a zombiified (not a real word) stare. Great story.
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Thank you Amanuensis,
The really sad part is the truth behind the (slight) embellishment.
Clare
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Have done exactly the same thing at Victoria Point centre, it is huge, doesn’t seem to be any pattern and I can truly relate to Dean’s frustration….you feel such an idiot, how hard can it be?? You are not the only ones if it is any consolation…….but just another chapter in the travelogue……enjoy.
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Hey Sue,
It was getting very frustrating for me too and the saddest part was that I didn’t even get to do any shopping 😦
Clare
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Oh, even before the shopping….bad…!!
The TM Club is having their next meeting at our home on 18th as Hornets is overbooked or something….should be fun….lots of new members/guests too. Are you still going to visit other clubs? love again
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Hey Sue,
The meeting should be lots of fun, I wish I was there – almost. Tell everyone I miss them.
I haven’t been to a meeting yet this year but hope to be able to go to one soon.
Love Clare
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Hi Clare, what a hoot, you sound like Phil and I when we go shopping. Cheers Helen
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Glad you liked it Helen.
Have a great day.
Clare
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Hilarious! It took our bus driver 1 1/2 hrs to get out of the mall parking lot. You should submit this piece somewhere.
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Glad you liked it, not sure where to submit, but I might have to put it up on My Creative Cosmos though.
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Picked it, in the first few lines, you were in a shopping centre – then you mentioned the bit about Google maps and the tourist information centre, then I had doubts, but the little old lady got me back, because no way she wouldn’t know the way around if you were out in the country…..
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Hi Yasmin,
I know I have to be out of bed very early to pull the wool over your eyes.
Clare
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That’s very funny!! Well written :))
Sent from my iPhone
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Thanx Petra
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