My friend Ann and I are avid "thrifters" - we LOVE to find bargains! We've been wandering central Indiana for a couple of years and decided to branch out. We checked for some key stores on their web sites, printed maps, reserved a room, gassed up and headed out for our first long adventure!
Ann borrowed her son-in-law's GPS. He gave us a short training session but it was the first time either one of us had used one. He had programmed "her" to speak in an Australian female voice. Shortly after she began speaking, we decided she needed a name. Being Australian, we decided a good name would be Matilda - or Tillie.
We followed Tillie's instructions until we got into Cincinnati and started shopping. We quickly learned that Tillie didn't tell us which way to turn out of a shopping center until we got on the road. It was always a 50/50 change we would get it right. Tillie soon began informing us she was "recalculating" and began to tell us to "Make a U Turn" on a regular basis. We weren't sure if Tillie knew the local laws regarding U-turns or not.... We hit 10 stores, two restaurants and a gas station that first day with Tillie ably getting us everywhere we had told her to take us. Of course we learned she has some eccentricities such as not recognizing obstacles or lack thereof. We arrived at the stop sign in front of our hotel only to be told to make a right turn. We said "Sorry, Tillie, but it's right in front os us and we're going straight!" (If you have a GPS, do YOU talk to it? It's kind of hard to resist....)
Day two brought more fun with Tillie as she recalculated and ordered us to make U-turns on a regular basis. One of our early favorites was when we went to find the Joe's Crab Shack where we planned to eat lunch. She took us through the scenic route of Louisville down to the river. Eventually she informed us that we had arrived at our destination. We looked and looked and saw no Joe's. Tillie kept insisting that we turn right into our destination. Talk about confusing! We began to turn in right angles (at street corners...), still completely perplexed. About the time we pulled over to ask a friendly couple if they could help us, I saw the big "JOE'S" up ahead. Apparently Tillie didn't know Joe's was on the OTHER SIDE of the park and not right there on our right. Tillie wasn't recognizing curbs and strips of grass between us and our destination and kept insisting we turn right to get there. Good thing we were having too much fun enjoying her!
One of our final challenges was on the way home. Apparently she'd been programmed to get us there by what she thought was the fastest way. Once we got close to home, I pulled out a paper map and said "No, if we stay on this road, we can get to our next two destinations and head home from there." We got to where we were supposed to turn eagerly anticipating what Tillie would do. We passed the turn and Tillie quickly said "Recalcualting". Then she began to try to save us with her "Drive 200 feet and make a U-turn." We were betting on how long it would be before she gave up. Seemed like a mile or 5 times - whichever came first.
As we approached home, we jokingly said that Tillie was no longer speaking to us as she had had to tell us at least 42 times to "Make a U-turn" and had probably had to recalculate at least 75 times! The GPS was certainly a wonderful tool in getting us around unfamiliar territory. We figured without her, we never would have been able to cover 500 miles AND hit 24 stores, 4 restaurants, 2 gas stations and the hotel in 2 days. If you have the patience and humor to work with its quirks, it is a delight.
For those of you who recognize it, I called her "Lola" for about the first quarter of the trip. For those who don't recognize it, I highly recommend watching Robin Williams in the movie RV. It is a hoot!
One last thing for today.... the discounts. I learned that Hampton Inn gives a discount to AARP members - ours was about 11%. Perkins Pancake House and IHOP both have senior menus which are smaller, sometimes healtier and cheaper than the regular menu.
Hope you are enjoying a peaceful Sunday! Take care!
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