S is for GP"S"

 We have traveled the highway many times to get to the lake but now we had a new gadget and we wanted to see it in action. The gps was more for Grant's work, which takes him to all corners of the province. We typed in the address on our new GPS and it did it's calculations. 1 hour and 5 minutes it told us. In 1.5 kms turn right. We laughed at the voice. While Grant drove I played around with the gadget and discovered I could change the voice, I chose "Anna" with an australian accent. Our eyes kept moving from the road to the gps making sure it knew where it was taking us, watching the rolling ball move along the digital map.

Anna's voice tells us to turn right at .5kms. That can't be right. We have to stay on this road for another 30kms or so. But the gps is right. Right? So we follow the directions. We are talking to each other and to the gps, questioning the route that "Anna" has directed us to. 20 mins later we are in "Deliverance", I can hear the banjos playing now. I am telling Grant to turn back and take the highway, that this thing doesn't work. He is stubborn. We continue on in our little honda civic. The road is topsy turvy and I am getting edgy as I want to turn around and take the normal route. The safe route. And the the road ends. All that lies ahead is a dirt path. Looks like nothing more than all terrain vehicles have used this road, judging by the amount of mud on the trail. "Anna" is telling us to forge ahead. Worried our economy car will bottom out on the dirt road, I tell Grant to turn around. Telling turns to arguing, but now he is even more determined to see where this gadget is going to take.

This road has more bumps than a 10th graders pimply face, I wish I had not drank so much water. I look up and see a glimmer of hope. Could that be pavement up ahead? Are the trees clearing? I am trying not to feel too much relief as I still don't know where we are or how far before the nearest restroom is. "Turn left", Anna tells us.We finally pull out onto a normal road and I begin searching for a sign. Snyder Mountain 8kms, the gov't issued road sign said as we passed it. Okay, we know where we are. Only 25 kms away. We haven't stopped chatting about this stupid gadget. How we like, don't like it, it is too precise, not precise enough. The offroad directions added an extra 30mins of travel. I guess "Anna" assumed the route was paved, or that we wanted the "as the crows flies" directions.
Now I see why I don't always take the road less traveled. I like knowing where I am going, how long it will take me to get there. I like a smooth ride. Bumps in my day, I mean in the road, cause me tension and stress. If I know what is up ahead, I am better prepared for it. I have never liked surprises.I am a planner. I'm good with that.