Everything was smooth until Moose Jaw, after my turn there I realized I鈥檇 never be a navigator.
The trip from Lloydminster to Estevan is long, but for me, it was about to become longer and more stressful than it should鈥檝e been.
鈥淜eep right at Moose Jaw to merge onto Highway 1,鈥� said my notes.
I was following the directions, keeping right, looking for the sign that鈥檇 put me on Highway 1.
Soon after I saw a Highway 1 sign, but the path was less merger than straight up right hand turn. I took it anyway; unbeknownst to me the trip was about to go awry.
I was late, wanting to get to Estevan to meet my landlord for the keys to my new apartment. I checked the time, did the math and figured I鈥檇 have to speed up to make it on time.
The right turn, clearly not a merger, was the first red flag. The second? I was on Highway 1, but the signs said Highway 1 West.
I should be going east, I thought. Maybe once I get to the Weyburn turn off I鈥檒l start heading east.
A stranger to the area, it seemed possible. I looked at the time again and sped up more. I鈥檓 by no means a speed demon; contrarily, my friends chastise me often for driving too slow.
I was also staying in a motel that night, but still, I wanted those keys.
The more I drove, though, the more Highway 1 West signs bugged me. I pulled over, ate half a sandwich and checked Google Maps again. I swear Google told me I was going the right way, and I just lost more time checking to make sure.
I鈥檇 have to go faster for the lost time.
Driving irresponsibly is something I鈥檇 never condone. Despite this, I had the needle at 150 km/h.
That鈥檚 when those menacing reds and blues flashed up behind me.
Busted.
I pulled over; an exasperated burly officer with a Scottish accent came up to my window.
鈥淲here you going in such a hurry?鈥� he asked, a look on his face like I had three heads.
鈥淚 have to meet my landlord to get the keys for my new apartment and I鈥檓 super late.鈥�
鈥淲here though?鈥�
鈥淓蝉迟别惫补苍.鈥�
His expression became more severe, like I鈥檇 sprouted yet another head.
鈥淓stevan is that way,鈥� he said, pointing behind us. 鈥淵ou have to go east, you鈥檙e going west.鈥�
鈥淢y GPS said I was going the right way, but I was wondering why the signs said west,鈥� I said, my hands starting to shake.
I couldn鈥檛 afford a ticket. I hadn鈥檛 even started my new job at the Mercury鈥擨 was still withdrawing money from the Bank of Mom and Dad.
鈥淵ou were going 150 kilometers an hour in the wrong direction! Good thing I pulled you over!鈥�
He was somehow serious, mocking and sympathetic at the same time.
鈥淚 know,鈥� I said, embarrassed. 鈥淭hank you.鈥�
听鈥淟icence and registration.鈥�
I reached into my wallet and glove box, the shaking turning into full on trembling. This wasn鈥檛 lost on the officer.
鈥淗ave you been drinking today?鈥�
鈥淣ot at all.鈥�
鈥淪moking marijuana?鈥�
鈥淣别惫别谤.鈥�
鈥淧ills? Medication? Son, are you diabetic?鈥�
鈥淣o, I鈥檓 just not used to being pulled over.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 scared,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e flying down the highway and your hands are so shaky you can barely reach your wallet.鈥�
I assured him they were steady before I saw his lights, but he ran my information anyway. At length he returned, surprised my record was so pristine, not a mark on it.
鈥淏ecause you seem like a good fella I reduced it as much as I could. It鈥檚 still going to be $200,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 could have fined you $390.鈥�
I thanked him repeatedly for the break鈥攈e told me to turn around and gave me the proper directions. Luckily the fine isn鈥檛 due until June so my hands steadied a bit.
鈥淭here, now maybe your GPS will work,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd slow down, you just can鈥檛 be going that fast.鈥�
I promised I would and made it to Estevan two hours late, didn鈥檛 get my keys and was $200 poorer.
I guess the lesson is to take it easy. Not only is impatience potentially costly, but also dangerous鈥nd counterproductive if you鈥檙e going the wrong way.
听
