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- Go to I think ANYONE would have gotten lost in THIS area, GPS or not!
Re:
Sounds like it could have been a bit messy, TAPS! At least it wasn't raining during our little excursion! We did have a nice, panoramic view during most of the ride though. No kudzus or horse-drawn buggies, but lots of open farmland and a few horses and sheep. However, that hardly made up for the frustration of getting lost . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on October 11, 2013 at 5:10 AM
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Re: Re: Re:
Yeah, Kabu, I suppose they can be forgiven. 
posted by
JimmyA
on October 11, 2013 at 5:04 AM
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The last time I drove around in a place like that was in the middle of Tennessee on red dirt roads that turned to slick mud when it started raining. The only other thing memorable was lots of kudzu and some black Amish horse-drawn buggies clopping along.
posted by
TAPS.
on October 10, 2013 at 7:08 PM
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Re: Re:
a bit thoughtless of the young couple but then they are in love ......
posted by
Kabu
on October 10, 2013 at 5:51 PM
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Re:
I think I can relate, Utah. Written directions are one thing ( more room for error, apparently ), but you would think that verbal directions would be a safer bet. Of course, it's a moot point if the person you're getting the directions from talks like they have a mouthful of syrup . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on October 10, 2013 at 1:06 PM
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Yes, once in New Orliens, I'm sure the directions were good, I just couldn't understand the man.
posted by
UtahJay
on October 10, 2013 at 10:24 AM
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Re: Lost!
I'm sure you're right, Whitehat. Two things about my little adventure that I failed to mention. First, after several U-turns, we finally stopped to call the place to get directions, and were greeted by an answering service ( thanks a lot ). And secondly, one of the women at the convenience store giving directions claimed that, as we got nearer to the venue, we would see "multiple signs" for the place. Guess what? We never saw one! Landmarks usually do help when it comes to certain directions, but not when those same landmarks simply aren't there . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on October 10, 2013 at 8:31 AM
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Re:
Could be, adnohr. However, like I wrote, we were enjoying the scenery up until the time we realized we were lost! No, I don't think my niece and her fiance took the remoteness of this venue into consideration when they booked it. And according to my list, I still have eight more nieces or nephews who have yet to "take the plunge!" Hopefully they will exercise a little more discretion and consideration when choosing their venues . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on October 10, 2013 at 8:27 AM
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Re: JimmyA
You're probably right, Sir Wiley. However, with the way my family is, I would have been immediately ostracized if I had missed the wedding simply because I couldn't find the place and went home out of frustration! Besides, my mom was in from Texas, and seeing her was more important to me than anything else. I just didn't have a choice . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on October 10, 2013 at 8:22 AM
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Re: Jimmy
"Wood" for "north," Naut? That's not even close! And believe me, not just in this incidence, but I've heard many, many tales from GPS owners over the years of the inaccuracy, confusion and near worthlessness of these systems! But like I wrote, being in an area of unmarked or poorly-marked roads certainly didn't help, no matter how good in general you are with directions. I hope I never have to drive in this particular area ever again . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on October 10, 2013 at 8:19 AM
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Re: Marriage and directions
You're probably right, Setaki. However, believe it or not, my wife and I still engage in pleasant conversation along the way, but did get a little more animated when we were trying to figure out where we were! Yeah, take those stupid, useless GPS systems and throw them right out the window, if you can roll the windows down while sitting in that lake . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on October 10, 2013 at 8:14 AM
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Re:
I hate being late and getting lost too, Kabu! And in most incidences, my wife and I also try to make "dry runs" to locate someplace we've never been before. But this place was so far away and so secluded that we just couldn't do it this time! And I'll wager that, if we were to try again to get to this place, even after already having been there, we would still get lost! That's how remote this area is! Crazy . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on October 10, 2013 at 8:12 AM
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Re:
I wish I could have done that, C C T, and I was tempted, especially after turning around and around several times for seemingly hours on end! But when it's a wedding with out-of-state relatives involved, you simply have no choice! And yes, I said many blue words, and red words, and black words, and . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on October 10, 2013 at 8:08 AM
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Re:
I've been in that situation too, FSI. But at least your "confusion" was because of a road closed due to repairs. Ours was terribly poor directions in a terribly laid-out area! Unbelievably frustrating . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on October 10, 2013 at 8:05 AM
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Lost!
One of my biggest pet peeves is the phrase "oh you'll just see it. It'll be right after (insert vague description of landmark here)..." SPecifics, specifics, specifics. IT is a big pain in the ass when people don't know how to give directions. I think it is accurate to say that anyone who has been invited to three or more weddings has gotten lost at least once on the way :),
be well
posted by
WhiteHat_TroubleMaker
on October 10, 2013 at 8:02 AM
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Re:
I can't blame you there, lustor. Believe me, if it was almost any other type of event, we would have probably turned around and said "Forget it!" But when it's a wedding with a big family gathering, I guess you just have to "tough it out" . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on October 10, 2013 at 8:02 AM
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I imagine that the happy couple were distracted by celebrating their special day and overlooked the possible difficulty the guests would have finding their perfect wedding site. I used to get hyper when finding myself lost; now I just sit back and enjoy the new scenery. Must be an age thing.
posted by
adnohr
on October 10, 2013 at 3:43 AM
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JimmyA
I don't have a GPS and no wedding is worth the aggravation.
posted by
WileyJohn
on October 9, 2013 at 6:53 PM
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Jimmy
I've had situations where my GPS was telling me I was driving somewhere through the woods, simply because they hadn't updated the map! But I have found it useful, although I find my lady-announcer annoying - she has a hard time pronouncing some words. For example, for 'north' she says 'wood'...
posted by
Nautikos
on October 9, 2013 at 4:23 PM
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Marriage and directions
People say if you see a couple in a car not talking to each other, know that they have been married for more than ten years and have run out of topics for small talk. If they are talking to each other, they are probably arguing about directions. The GPS gadget has changed all of this. They now agree that it is one of the most stupid and dangerous contraptions around. "You have now reached your destination" the disembodied voice says as you drive straight into a lake.
posted by
Setaki
on October 9, 2013 at 1:48 PM
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I have been known to take a dry run so to say ...I hate being late and even more I hate being lost.
posted by
Kabu
on October 9, 2013 at 10:56 AM
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No Jimmy because if I do not know where it is,
I get someone else to drive who does.
I think I would have said some blue words and
would have driven back home and feigned illness.
posted by
C_C_T
on October 9, 2013 at 10:52 AM
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That was quite the ordeal you had there...I remember back in 2002, my Dad and I were on the way to Pittsburgh to see the Ravens play the Steelers. We arrived the day before and stayed at a hotel. What happened was that one of the roads we needed to get off, according to Mapquest, at in Pittsburgh was closed due to road repairs. Fortunately, Dad took a gamble and the next road worked.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on October 9, 2013 at 9:28 AM
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any directions to me are hard I get lost in my own backyard and so if I dont know where it is I dont go
posted by
Lanetay
on October 9, 2013 at 7:54 AM
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