Blog 392 – 09.01.2016

I am a man who loves maps and in my work as a traveling third party inspector I use maps almost daily to find my way to the next assignment. Like many people I used to live in fear of making a wrong turn and I have admittedly made many an unplanned turn in my life. I have come to view turns as not right or wrong but as opportunities.

Often many an unplanned turn takes us on the adventure of a lifetime. Some years ago I had planned a week long spring break driving vacation. I had mapped out the most direct route from Houston, Texas to Rapid City, South Dakota and back with the goal of my wife son and I getting to see Mount Rushmore as the main aim of the trip.

Half way across Kansas my wife, Linda, suggested we turn left and head to Denver. This was way out of the way but rather than argue and lose, after all she was driving and as any Star Trek fan knows the one who sits in the big chair calls the shots, I said, “Sure, why not.” She may remember my exact words differently, well that is what I meant to say. The upside was that we spent the night at a Best Western in Burlington, Colorado drove through Denver and had the beautiful snow capped Rockies to view out the window for miles and miles and let me tell you that after driving for several hundred miles across Kansas that was a sight for sore eyes.

I also got to see Casper, Wyoming for the first time, one of my favorite spots in the wide world. Instead of turning east toward South Dakota I talked the Captain into steering our low flying starship to Montana just so we could tick another state off the list. We were going to spend the night there but decided to head back. Fully in detour mode I made a valiant but failed effort to convince the pilot and rear seat co-pilot, our then fifteen year old son Jay, that we should drive west and see Yellowstone Park. We did spend the night in Sheridan, Wyoming before turning east toward Rapid City, South Dakota. While at the hotel in Sheridan we all three went for a swim in their in-door pool. In the pool we met a young family that told us to be sure to stop and see Devil’s Tower on our way to Mount Rushmore. That detour made all the extra miles more than worth it.

We enjoyed Mount Rushmore. I personally thought the Crazy Horse Monument far more impressive but Devil’s Tower was the highlight of the adventure for me.

Planning is good but always allow room for an unexpected turn or six for sometimes the Universe plans the best surprises for those who make or take an unplanned turn in life.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White