GPS
Keith | October 19The day had deteriorated as even the best planned days sometimes can. Somehow we (me, the wife, and the boy) found ourselves mulling around a well-known electronics store looking for a high tech gadget that could show us the way. Our moods varied: Me I was a mixture of amusement and disappointment. The wife was aggravated. Devin was confused.
“Daddy. Daddy. Daddy. Why didn’t we go apple picking?”
I looked at my chubby cheeked inquisitor and said, “Well, um, because…” I had nothing. Then the wife jumped in with the assist, “There was too much traffic on the road so we had to turn around and come back.” That sounded like a good answer to me. A fib, I’ll give you that, but a good one. Devin looked satisfied, and ran off to push buttons on a stereo we couldn’t afford. The wife and I decided on the perfect gadget, encouragingly named after a famous explorer, and we both agreed was worth the investment. We headed home for a late lunch.
Later after the kid was in bed for the night my wife told me about a conversation she had with Devin when they were alone.
“Mommy, why didn’t we go apple picking?”
“I told you before, there was a lot of traffic so we came home.”
“Well, maybe next time we won’t get lost after we go through the Bronx and over the George Washington Bridge,” he said.
The kid saw right through us. Yes there had been a ton of traffic, that part is true. But we turned around because we got lost. We always get lost. Even with Mapquest we get lost. We can’t find our way out of a mall if it’s too big. And the boy has been lost with us enough to know it. We’re the the type people that run on instinct. We can’t tell you where we’ve been or how we got there. When we actually know where we’re going it’s because we just know it. If you asked us to tell you the route we took to get there, and you tried to follow out directions, you too would find yourself lost.
That’s why we purchased the GPS. Now if only we could figure out how the darn thing works…
[…] I have a new post up on The Blogfathers about my recent GPS purchase. Swing on by if you get a chance. […]
What Orchard were you trying to go to when you got lose? Masker’s!
From North-Central NJ via I-287:
Follow I-287 North to NY State border; cross border stay north on I-87 (Albany); To Exit 15A; off ramp, make left; follow 7 miles to Rte 17A make left; follow Rte 17A west - 13 miles to Ball Road; make left to Masker Orchards.
From Metro-Area/Northern NJ
Take the Palisades Parkway or the Garden State Parkway to the New York State Thruway north to Exit 15A, then follow Route 17 north (7 miles), then Route 17A west 13 miles to Ball Road. Watch for the Masker’s signs.
From Route 17
Follow signs for Route 17 North - Route 17 North becomes the NYS Thruway. Get off at exit 15A, and continue following Route 17 North for 7 miles to Route 17A West. Continue on Route 17A West for 13 miles to Ball Road.
Alternate Directions to Detour NY Renaissance Faire Traffic:
Take NY State Thruway Exit 15A. Make left at end of off-ramp. Travel straight 12.8 miles to Rte 17M, and make a left onto Rte 17M (at the light & Mobil station). Travel straight 2.9 miles to the 5th traffic light (at the Eckerd Drug store) make left onto Route 5/ Lakes Road. Travel straight 8.3 miles to Stop sign (at American Legion) and make a right. To end, make right onto Rte17A; straight 4.7 miles to Ball Road, make left to Masker Orchards.
From NYC and Long Island Triboro Bridge
Take the Major Deegan Expressway, which becomes the NY State Thruway to Exit 15A then follow Route 17 north (7 miles) to Route 17A west, then 13 miles to Ball Road.
From NYC and Long Island George Washington Bridge
Take Palisades Parkway north to Exit 9 westbound (just after Exit 9E) to New York State Thruway (87 West). Take the Thruway north to Exit 15A, then follow Route 17 north (7 miles) to Route 17A west, then 13 miles to Ball Road.
Oh my, you are just going to love your GPS. It was made for people like us. I used to call my husband in tears asking “where am I?” every time I got lost (what a stupid question, eh?). He is a smart man — he bought me one. It has changed my life. I can take the short cuts now, and he doesn’t get any more hysterical phone calls.
Next time just drive in concentric circles until you find your route. Works for me. Of course, sometimes it takes an extra hour but what else are we gonna do with our spare time? Pick apples?
Devin is too bright. You guys should know better by now not to try and pull the wool over his eyes. LOL Next time just ask him for directions. LOL
I cant tell you how many times mapquest has gotten me lost. Sometimes I try to just figure it out by myself, which usually works, but when I’m pressed for time, it’s just not the smart thing to do. I would love to get a GPS. I don’t know why we haven’t yet. That may have to be the next “for me purchase.”
Hope you guys had a good weekend!!!
Bossy’s heard her grandmother tell of a time in a land far far away when they had these paper things with too many creases and spidery notations. Oh yeah - Maps.
There’s nothin’ quite like getting busted by your kid. The other day after my wife came home from the gym, while I’d been at home with my 3 year old and a very crabby 8 month old, the first thing he said to my wife was, “Daddy said “Shut up” two times.”
See if I take him to Dairy Queen any time soon…
I have a Garmin 340. That sucker has been a godsend.
I’ve actually been wanting to get a GPS unit, but mostly just so when our little guy (6 mos right now) is a bit older, we can all go geocaching or something. :)
haha - “chubby cheek inquisitor” - sharp kid…
We have a garmin nuvi 360. We purchased it for when The Huz is in the car. You see, despite The Huz being a trained and highly experienced military navigator, his skills aren’t operational anywhere below 5,000 feet. He absolutely hates it when I say that, but it is true. Even the kids know that if Daddy says “I think we should turn left” it means we should definitely hang a right.
So now we have the Nuvi and life is groovy!