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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: North (05/05/16)
I pulled my Chicago motel-room door closed, but only after checking the floor at eye-level to ensure I’d left nothing behind―except for maybe a bad impression…

Opening the door of my hire-car, I reached across to the back seat and dropped my bag, planning to pivot smoothly around to the controls―which crossed my field of vision quite prematurely!

How had they shifted to that side of the car?

A metallic clang suddenly reverberated through the car park. It was the sound of a large penny dropping...

Oh yes, now I was in America, where everybody drives on the right hand side of the road instead of on the left, where traffic should be.

You protest, dear (American) reader? Well yes, I recognize that right-hand side traffic is a world-wide compulsion. Except for a handful of countries like Japan, India, South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and some ex-British African colonies. These countries represent over thirty percent of the world’s population, and we’ve stayed true to noble medieval values.

Like jousting.

Like jousting? How come? Well, thanks for asking; and let me explain...

With swords or lances only being a right-hand operation, noble knights’ output of mayhem was substantially reduced if any traffic came from their left-hand side. This tradition has held ever since, though never with any premonition of that sad, modern phenomenon we call road rage…


With my confusion clarified, and now seated behind the steering wheel, I departed Chicago. Lacking any encumbrances like GPS, I had to follow signs that pointed me towards the east, with patchy cloud limiting any sight of the sun; which was somehow shining from the south. My Aussie-trained reflexes were telling me that it should be to the north―or over my left shoulder―if I was heading east.

Well, that’s how it works when you come from south of the equator.

Funny thing about reflexes. We train them to handle routines so we might focus on stuff that takes more concentration, but now my reflexes were trying to persuade me that I was heading in the opposite direction.

Quite distracting.

With no landmarks on my way to Detroit, the Indiana countryside was so flat you could watch your dog run away from home for at least three days. Cornfields surrounded me; blocking my view but not quite as tall as in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma―where they supposedly grow “as high as a elephant’s eye!” But while they might be corn, they’re not forgotten―and they certainly aren’t for cotton!

I found freeway driving was no problem: and what a network those freeways provide. Just keep up with the flow and stay in your lane.

But driving in towns was a whole new ball-game, especially on narrow streets when it took every effort to remember to steer right instead of left to avoid approaching vehicles. Turns at intersections were another challenge; for here it was a constant case of reminding myself, “tight right and w-i-i-i-i-de left” to avoid any surprise meetings with other road users.

It was just outside Detroit, when I stopped to check my map, that a glance in my rear-view mirror revealed a vehicle that was growing larger―and its rooftop lights were flashing. It stopped behind me, and its uniformed driver got out to politely offer his assistance. He quickly realized that I meant no harm, and gave me all the help I needed.

There are many more living memories of that road odyssey, and I hope these have been easy for you to follow. If not, it might help to realize that in Australia we don’t only drive on the left hand side of the road.

We also drive upside down...
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This article has been read 449 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Lea Austin
05/15/16
Responding via the Brick-throwing thread- You certainly brought to light the frustrations of having to drive on the “other” side of the road, but you did it in a way that was not overly negative or complaining. You also did a great job walking the fine line between expressing your frustration while traveling in a different country and not offending readers from that country. I wonder if the story might work better without the first paragraph, though, as I couldn’t find where it connected to the rest of the story. It seemed to set me up to look for an “Oh, no!” moment for what had been left behind :)
Judy Sauer 
05/15/16
What a delightful odyssey. I say delightful because of all the giggles it provided me.

I especially enjoyed this scenario:
Indiana was so flat you could see your dog run away for three days. You had me howling!

Great job. Very visually engaging.
C D Swanson 
05/16/16
This could be a monologue opening for an entertainment show. Intricate writing detail, very interesting and different approach to the topic.


Blessings~
Pat Small
05/16/16
Interesting. I just visited S. Africa where I encountered steering wheels on opposite side. I struggled to get the north angle, but I guess U.S. is north in relation to Australia.
Bonnie Bowden 
05/18/16
I laughed at your vivid descriptions on driving on the "wrong side of the road". I live in Michigan in the southwestern part of the state; I hope you saw some of the lakes and beautiful countryside.
Steven Turner
05/19/16
Having driven a few times on "the wrong side", but in the US and continental Europe, I appreciated your imaginative descriptions the challenges we face. I think it was very well written.

I agree with the earlier comment that the first paragraph doesn't really add anything.

The only other jarring moment was the mention of the song from Oklahoma - to me it didn't flow, and I didn't get the connection beyond 'elephant's eye'. But that might just be me.

Certainly worth trying as an intro on stage! Thanks for making me smile.
Bonnie Bowden 
05/19/16
Congratulations/ Noel, on your EC award. I was wondering if this was your writing.
C D Swanson 
05/19/16
Congrats Noel!

Blessings~
Holly Westefeld
05/19/16
Ah, thought that might be you. Congratulations, Noel!
Ellen Carr 
05/20/16
Congrats on your EC place, Noel, from another upside-down and on-the-loft-side driver. It certainly takes a lot of concentration to drive on the 'wrong'side of the road. Well written.
Ellen Carr 
05/20/16
I meant left-side not loft-side!
Verna Cole Mitchell 
05/20/16
Congratulations on EC. I thoroughly enjoyed riding along with you on th RIGHT side of the road! ; )
Lea Austin
05/23/16
Congratulations on 7th Place EC :)
Bea Edwards 
06/12/16
Somehow brought to mind the narrow versus the wide path and the ease with which I automatically traverse the common 'wide' road rather than walk the narrow path intentionally with my Lord.