Roadtripping is a great pastime, now mostly utilized by the college demographic. Recently, however, the roads have changed, and so have needs of the traveler. The road trip has brought the fast food restaurant and the interstate highway system into existance, but there are still some things that faced the travelers of the early days that challenge the vacationers of today.
This past weekend, 12 of my friends and I traveled to the North Country for some hockey, basketball, and—come to find out—not much else. We prepared as most do by packing our bags, checking the car, plugging in the inverter, and setting out for some fun and relaxation.
After our arrival, the men’s hockey game at Clarkson University brought eccentric fans, incomprehensible cheers, and many things that there can be no logical explanation for. While the game had its moments of entertainment, the Cheel Arena leaves something to be desired, featuring a cheesy announcer and a visiting tunnel that doubles as a penalty box.
The following day there was time to waste before the men’s basketball game against Clarkson at 4 pm. The town of Canton, N.Y., offers a few restaurants and a movie theater, which was rather advanced when it comes to theaters. The hockey game against St. Lawrence bought the long-awaited win and a drive home through the night.
On the trip up, we had all learned that for the most part there was no service along the route. So we knew to be careful on the way back, especially when the snow started. Knowing that conditions were not exactly favorable per se, they were drivable so the trip continued. While driving though Minerva, N.Y., I approached a curve and lost control of the vehicle, crashing it into the guard rail head-on and spinning around to nick the back bumper. There was no excessive speed involved or unsafe practices, just bad roads that should have been plowed and salted.
Every cell phone in the car had no signal, so we flagged down a car that was passing by, which happened to be other RPI fans, also on their way back towards Troy. Once we moved the car to the side of the road, everyone attempted to call 911 on their cell phones; mine, provided by AT&T, was the the only one who got through—with an instant connection, no less.
The arrival of the New York State Troopers brought a sense of relief; the initial scenario that played out in my head of being stranded without cell service never came to be. The troopers were very helpful, calling a tow truck service they trusted and knew, and making sure that everyone would be alright.
The grand old pastime of road tripping from the 50’s has gone and what has replaced it is carelessness, assuming that no matter what you can always call AAA or use your cell phone. Emergency 911 is not always available; the world is not totally connected yet and we need to be reminded of this. We need to remember that we can’t control everything, and that a road trip may be fun and exciting, but it is also an experience to be taken with caution.
