(Diverting)
I was going to talk about my first “conversation” (should that be monologue?) with Chat Gpt. You’ll probably get that in some future slow week.., but, no, I’m going to talk about roadworks.
As you might imagine my “day” job in taxi land requires a modicum of overarching knowledge on what is open and what is shut. Sadly this is not always as up to speed as you, or I, would like to imagine.
Finishing a 1am I was somewhat annoyed to discover my usual motorway slip was closed (West bound). Large diversion signs took me South.
This is little imposition at such an empty hour, and I am aware of several reasonable alternatives, however not certain, what is actually closed (beyond that slip) I am content to follow the regular diversion signage, still South, onward South.
I toy briefly with engaging sat nav, but in my car, this is footery, generally better done before moving off, and I am inconveniently at the head of a trail of vehicles , who appear likewise to be following the diversion, or … me.
After about 2 miles South (still many options) I am am presented with a rather surprising diversion Left (East). This makes little sense, but again the question “what do the roads people know that I don’t know” (spoiler – very little), and anyway I’m at a junction with nowhere to pause and still heading the column.
This is now a bit out of my own territory, but I soon recognise that this road does not offer any turn back South for some distance, and still the regular diversion signs (East, East).
When I get to the diversion North , I know that they are just messing with my head, but by this point there is almost nothing useful to be done except play out the joke and see if it’s complete.
North, North West, West, West, South.. and yes, here’s our original closed motorway slip road!
I mentally run back over the route and can only conclude that two completely separate diversions must cross (presumably at the Left turn)… Never attribute to malice, what could be explained by stupidity.
I’m more amused than annoyed, and I hit “home” on the sat nav, which I activated when the misdirect became clear. I have only myself to blame for accidentally selecting “avoid motorway” .
Why am I on a one track road, in the middle of a windfarm?
Next week on IaDL: People are starting to use the “C” word (X word if you’d rather)
