From the "I'll never do that again" department

[EdInArk]

We were on I-840 in Tennessee last Tuesday, and I saw a sign announcing a gas station at the next exit. I wasn't in dire need yet, but I knew we'd have to fill up once on the way home and decided I'd just go ahead and do it then where traffic was very light.

I pulled off the interstate and didn't see a station, but the sign indicated it was 2/10 of a mile to the left. Well, what the heck? I told my wife "Let's just go check it out. If we can't get into it we can turn around and come back."

Holy $%^& The station was so tiny and so full of cars there's no way I could get into it or turn around. We were pulling our car, and we had little choice but to keep going and turn around at the first opportunity. Surely we'd find a church or store to turn around in.

We went seven freakin' miles down one of the crookedest country roads I've ever seen with no shoulder and ditches on each side, and I swear on the straights when I'd meet a car I had one set of tires on the white strip on the right and the other set on the center line. I mostly drove in the middle unless we were meeting a car, and if I saw a car coming that I'd meet in a corner I just stopped; there's no way I could make the corners in my lane.

We finally stumbled across an old house with circle drive in the front yard and as much as I hated to invade their space, I did it.

Lesson learned. If I can't see the station, I'm not going hunting for it.

[twinboat]

Been there, done that. Boy is that frustrating.

[bfisher003]

Did that once during a heavy rainstorm. No fun at all! LOL

[Notlad]

Originally Posted by EdInArk

We were on I-840 in Tennessee last Tuesday, and I saw a sign announcing a gas station at the next exit. I wasn't in dire need yet, but I knew we'd have to fill up once on the way home and decided I'd just go ahead and do it then where traffic was very light.

I pulled off the interstate and didn't see a station, but the sign indicated it was 2/10 of a mile to the left. Well, what the heck? I told my wife "Let's just go check it out. If we can't get into it we can turn around and come back."

Holy $%^& The station was so tiny and so full of cars there's no way I could get into it or turn around. We were pulling our car, and we had little choice but to keep going and turn around at the first opportunity. Surely we'd find a church or store to turn around in.

We went seven freakin' miles down one of the crookedest country roads I've ever seen with no shoulder and ditches on each side, and I swear on the straights when I'd meet a car I had one set of tires on the white strip on the right and the other set on the center line. I mostly drove in the middle unless we were meeting a car, and if I saw a car coming that I'd meet in a corner I just stopped; there's no way I could make the corners in my lane.

We finally stumbled across an old house with circle drive in the front yard and as much as I hated to invade their space, I did it.

Lesson learned. If I can't see the station, I'm not going hunting for it.

LOL!!! I live near Nashville and I think I know exactly the exit you took off of 840. I did that once but was in a car thankfully. 840 is a pretty new bypass so there is very little development on it and very few exits. I am betting you took the Fairview exit.

[Skip426]

I'd planned on stopping for the night in a Casino parking lot beside I-5 in WA.
No room in the parking lot , so went out the back exit .
ON the back road to nowhere ; an hour later and 6 passers by later I managed to get directions back to I-5.
Pre GPS days. The road I was on wasn't on atlas maps , I had three.

[Hgrace56]

Pulled into a Loves in Indio CA with my toad. Pumps were full went to 'Exit' past dump station only to find the trailer dumping was blocking my view of the barrier and curbs blocking the exit.
A back our only dump station.
Well a 5th pulled behind me before I knew it.
I was able luckily to back up slowly about 8 feet with car attached and turned out.
Glad my coach turns tight.
We go to the Chevron across the street now.

[phranc]

Yup , been there, done that . Who hasn't ? Turned around once in a funeral home drive

[johnhicks]

What you have to do is scope out gas stations in advance using Google Earth, and if the upcoming station hasn't been pre-approved just pass it by.

[TonyDi]

Lots of horror stories about fuel stations and problems getting in or getting stuck trying to get out. That why I only stop at truck stops and I only use the truck lanes. No problems.

[Electra 225]

Been on TN roads like that for sure. Can we say nerve racking? The only thing I can add to what you described is trees! Trees that are low over the road and branches that invade the lanes from the side. Naturally, when you get to one of those trees you meet on coming traffic and pray you don't scrape the whole side of the coach.

I stay on the big road as much as possible. But, we were detoured around a wreck on I-75 Jellico TN once. There we were on a long road as you described.......at night. Did not enjoy it.

W.D.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by phranc

Yup , been there, done that . Who hasn't ? Turned around once in a funeral home drive

Ended up on a one lane narrow tree lined road that turned out to be entrance to CEMETERY....and OLD one with huge pine trees and very large headstones .

Boy we had FUN that day getting turned around and out of there..


BUT what the heck...that is why we went FT traveling back roads. Adventure in small town USA

[zigzagrv]

On our way to Branson, MO one year when there had been much rain and flooding. Took US 60 through Paducah, KY. Got near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers intending to take the bridges over both. Due to flooding we were unable to take the bridges. Instead went through Cairo, IL and then onto I55.

A year later we were heading the same way and this time no flooding, so we were anxious to cross the bridges. The bridge over the Ohio looked a bit narrow, but no problem. Then the Mississippi bridge came into view and, from our perspective looked little more than a foot bridge. As we approached it we realized it was just wide enough for two vehicles to pass....a bit scary. With no traffic coming the other way up the bridge we went straddling the center line at about 25 mph. As we got to the top and started down the other side, we saw an 18-wheeler coming up. I slowed down to a crawl and got as far right as possible. as we passed, his mirror was no more than 6" from mine and I heard a scraping noise from the passenger side. I could only imagine the damage. It was several miles later that I was able to stop and check it out. Nothing obvious on the side, but when I went to get back in, I noticed the wrap-around carpet on the step was torn and hanging down. That is what had scraped the curb on the side of the bridge. WHEW! Got away with that one. Will never take that bridge again.

[Fiesta48]

Missed a turn in Fredericksburg TX. Just ahead construction, no where to turn around. 42' MH plus car. Had to go to next exit 35 miles. Then onto Interstate. Back to Fred on another road.
80 miles out of way...
But we were in TX hill country, scenic and found a better RV park.

[slickest1]

I have had that happen as well. Once committed your there for the ride.
A couple of times it was Garmellda's (Garmin voice) instructions that led me there.