Community Forums

MSHappyCampers · 06-12-2015, 08:46 AM

On a trip last weekend we got off the interstate for lunch. When we got ready to leave, I missed the on-ramp and started looking for a place to turn around. I spotted a business that that was closed with a parking lot large enough for me to turn around. It was a quick decision and I had to turn left across the oncoming traffic onto a street next to the building. When I got on the street that's when I saw the steel cable stretched all the way across the parking lot!

The street I'm pulled onto goes into a residential area. NO WAY! I see that the business on the other side of the street has a drive around the back of the building that looks wide enough for me to make it. WRONG! Like an idiot I turn into the drive, without getting out and walking it first, and when I get to the other corner I realize it's WAY too tight a turn for me to make!

I've always believed that the Lord has His Angels watch over those too dumb to take care of themselves, and He didn't fail me this time! Straight ahead is another business, also closed, with a large parking lot, and the only barrier between the two businesses is a row of large steel posts, spaced 12' apart, and the space between two of them is directly in front of me! I drive between the posts, with the DW watching my spacing, through the parking lot, back onto the main street, and believe me, I didn't miss that on-ramp this time!

I hope none of you have ever done anything this stupid, and I'm gonna try REALLY hard not to ever do that again! My Angel might be busy somewhere else next time!

Skip426 · 06-12-2015, 10:13 AM

Been there , done... well not exactly that.

Return trip home from snowbirding in SoCA. Delayed in traffic south of Seattle WA, it's dark by the time we're taking the 405 to avoid I-5 through the center of town, miss the on-ramp to get back on the I-5; navigator sleeping,

no GPS at that time, end up on narrow two lane heading for WA state ferry dock, only spot to think about turning is an ambulance only access to a seniors home, in and out in under 30 sec. hope no one noticed.

jacwjames · 06-12-2015, 11:59 AM

We were coming back to TN from Alaska taking the scenic route through WA, OR, CA. Somewhere along the route we wanted to stop near the ocean and saw a sign, turned in and committed but it was too to see a big NO RV turnaround sign. I had to pull into a parking space and then back in diagonally to another spot and do multiple iterations of forward/back/forward/back to be able to turn around. Luckily I wasn't pulling a car like I do now. I am more careful in picking my turns etc.

gruelens · 06-12-2015, 12:25 PM

It happens to all of us sooner or later. Fortunately your angel prevented you from damaging something expensive. We jokingly tell folks we are writing a book entitled "U-turns across the USA".

Finally Time · 06-12-2015, 02:03 PM

Before the freeways went through Sacramento, CA, US 40 zigzagged through the downtown streets around the Capitol Building. A friend and i got turned around and wound up going down under the Capitol Building through the Senate and Assembly parking lot. We had a Security Guard yelling at us, but we kept going and zipped out the exit on the other side of the building. Actually it worked out to be a pretty nice shortcut, but we never did it again.

Jim T. · 06-12-2015, 02:09 PM

In the pre-GPS days, we were lemmings following a friend who "knew" where the campground was where we had reservations. He made a wrong turn, we followed. We wound up at the front entrance to a state mental hospital. I wonder what the patients thought? 😳

Jim & Shirley & Abbie (Scottie)
2013 Newmar Canyon Star 3911
2005 Dodge Grand Caravan

MSHappyCampers · 06-12-2015, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim T.

In the pre-GPS days, we were lemmings following a friend who "knew" where the campground was where we had reservations. He made a wrong turn, we followed. We wound up at the front entrance to a state mental hospital. I wonder what the patients thought? 😳

Jim & Shirley & Abbie (Scottie)
2013 Newmar Canyon Star 3911
2005 Dodge Grand Caravan

Just be thankful they didn't keep you!

Gordon Dewald · 06-12-2015, 02:48 PM

Joe - it is only "dumb" or "stupid" if you do it again hoping for a different outcome.

MSHappyCampers · 06-12-2015, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

Joe - it is only "dumb" or "stupid" if you do it again hoping for a different outcome.

Thank goodness for that!

Jeff and Cheryl · 06-12-2015, 03:15 PM

Joe,
Several years ago I read a post here on IRV2 that described the incident you had very well. He described it has having become "experienced". This is how we become "Experienced" RV drivers. Other areas where I've become "experienced" would include dumping the holding tanks, repairing plumbing, leveling, and the list goes on.
The best way to handle becoming experienced is to do just as you have done, laugh and vow to never to do it again, and you won't (until next time of course).

Monster99 · 06-13-2015, 11:00 AM

We were in Virginia and desperate for gas. Looking in "next exit" book found gas at the next exit. Got off the highway and found the station pulled in and got gas. First time towing the 32' TT did not think on pulling back out. I had to back out onto a very busy divided road. It took a while and DW calling out directions and stopping traffic we made it to a round of applause from the bystanders. Learned to check the pump orientation before pulling in.

G.G. · 06-13-2015, 11:59 AM

DH turned into a Taco Bell. Assumed there was a drive around to the other side other than the drive-thru. Wrong!!! All they had was the drive-thru which was about 9 ft. or so clearance. Once you were in the parking lot, your only 2 choices were to continue on to the drive-thru or park in a parking space. We had no choice but to unhook the toad so he could back out of the parking lot. A lady sitting inside came out to leave and commented on how they were watching what we were going to do and how calm he was. (On the outside. He was not calm on the inside, I assure you, and neither was I.) We then went across the street to a Home Depot parking lot. I walked across the street to get our lunch and brought it back to the MH to eat.
These dumb decisions do help for future decisions. We've learned first-hand the hard way to be really, really careful where we decide to go.

Excursion 33 · 06-13-2015, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

On a trip last weekend we got off the interstate for lunch. When we got ready to leave, I missed the on-ramp and started looking for a place to turn around. I spotted a business that that was closed with a parking lot large enough for me to turn around. It was a quick decision and I had to turn left across the oncoming traffic onto a street next to the building. When I got on the street that's when I saw the steel cable stretched all the way across the parking lot!

The street I'm pulled onto goes into a residential area. NO WAY! I see that the business on the other side of the street has a drive around the back of the building that looks wide enough for me to make it. WRONG! Like an idiot I turn into the drive, without getting out and walking it first, and when I get to the other corner I realize it's WAY too tight a turn for me to make!

I've always believed that the Lord has His Angels watch over those too dumb to take care of themselves, and He didn't fail me this time! Straight ahead is another business, also closed, with a large parking lot, and the only barrier between the two businesses is a row of large steel posts, spaced 12' apart, and the space between two of them is directly in front of me! I drive between the posts, with the DW watching my spacing, through the parking lot, back onto the main street, and believe me, I didn't miss that on-ramp this time!

I hope none of you have ever done anything this stupid, and I'm gonna try REALLY hard not to ever do that again! My Angel might be busy somewhere else next time!

lol......My co-pilot almost had me run into a river very late at night one time using GPS. It was a no moon night and I had to turn around an almost 60 foot rig on sheer will and faith in the dirt which was very tight. It happens and we survived

Climbon69 · 06-13-2015, 05:01 PM

And you called me brave for admitting my fueling mistake!!

It happens. Our engine batteries went out in Phoenix last year and tried to get into a small strip mall to get to a parts store for new batteries. I was already committed when I realized the way they laid out the parking lot there was no way out. Fortunately, the guys at the parts store came out and guided me backing up between parked cars and back onto a very busy street. Of course, the other alternative would have been a very large object blocking their front door!

Has anyone driven around Niagara Falls? I once had to go the wrong way down a one-way street as I couldn't figure out any other alternative.