The Danger of Solo Road Trips

By Eilene Lyon

When I go on one of my “Dead Ancestor” tours across the country, I take along a micro-cassette recorder. I see a lot of interesting things as I’m driving around and don’t want to forget them. It’s also helpful for remembering where I went and what I did there. Later, I transcribe the tapes into a Word document.

Perhaps if I had a traveling companion, scenarios like this would not happen.

Actual transcription from Tape 1, April 2017:

“Looks like Siri’s taking me on another wild goose chase again. I should have been going on Route 7, probably, but okay, I’m going the way I’m going, because Siri wants me to go on this route. Anyway, the forest to my left is a wildlife refuge, despite all the hideous fencing.

I just passed a town sign that said, ‘Correct.’ [Laughing] I said, ‘Okay, I guess I’m on the right route!’

I think it’s possible that the route that I’m on right now is kind of following Barry’s Trace. I saw a historic marker back in the little town of Napoleon. I don’t know if that has any significance whatsoever, but I have to just say, ‘Eilene, you’re going where you need to be going. Just go with it.’

Eilene: I have no idea what you’re talking about. [Chuckling]

Siri: Turn left onto west Washington Street.

Eilene: No.

Siri: Turn right onto North Ireland Street.

Eilene [emphatically]: NO.

Eilene: Siri’s making me mad. I want to go back and take a picture of this courthouse clock tower. It has a tree growing out of it. This is unbelievable.

Siri: Turn right onto North Jackson Street. Make a slight left turn onto Michigan Avenue.”

 

Feature image: Decatur County courthouse, Greenburg, Indiana. (E. Lyon)