Driving All Night Without A Map

At university, which was a long time ago now, I got into someone's motor once for a lift in to the city

. In the course of our chat they told me how they had played the 'left right game' the night previous. This, they recounted involved driving along a road and then at some point, to be decided on by the passenger beginning a chain of left and rights. That is turning left at the first available left turn and then right at the net available right turn. The point of this? Well there possibly wasn't one. I smiled, and unknowingly then, I must have pigeonholed it away for future reference.

Fast forward 20 years. I was going through a term of stress at home, nothing extreme just presumably the usual stuff most 40 year olds go through. It was sufficient enough though to keep me awake at night a couple of nights continuously. So on the third night of tossing and turning, I went downstairs to make myself a cup. I opened the fridge and we were out of milk. I put on my sweater and jacket, grabbed the car keys and headed out into the refreshing, pleasant night. My breath came into view in front of me as I reached out to the handle on the car door. Seeing my breath made me feel alive, it was one of those peculiar existential moments that last a transitory second. I got in the car,reversed off the drive and made my way to the 24hr store. I got there only to find traffic cones across the entrance. So I drove on. There was minimal traffic on the road as it was a Wednesday and around 1am. The car had warmed up beautifully and so I wound down the window a touch and let some air. I came to another garage, but resisting the urge to turn in, I just drove on. At this point I remembered the Left Right Game and smiled. Driving for no reason with no target seemed like a great idea. So that's what I did.

With no other cars to worry me, I felt relaxed. I put some tunes on and sang at the top of my voice. Eventually thirst got the better of me, and seeing an all night cafe in a lay-by I pulled in and drank a cup of coffee, and a conversation with the owner and a couple of lorry drivers. Not necessarily words of wisdom, but both good advice and nonsensical chat with strangers. I continued to drive until I got in to Central London. I drove along the south bank of the Thames, then crossed the river and drove through the West End, smiling at all the people. At last I got tired. So I saw a hotel, checked in for what was left of the night, and slept until the maid knocked at 11am.

I drove home the next day, taking a direct and traffic filled route, but with a much clearer head and a better mindset. I was too drowsy to do any work, I had articles to write about 1 day car insurance, which is very dull, but I did them and then drawing the curtains at a ludicrously early 6pm hopped in to bed and fell asleep with a good book still in my hands.

Driving, it might not be that great for the environment, but it was certainly good for my head. Obviously, my disclaimer now - don't drive tired, drive safe.

Driving All Night Without A Map

By: ArtyLuna

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