Cruising Past Seventy: The Inner Journeys: Travel Mishaps and How to Deal with Them

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Travel Mishaps and How to Deal with Them





Travel mishaps are unfortunate accidents. They are pimples in the otherwise clear complexion of a fine travel day. I’m not talking about those incidents that make us scared enough to rethink how we travel. I am talking about simple occurrences that can be prevented but didn’t or couldn’t. Travelers are often in unfamiliar places so mishaps can happen to us more often. How we deal with them matters.

Buried in Snow

Early in our RVing career, we had to return to Washington from Florida for my citizenship interview with the US CIS. We weren’t supposed to be in the north in November, but we had to. We parked our RV at the Thunderbird RV and Camping Resort in Monroe, beside a river so my husband could do some fishing. But when a snowstorm arrived, we got trapped inside our RV.     

With very little propane left, our lone energy source for the heater and stove, we confined ourselves to microwaveable meals. Since management could not risk their pipes freezing, we were forced to scrimp on the little water we had left in the freshwater tank.  But we didn’t get glued to the TV and Internet. Instead, we enjoyed the new living arrangements. My husband ran errands and walked through the snow. I was a good girl scout, following instructions, for a change.

Stranded on the Interstate

flat tire on I-71
Later we had a scarier one. Driving down Interstate 71 from Cincinnati, Ohio to Louisville, Kentucky, the right front tire of the RV blew out. It had eight tires, two in front and six at the rear in two axles. It was such a loud noise, unfamiliar to my ears, and I got scared. Bill managed to steer our 20,000-pound rig off the road. He remained calm and called Good Sam.

Then he found the Rummikub game and we played a few games, letting me win so I could forget my fear. But we had to wait inside the RV on a hot afternoon, without air conditioning. Help finally arrived and the tire was replaced. The rescue truck accompanied us to Louisville because he said many of our tires needed changing. It was midnight when we arrived at their shop. We were tired but, as usual, my husband was that same old boy scout I had married!

Lost in Helsinki

Hotel Ava and Institute
And that is why, in Helsinki, I panicked when I thought I lost him.   After the failed hostel experiment in Oslo, we chose the Hotel Ava, a very affordable option because it was attached to a Hotel Management Institute that provided most of the staff. The only problem was it was twenty minutes away from the city center. A Helsinki card was our solution, It paid for museums, tours, and cruises, as well as all public transport. It was a nice feeling to go ‘home’ at the end of the day.

On our last day, we finished packing early. We waited in the lobby with our bags, ready for the 3 pm public bus to the airport. We had time so my husband left for the nearby pharmacy just around the corner. But by 2:30 pm, he had not come back. I was upset that the receptionist did not give him a map of how to get there and back. I was in full panic mode, imagining all sorts of things that could have happened to him.  At 2:55 pm, he came in, got his bags, and instructed me to follow him to the bus stop. I ran all the way, lugging my carry-on through the cobbled streets, unmindful if it got damaged. Mr. calm, cool, and collected.

More planning is needed to prevent these mishaps. And how we deal with them when they happen that matters. My husband showed me how. He says, “They are just that, mishaps, not tragedies!” The right perspective.

 







27 comments:

  1. Absolutely! Travel mishaps are bound to happen and it is always the way we react and act to them. I have had so many of them where things have really gone south and it has been scary at that point, yes I would not deny it but I got through them. And it is even more scary when things go wrong on the way to airport. My uber driver cancelled on my at the last moment once when I was headed to airport.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Traveling is definitely always an adventure in both good and bad ways. You really need to be able to adapt when you travel.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is why I love your blog so much! You cover aspects of travel that I would never even think of!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You really have to be flexible and resilient when you travel. It's all about enjoying the experience and rolling with the challenges to the best of your ability.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ah, yes - travel mishaps! You've certainly had your share of them, but your attitude is to be admired. Sometimes we find little gems and meet interesting people because of mishaps. Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is always good to try to plan for unexpected moments by bringing a preparedness kit if you can. Great info and advice.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It sounds like you've had quite the travel adventures, and have dealt with the hiccups incredibly well. Not everyone can recover from these things without feeling like their entire trip was ruined, but you've proven that this doesn't have to be the case.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for sharing about your journey - both ups and downs. Might I ask why the receptionist refused to give your husband the map? So odd.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She didn't refuse. I meant she should have given him one.

      Delete
  9. I love visiting your blog because you always share some great points about traveling. It's always good to try and be prepared for any mishaps during your travels and no matter what I try to always make the best out of anything that unexpectedly happens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes even the best preparation will nit shiekd you from all mishaps.

      Delete
  10. One of my biggest fears is getting lost. Glad to hear that your husband made it back safely.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I had a somewhat similar travel mishap in Toronto losing my husband. We both went into an outdoor restroom, but one of us came out the opposite door than what we had gone into. I totally panicked because I didn't have a cell phone at the time, and a security guard couldn't let me use his phone because it would be an international call!!! Very scary time. Sharing your story is so helpful to others preparing for a trip.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I always loving reading your travel updates. Mishaps, are not fun for any traveler. That is why it’s always helpful to be prepared for the unexpected.

    ReplyDelete
  13. While travel mishaps are frustrating, it is also makes for some interesting memories. I usually look back and remember those memorable mishaps the most!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just like i showed here...plus they help in learning lessons

      Delete
  14. Hihi....I love your husband's view of "mishaps". So many people panic and think it's the end of the world for them and yet, it's not.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think your husband is the best possible travel partner to have. Someone who is calm and can make the most of the circumstances helps to keep everyone else calm and level headed

    ReplyDelete

Leave a Comment