We Did Not Make It: Day Five

     Kyle and I did not make it to Richmond today.  We needed to make it to Richmond today because we both had job interviews today, but we are still 248 miles away.  However, there was nothing we could do to make it today.

     To start off the day, the interstate roads were shut down today.  I am not sure why they were closed - the article we read did not say - but this news did us in.  We were forced to use US 460 today, a slower, non-interstate road.  The good news was that we have our car back.
     The car theft from yesterday had unknowingly taken the same route we had.  The theft obviously did not know how much gas was in the car, because he and the car were found in a ditch twenty miles away from Carlyle.  The man escaped capture, I am not sure how, but the car was returned to us without a scratch on it.  I had not realized how much I missed that car until I saw it in the parking lot outside our hotel room. It was so nice to know that we can travel without stopping and not have to play Snag a Chair for the duration of the ride.

    The policemen had kindly filled up the car tank, so we were able to start driving right away.  The ride was very tense because Kyle and I knew we needed to make it to Richmond today.  I was driving and Kyle frequently called his parents, as well as mine, to see if we would make it in time for our interviews.  Kyle had an interview with the Richmond Police Department, and I had one with the Capital City Book publishing company.  Kyle graduated from the San Francisco Community Police Academy last September.  My mother's friend works at the Capital City Book publishing company and, because I love reading so much, set up an interview for me to join the company.  Both our interviews were scheduled around 6 pm, so we though we might have a chance of getting to Richmond, taking quick showers, and making it to our interviews.  However, we had no such luck.

     The main problem was the road.  It was covered in enormous potholes that shocked my spine that, despite my best efforts, we could not avoid.  To add to this misery, the road was jam packed with people also avoiding the interstate roads.  The traffic was so slow that Kyle actually got out of the car and introduced himself to the people in the car in front of us.  They introduced themselves as Nora and John and they were juniors at UC San Diego.  Nora and John were also taking a road trip to the east coast because they live in Washington, North Carolina and wanted to spend their spring break at home.  We all agreed that if the traffic did not clear up, Nora and John would just have to turn right around when they got home in order to make it back to school in time.
     Around noon, we reached the town of Hanover, Illinois.  This was worrisome because we still had 595 miles before we would reach Richmond, and at that point, the traffic was still horrible.  We ate lunch with Nora and John at a Subway in Hanover.  We had a great time chatting with  them, but left soon after we ate.  We quickly filled up the car at a Circle K gas station and headed back on the road.
     Thankfully the roads cleared up after lunch, and we drove quickly our of Illinois.  Our interview times were coming closer and closer and the stress of making it on time made the car ride very quiet.  Every so often, I would look at the clock.  It appeared as though time was flying while our car was stock still on the road.

     We made some headway, but at 5 pm we sadly had to accept defeat.  We were only in Princeton and were still 268 miles away from Richmond.  Once we booked a room at the Budget Inn, we called our parents, who were sad for us but understanding.  We only hoped that our interviewers would have the same feelings.  From what I could hear from the snippets of Kyle's conversation, the police department was not very understanding.  However, they said that if he made it to the station before 8 am tomorrow, they would still interview him.  The Capital Book Company was very understanding, but told me that they would not be able to interview me until next month.  Although these times are not ideal, Kyle and I are happy to get an interview at all.
     We are going to set off early tomorrow and pray that we make it on time for Kyle's interview.  Wish us luck! :)
   


Route:  We took US 460 all the way to Princeton because the interstate roads were closed.

Food:
Breakfast: apples

Lunch: Subway Veggie Delite and two drinks - $3.25+$2.78= $6.03
241 West Main Street
Hanover, IN 47243
(812) 866-1722

Dinner:
Angelo's Pizza Insalata Caprese Salad - $9.45
1211 Strafford Drive
Princeton, WV 24740

Gas:
Circle K - $27.30
319 West Lagrange Road
Hanover, IN 47243
(812) 866-36666

Lodging:
Budget Inn - $44
409 Thorn Street
Princeton WV 24740
(304) 425-3583

Money spent: $86.78

Money left: $286.76