IT’S ABOUT THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION (ESPECIALLY, WHEN YOU LOOSE THE DESTINATION ON THE ROAD)

What is so funny about it Maja?

Another fit of laughter came instead of an answer. We were standing beside the exit road of Landsberg, freezing cold outside. I was trying to get us a ride at least somewhere to A17 highway and Maja was still laughing. Just because we’re hitch-hiking. I thought it would pass after a while. It didn’t. She was laughing almost all day long, only making little breaks for breathing. But let’s go back to that road out of Landsberg. Did I mention that we were standing there with a paper saying A17. Why is it so important? A17 is not even close to Landsberg. One man stopped just to tell us. So we rewrite it to B17. Actually, it was much easier then. Thank you unknown man!

I would like to introduce my co-hitchhiker. Her name is Marianna (never forget the double n- it drives her crazy) She is short. Even smaller than me. She’s an owner of a long brown hair and a huge blue eyes. Well yeah and she’s confused most of her life. Nothing that you couldn’t get used to after a few hours. Right after getting over it, you will find her really kind and appreciate her ability to make every place feel like home.  

Unfortunately, none of these skills can be used on the road. They are useless as well as her talent to answer every question with „ALLES CLAR“ or „KEINE AHNUNG“, no matter what are you asking to. So I thought I should have be the one to handle the situation. I failed. Nothing bad happened to anyone, I mean, no-one was kidnapped or so. We just lost the destination somewhere on the road.

 „Can you google to which German city belongs the short DLG?  

I have never heard about it before, however I hate it by now. It will be four hours already, that we’re standing in front of some flower shop, trying to get to Donnaworth, just because someone told us to do so. With no luck. There’s no-one to blame so we keep blaming every poor owner of a car with DLG sign, instead of DON (the one we need) and exactly three drivers that have got a right one but don’t drive there right now. I have no idea where we are and how far is our goal. Man, I don’t even know if we are still in a good direction! Maja starts to be nervous. She’s still laughing though. That’s a good sign isn’t it?

The goal we were trying to reach was a city called Ansbach. Not that far from Landsberg. The only problem seems to be that there’s no direct highway leading to it. You have to drive through a few little towns in which is amazingly easy to get stacked. Except that, we were in a rush. Our mission was to see Maja’s boyfriend, who was in that city only until 4 PM. He didn’t know about our attempt of course. We lost the fight with time. Mission uncompleted. Status: Destination lost by the road.

It was three PM and we were in a city called ALsbach instead of ANsbach. It was probably my fault I confess. Partly! I should not jumped into that car so cheerfully when the man told us that the goal is only 5 minutes away. I should have trust the GPS clearly claiming one hour. But who would ever say that there’s even something like ALsbach?!

 “I told you it’s worthless. I knew it. I always fail in everything I try to do. Told you that I have a bad luck.”

Yeah I probably haven’t mentioned that our Maja suffer from extreme change of moods and enjoy herself falling in a deep sadness. Not a big problem at home. When it comes, you just have to leave her walk the house with her headphones on and try not to cross her route. From time to time check on her if she haven’t make anything stupid of course. Anyway, it could be a problem while lost in a Donnauworth. By the way, we finally got there! Unfortunately, it’s a step back from Alsbach. We are not trying to go to Ansbach anymore. The mission lost its point hour ago. We’re hitch-hiking back.

I am on the road again. No reason to complain, if I would be alone. However I am not. I am responsible for hyperactive and now a little irritated Maja and for getting us home.

Would you believe that a drive in a lorry can fix her mood? When I saw her picking up the phone and really secretly taking a picture of her view from the cabin, I knew it’s alight. The lorry driver took us to Augsburg. That’s only something like hour and half from Landsberg. Not bad at all.  

 “It have to be this way! Can we just walk it for a while and see if we can find a better spot?”

“As you wish Maja.”

No, it was not a good idea. We should have stay right there, on a petrol station, where the lorry driver left us. It was not a perfect place but the only one that could have work. Despite that, I followed the tactic: Leave Maja to lead the team for a while, otherwise you will be to blame for everything.

It’s a little egocentric, I know, but trust me, she would never calm herself without it. It was so worthless to run around in attempts to find another spot. Well what should I did? We started to run around. Me, Maja and our misunderstood friend GPS

 “It’s a Czechish guy! Look at that plate number!!!”  

I really don’t know what came to my mind at that point. Czechia was not even the direction that we needed. It’s a nice feeling to see the lorry with a Czech sign, parked in the middle of Augsburg though. Czech is almost Slovak. That’s a friend! We started to run toward him. Step, two, three… we realized the senselessness of this idea. He had got a window down. Great! So he not just saw our raid, he even heard it. Another fit of laughter. Until now, he still haven’t escaped, so we asked him for direction at least.

Guess where we went than! Back to that petrol station I wanted to stay at. We get a car from there. Not directly to Landsberg, I have to admit. We only get to another petrol. Anyway, it was a success because we met one nice guy there. Good looking. Actually two good looking guys if we count with the young salesman as well. From that moment we realise this trip is pointless, we decided to cheer up the waiting a little by admiring the male population on the petrols. I went to ask our nice guy if he drives right direction. His response was no. However, he stood there for a little more, looking at us. He didn’t seem to be scared even though we were laughing, singing and being creepy. After  a few minutes he came and offer us a ride. Not far, but it still helped. We get to another petrol. That’s something new! The only light thing about all that was, that they have a coffee with a great foam.

I think it doesn’t really matter in which city or at what place are you waiting, you can be sure that there’s no-one driving to Landsberg from there. No-one’s never driving to Landsberg from anywhere!

“Where do you need to get?”

“Landsberg.”

“Nope, don’t drive there.”

These two guys told us already twice. Do we really look like we didn’t get it at a first time?!

“Noone’s drivig to Landsberg.”

Thanx man. I haven’t noticed by now.

“Don’t you want to try another transport? Bus or so? It’s dangerous! And useless trust me.”

He was truly annoying me.

 “Don’t worry I know what I’m doing!”

I made a few steps ahead while speaking.

“Landsberg…”

Are you kidding me?! He drives the car closer to us. I really get it!!! I know you are not driving there and that you do not like that we are hitch-hiking. Can you not to tell us one more time?!

“We would give you a ride for 10 Euro just to get some petrol for that road.”

“No.”

They were annoying, I was sure I can hitch-hike another car and… THEY WERE ANNOING.   

“O.K.”

What are you doing Maja?!

“I have 10 Euro. That’s 5 for each of us. That’s not bad! Let’s drive with them.”

I would send her in a package by post in that moment! This two guys were already getting that petrol and Maja was exploring the inside of her wallet. I couldn’t let her to go alone and she didn’t look like she could handle it any longer here. OK. I am giving up.

At the end, they weren’t that annoying. We had a quite nice talk. When they left us in front of a hospital in Lansberg, I suddenly felt a little calmer. I haven’t realised I was tired by now. It was just one day. Nothing I wouldn’t survive before. The only thing I cannot handle is being responsible for someone else. I am not even responsible for myself.

It’s a nice feeling to reach the destination, but the feeling when you get home is also nice. Even nicer if you lost that destination somewhere beside the road. We made ourselves an eggnog coffee and went to sleep.