My Shortcut Story

 One year, my German wife made a big deal about wanting to drive down to the Garda  Sea. This was before GPS came along.

I agreed.  I was the driver for about 98-percent of this trip.  So I drew out Germany to the Garda Sea hotel map.

There was a critical junction in Milan....a HARD left.  It was a sort of shortcut. 

About 3 miles prior to this....entering the city, I cautioned the wife to pay attention.  For those who've never been to Italy.....they go overboard on signs.  For what you might expect in the US...it's triple that number in Italy.  

So we came this 6-lane road, and I figured I had half-a-mile to go.....just as we enter the intersection....she shouts 'left, left'.  Well....I'm already half way across this avenue, and there's no turning left.

What occurred next....to get turned around....we went about four miles down deep into Milan and in some part of town that you probably shouldn't be in. 

About 25 minutes would pass before we entered this shortcut again.  

As we left Milan, I had this intense bad feeling about the city.

So ten days pass, and it's time to leave the Garda Sea hotel, and head home.

Now, I've told the wife....we just aren't going that way again.

I plotted a path that would take us clear over the very top of the Alps.  On a adventure driving index....it was  a '12' on a one to ten list.

At some point, after a 250-curve situation and I was tired....we hit the peak of the Alps.  It comes up over a hill and there's this 20-acre gravel park area.  I figure.....lets stop and just assess the moment.  

At this moment, I happen to notice about 40 cows wandering around the end of the gravel park area. 

We stop, and we are hoping out of the vehicle....where the wife puts her foot down....into a cow paddy.  Yes, 20-acres to stop upon and I picked the exact point where there was one.

From that day on.....shortcuts are a forbidden topic with the wife.  Day or night.....no matter where we go....it cannot be discussed as a shortcut path.