Down the Highway, How Times Change!
By Morley Hunt
@Morleyhunt (21741)
Canada
April 11, 2016 5:23am CST
To set the scene. It's 1982, a hot day in July or August. I have had my drivers license for just a couple of years. The only vehicle I have ever driven was a mid sized car.
My husband had purchased an old (and I mean old) van to convert to a passenger van for our family of six.
He needed me to drive this van to his place of work and wait for him there. He took three of the kids with him, leaving me with the 3 month old baby, strapped in his car seat. Too bad there was no seatbelt to strap in the seat.
I wedged the car seat between the front bucket seats of the van.
Setting out down the QEW (a 4 lane, limited access highway) I discovered the heat was set to high. There was no way to turn it off. The knob was broken.
I opened the window all the way causing my waist length hair to blow crazily in my face.
Not wanting to be an obstruction to traffic I settled in at about 3 mph under the speed limit. I seemed to be passing a lot of cars, for the speed I was driving. Later I learned I had probably been driving about 10 mph over the speed limit. The speedometer was broken.
I was never so happy to arrive at my destination and climb out, soaked with perspiration and on shaking knees.
We all lived to tell the tale.
9 people like this
8 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
11 Apr 16
I hope you eventually got the van fixed! Sounds like the vehicle was a nightmare on wheels.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
11 Apr 16
My husband fitted it with seats and seat belts. We drove it for about a year. We took it through Chicago that year on our way to Wisconsin. Soon after our mechanic suggested we not leave town with this unreliable beast.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
11 Apr 16
@Morleyhunt That first ride must have scared the bejeebers out of you.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
12 Apr 16
@ElusiveButterfly I think my knees were like jello when I got out of the van. Now with 30+ years of driving experience, I have driven all manner of vehicles.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
11 Apr 16
I can totally relate! After our son's first year of university we put a third car on the road for the 4 months that he was at home. I never ever drove it, but my husband told me that to get the needle on the speedometer to work, he'd have to tap the dashboard above it, the radio usually choose not to work and it was so old that he wouldn't even let our son drive it. He said that the motor in it was as small as a sewing machine. Memories.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
11 Apr 16
@Morleyhunt I believe that most of us can say that we have driven vehicles that were less than road worthy. We did what we had to do.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
11 Apr 16
We drove this van for about a year. The. We bought a station wagon that was almost as old, but the seating and body were in. Uch better shape. It also had some interesting idiosyncrasies, but nothing quite as terrifying as that first ride in the van.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
12 Apr 16
If I had had any inkling of how horrible that drive would be, I would have found a way of letting my husband drive the van and I would have taken the Fairmont.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
12 Apr 16
@Morleyhunt
I bet you would have but since we do not have the ability to see into the future what can be done. 
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
12 Apr 16
I remember as a child being stuck in a car with the heating on too high and my mum (the driver) couldn't stop it, nor could we open the windows because we were driving through a safari park surrounded by lions and baboons - it made an enjoyable trip absolute hell
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
12 Apr 16
We have all had similar experiences. Travelling through the mountains in summer. The air conditioning would kick out every time we would climb a steep incline. The poor people in the back were dying. Finally we gave up on the AC and opened the windows.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
12 Apr 16
thank goodness y'all made't safely 'n without e'en gettin' a ticket :) i drove the aunts truck to lubbock, tx (100 miles one way) nearly 10 times takin' her back'n forth to her neurologist 'fore she told me that her speedometer 'twas off. 'tis a miracle i ne'er got stopped coz i'd that cruise control set right'n the dot, lol.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
12 Apr 16
If I had been pulled over, that would have been the icing on the cake. I probably would have r fused to Eve drive that beast again.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
so now I presume you have a new car to drive my friend? the one with an AC so you won't sweat anymore while driving and seat belts to keep you and your children secure.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
12 Apr 16
My van now, is six months old. Has air conditioning, has seat belts and I have two booster seats plus a 5 point harness car seat for younger children. I'm prepared. We are all safe.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
@Morleyhunt drive safely then when you travel my friend.
1 person likes this
@mypointsju (583)
• Westland, Michigan
11 Apr 16
I like your writing style. When I was reading this, I wanted to get to the end to see what happened. I am glad everyone was safe.
