20,000

My Honda Element just turned 20,000. I was out at the Hobby Show this weekend and as I left the show I realized I was 9 km from rolling 20,000. Rather then head out on the highway I decided to just drive the streets, then stop at 20,000 and take a picture. Then I realized I was probably within range of Calum's place. I thought it's always fun to have a goal and Calum is one of the few people I know that would get a kick out this. So, I set out for his place.

To make what is really rather a short story longer, I missed the turn on to Martin Grove and had to head down Kipling instead. I knew how to get back on track, but I had to consider two things. I needed to get over to Calum's, but if I wasn't going to make it, I need to be within 1 km of finding a safe place to stop and take a picture.

Once I made it to Eglinton I knew for sure I was running short. I also knew there would be precious few places to stop along Eglinton, so I continued along Kipling. From my experiences driving with Calum I knew there was another street though a residential area I could cut back towards his place.

I turned right on Princess Margaret just as the odometer turned 20,000. A this point I knew I had blown it. There was no way to make it to Calum's. I also knew if I hadn't missed the turn on Marten Grove I would have been spot on when I arrived in his driveway. Instead I had to stop at the first cross street. I parked the car under the street sign so I could get a good picture.

Up until this point there had been no traffic at all in the area. In fact I sat in the car for quite a bit preparing the camera and taking a picture of the dash. Then I go to get out. What is it about drivers, a car is pulled over at the side of the road with it's four ways on and they line up behind it. Granted I was at the stop sign, but come on, it couldn't be clearer I wasn't going anywhere.

I got out and waved people around me. After I cleared all the cars from around me I managed to snap a few pictures before the next batch of cars showed up. And really this was a quiet neighbourhood, and I was on a side street, off a side street. Everyone came out of the wood work at once. Once I got back in and drove off, I didn't see another car till I got back to highway.

My car is now 20,000 km old. I finished the drive to Calum's to confirm I was only 1 km from my goal. Then I drove home.

On a historical note I did the same thing when the Element turned 5,000 km. I was on my way home to London, looked down at the odometer and realized I was a few kilometers from rolling 5,000. I pull off the 401 at Towerline Road in Woodstock just as it rolled 5,000. I was able to pull off to the side of the road right by the road sign. Funny enough no-one got confused by me being there.