Nuclear Disaster

Along with pulling a flatbed and hauling scrap, I also get the pleasure of picking up certain items and delivering it to numerous power plants. I am a busy girl!!

This week it was 4 18'pipes, weighing in at a total of 1700lbs. Not much of a load, but for some strange reason, I always enjoy riding around the big power plants. That is, until today.

I checked in with security and he gave me explicit directions on how to find the warehouse. I set forth, checking and rechecking my route. These folks do not like you to stray off course. He had told me to follow this road, Stop sign, turn right, take immediate left, go through another check point, stop sign turn left, dead end turn left. Ware house on the left. WHEW!! I did exactly as he told me, except when I made the immediate left, it put me into a contractor's parking lot. I followed the painted arrows trying to find the next check point and actually saw a gate, but nothing resembling an entrance for big trucks. I made the entire lap around the parking lot and headed back for that road, thinking maybe it was the second left (since the first was a parking lot). I proceed to the next left and there is a check point (unmanned) and directly past it is a stop sign. Beside the stop sign is an informative sign claiming the ware house is down the road to my left. If you are paying attention (or have referenced back to the original instructions, you will notice that this road allows me to follow my original instructions.) So I make the left, go to the dead end and what do you suppose is sitting a little off to my immediate left. Yep, the warehouse!! Bingo! So, I am feeling pretty dumb about driving around the contractor's yard, but no harm, no foul. Oh well. I make the delivery and retrace my path back towards the exit.

I had just about made my escape when I notice, not one, but two Power Plant Security vehicles chasing me down. I was stopped in my tracks and grilled intensively about where I had been and why I took the route I did.... " I was just following security guards orders!!" They lectured me and with raised voices, informed me that I had taken the wrong route, and would not be allowed to do that again.

" I was just following the directions given to me" I even had them written down on a scrap of paper and offered to show it to them. Finally, after they had achieved satisfaction by badgering a little girl, I was allowed to leave. But not before they informed me that the first immediate left was indeed through the parking lot, although I have no idea where I was suppose to come out the other side. Remember, I went that route first, but, I am sure they will lead me by the hand next time.

You know, there is very little that still intimidates me about this job. I have been doing it for over a decade, and with New York City being my stomping grounds, well, you cant get into any harder situations than that. But for some strange reason, today's little misadventure did not sit well with me. In fact, I was so rattled by those men chastising me, that I missed an easy turn heading for home and ended up driving 20 miles out of my way.