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by Linda Kaidan
Driving less than 10 miles from home we were stranded!
When we drove out to Herkimer Home Historic State Park, less than 10 miles away, we gave no thought to problems returning. We soon found out just how difficult getting home would be!
At 8:30 AM we parked in the lot in front of the museum. Just as I turned off the motor, a huge plume of white billowy smoke rose from the hood of my car. After about 10 minutes it dissipated. I was not overly concerned as I have AAA road service and was not too far from home. AAA alerted me to the fact that the tow truck driver would not give me a ride due to Covid-19 restrictions. The tow truck arrived about an hour later. As soon as it departed, I tried to get a taxi. Neither Little Falls nor Herkimer offered any hope of getting one. I did not have Uber on my phone. No one we called was willing to give us a ride.
We decided to walk 3 miles to the center of Little Falls
Fortune smiled on us. It was a beautiful day and a splendid walk with wetlands on both sides of Route 169. Hats, drinking water, comfortable shoes and a backpack would have made the trek far more comfortable. Our portable battery ensured our cellphones would have power throughout the day. As we walked it occurred to us that there might be a bus from Little Falls to Herkimer.
Public transportation saved the day
It took a little over an hour to reach McDonald’s where we sat outside under the trees, snacking on coke and fries. Much refreshed, we identified the location of the Bernie Bus westbound stop. When the bus arrived exactly on time and almost entirely empty, it was a great relief! Things could have been far more catastrophic.
Before you drive anywhere ask yourself “how can I get home if my car breaks down?” Covid-19 disrupts transportation both public and private.