The Unfortuante Ending to my Weekend Getaway

Why didn't anybody tell me I needed a boat this weekend?

My Girlfriend and I took a trip to Norfolk, VA to see the one and only Dave Matthews Band.   We couldn't see them in Camden, so we picked the next best destination.  I happen to have familly and friends in the Tidewater area, so this was a no-brainer.  The only problem was that nobody told me that Norfolk floods, a lot.

The forecast called for scattered showers.  Most people would read that and say, 'I should bring an umbrella', not 'I probably shouldn't drive today'.  A few hours before the concert, my Girlfriend and I had lunch in downtown Norfolk.  The rain was starting to come down quick, and streets were beginning to flood everywhere.  We stayed at the restaurant until the rain calmed down, and then proceeded to head back.  Unlike South Jersey, Norfolk had zero road closing signs and zero Police officers directing traffic away from flooded streets.  Several times I found myself going one direction, only to stop and find a different route because a particular section of downtown Norfolk had turned into a lake.

I successfully got us out of underwater Norfolk.  I saved the day.  I kept my Girlfriend safe.  I proved once again how incredibly and unequivocally manly I was.  I looked at her with a confident yet cocky grin and said, 'See, Bab? We made it.  Nothing to worry about.'

Or was there?

As I turned onto the last street, a jeep was just sitting there in the middle of the road.  What do drivers in South Jersey when someone is blocking their way? We drive around them! The road ahead looked like puddles of water and didn't seem very dangerous.  As I got closer to our parking lot, the water quickly became deeper.  I didn't want to stop, I was so close.

Too late.

The 2005 Chevy Cavalier with over 166,000 miles and better known to me as 'Silver Bullet Version 2.0' had it's last ride.  The car immediately shut off, the water was creeping in through the doors, and my Girlfriend was terrified.  I jumped out of the passenger side of the car, and watched the jeep that we just drove around pass right by us.  I spent an hour talking with my insurance company and various friends.  Due to the flooding, tow truck companies were refusing to tow my car.  I knew that the longer my car sat in that lake, the worst it was going to get.  My childhood best friend, Chris, came to my aid.  The big guy and I pushed my car out of the water, and backed it onto a parking space.  The car still wouldn't start.

I picked up my rental car the next morning, grabbed the rest of my belongings, and said good-bye to my old friend 'Silver Bullet Version 2.0'.  While it's not official that my car is totaled, I'm pretty confident that it is.  We had some great times and some no so great times together.  It was indeed time to move on, and this car wanted to go out in a blaze of glory.  Or just drown.

What's your vacation disaster story? Feel free to comment below...