Took a road trip yesterday to our favorite winery. We discovered Keswick while enjoying a weekend tooling around the country side; teenagerless. It was prime Agnes time to take in the outdoors via the car. Her ears could have been flapping in the breeze as we flew down the highway except for windows being up. It was 90 degrees out and the golden rule of air conditioning on, windows up, was in play. But I digress...
It is peak foliage time and we wanted to see the colors turning. We loaded up the teenager and headed out to Keswick to take in the scenery along the way. The rain was light and actually enhanced the foliage, playing off of the ambient aura projected by the trees ensconced in the warm fall colors of rust, amber, scarlet and marigold. Magic...
Inside the vehicle, the radio is playing classic rock but the buzz of muzzled sounds leaking from headphones in the back seat are a reminder that Led Zeppelin's ageless appeal does not always apply. There is a mumbled sing-a-long with the Eagles and the Steve Miller Band.
Okay, I have set the mood. I have my bag at my side and if I were not in motion I would pull out my project and commence some solid progress on a Kimono vest but we are in motion and I am hesitant.
I cannot read while riding. Like many out there I get queasy and my head begins to ache. There have been times of crisis when, after circling a section of town multiple times, I have reviewed a map to check directions knowing that I will be unable to eat and will want to lie down upon arrival at the destination (usually a restaurant or friend's house for a social gathering that will include food). These heroic acts are done when the only other options include continuing to circle the area believing that one more turn will reveal the location which is actually not in the circumference of your current traffic pattern. ( The directions written down say East 12th but what they really meant was West 12th. Or it really was East but 2nd.) The option of returning home could be utilized, except that you have already called from the road to say you are on your way and not showing would be at a minimum rude. The most dangerous option is to hand the map to the driver (a.k.a. spouse), clearly not a good choice.
Again with the tangents. I apologize...
I have family that knit in the car while riding and they don't get car sick. Maybe its not like reading in the car. I take out my project. Arrange myself and start a row. At the end, I stop and check to see of the classic symptoms are starting. Nope. I can knit and ride. Oooooohhh, this opens all sorts of possibilities.
I learned some rules:
1. Straight highway - after we exited the major interstate to small back roads, the roller coaster feel of the drive trumps your ability to focus on the project. Queasiness returns.
2. Light Traffic - Big trucks bearing down on your window at clearly illegal speeds, draw your focus and force your attention.
I am not sure the difference that allows me to knit but not to read while in a car but I can knit while I ride.....
2 comments:
Sing in the car! It won't make you sick. It might make a teenager sick but you will be fine. I loved your description of the foliage.
Hmm. I think the difference between reading and knitting (insofar as they affect car sickness, that is) is that when you read in the car, you can't keep track of the horizon. Whereas, knitting and horizon awareness are easier to manage. When you can see the horizon (even peripherally) your brain can add info to help process what your inner ear is sensing. Your inner ear is sensing that you are either changing orientation or you are sick. The brain picks 'sick' if there's no other info about orientation. Stupid brain.
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