Go Your Own Way

Garmin is not your friend. That’s something AmeriCorps volunteer coordinator, Keisha Mabry and I learned when we embarked on our visits to some of Louisville's regional community chapters located in Bardstown, Bowling Green, Paducah, Murray and Madisonville with our GPS “buddy” in his place on the windshield. But we soon found out this popular piece of technology was no friend of ours.

We were sure the winding yet scenic trip from Bardstown was a blip, but two weeks later it almost doubled our estimated travel time to Paducah and Murray.

Eventually Keisha and I decided it was in our best interest to ignore Garmin’s instructions. The rest of our trip, spent on Pennyrile Parkway and I-65, was met with constant protests including “re-calculating” and “turn around”, but we made it to our last destination in ample time.

Each visit was met with enthusiasm for new ideas and projects, and the feedback we received from the other chapters was worth the drive, but for future visits, I think we’ll stick with Google Maps.