Expected arrival: 18.00 Actual arrival: 21.00

After an exhausting yet extremely exciting tournament weekend, I was looking forward to getting back home. After watching the Jersey United U11s Summer Select team win in the semi finals, I decided to call it a day and hit the road. I left at around 15.30 and was expected to get back home at around 18.00. It looked a simple journey - up Route 222 North and then all the way across Interstate 78 East into New Jersey. However, having experienced frightening events with my Crown Vic already, more was to come in the form of a burst tire. No, not running out of gas again but a burst tire. Now, part of this was my fault because when I took the car to have it's oil changed the day before traveling to the tournament, the guy said to me, "You gotta change your tires man". I thought, get this trip out of the way and get the car into the garage.

So I managed to get through Route 222 okay and just after crossing into New Jersey via 78, there I was, sailing at a nice steady speed in the fast lane, until I heard a sudden burst and an incredible scraping noise. I thought - oh oh. Hazard lights ON. Mirror checks DONE. Calmly pull over into the hard shoulder DONE WITH SEVERE PANIC. I put the car into park and stepped out of the vehicle. WHOOOOOOOOOSH! Probably the biggest truck I have ever seen whizzed past me and I almost got swept away. Thankfully, I did not. So I inspected the tire and it was done for. Dead. Kaputt (broken in German). So I walked over to the boot of the car and got out the jack and other necessary tools (oh yeah, and the spare tire!). In the middle of changing the tire, I received the fright of my life when three human beings walked up to me (it's not as if they were aliens or something!). Incredibly, one of the humans was a kid from my U10s team. Obviously, the other two were his parents. After quickly explaining what had happened, the father rolled up his sleeves and did the entire job for me. Not only that, but I got a free bottle of Lemon Gatorade from the mother. If that is not awesome, then I don't know what is. After everything was sorted, the family even made sure I made my exit okay by tagging along behind me. Now, I doubt the family would have been so helpful if the U10s did not win the tournament. No, I'm only joking. What a great gesture though. That is something I am so appreciative for - helpful and kind people. It's they way forward. If you are reading this, I thank you once again - the Gatorade was extremely refreshing!

That is not the end of the story though - there is more to it! I got to the exit okay and was about 10 minutes away from home. However, a recent thunderstorm hit the area and it was so severe that massive trees were uprooted and blocking roads. As things were going for me, all the possible avenues to my house were cut off. I could not get home! Ahhhhhh! So I started to feel a bit hungry and decided to go to this Chinese place. I had some delicious sweet and sour pork, sat in the car for a while, and drove off to see if the roads were cleared yet. Thankfully, they were and I arrived at my home three hours after my scheduled time of arrival. Good times. It's probably going to happen again, isn't it?