The "Vacation Rides" Story

It was an ordinary day. Looking over my rental agreement with Lesley from St. Martin for the Toyota Corolla he will have waiting for us at the airport when we arrive in a few days. Thinking back at all the cars that we have rented over the last 10 years of traveling. I remember the "Red Bullet", as we called it, that we rented in St. Thomas in 2001. It was a Mitsubishi that was scratched all over and had a hubcap missing from the get-go. Didn't have to worry about damaging it, since it came that way. That was the first time that I experienced driving on the left side of the road and had everyone in the car yelling at me to stay on the left. After a visit to that island, we boarded a plane and landed in St. Martin where we got a car and as we entered the Mecure Simpson Hotel parking lot, the car bottomed out on a large speed bump because of all the luggage and people in the car. Everyone got out and I drove off the speed bump. Then in 2002 we rented a Chrysler Sebring convertible in St. Croix. We packed the trunk full with the luggage and still had more left over. Jerry, Just Sue and Carol sat in the back and we packed the rest of the luggage in the front seat and floor area. Later during the vacation we drove to a local beach with the top down and after getting in the water for a swim, it started raining and the interior of the car got soaked. After this visit in St. Croix we headed to Tortola where we rented a Chevy Tracker. We drove to Smuggler's Cove beach and as we entered I pulled off the road to park. The car lurched forward and I hit something on the right side. When we returned home I noticed the dent in the fender. I pushed most of it out, but you could still see it. When I returned the car I pulled against a wall with the right side facing the wall. No one noticed the dent when they inspected it. In 2003 in Turks and Caicos we had a Honda named "Larry". Had the name painted right on the front of the car. Wasn't the car we were given, but as I exited the car lot I saw the "Larry" car and went back and exchanged for it. Not many people get to drive a car named after them. That car also had the steering wheel on the right side of the car and you drove on the left side of the road. Really strange! In 2004 we traveled to Hawaii where my infamous gas station trip took place. Dropped everyone else off to ride horses and I went to get gas in the car. Got out, started the pump, then realized the hose wouldn't reach to the other side of the car. I put the pump handle down, got back into the car to turn it around and realized I was in the back seat. Attendants got a good laugh at my expense. Back to St. Thomas in 2005 and a white 2002 Ford. Had lots of rain and tried to exit the parking lot. Jerry walked out into the flooded parking lot to show me how deep it was and said, "It's only up to my ankles, you can make it." In no time the water was seeping into the car. Also in 2005 Carol and I rented a car from Thrifty that I ran over a speed bump too fast, bottomed out and lost the aerial off the top of the car. Hit my head on the top of the car that time. In 2007we rented a car that had a lock on the transmission. When you got in the car you had to unlock a padlock to get the gearstick to move. In 2009 we rented a Chevy Spark in Barbados. Real small car with steering on the right. Hard to navigate the roundabouts and the island had no signs telling you directions to different towns. had to stop a few times for directions. Also in 2009 Carol and I rented a Toyoto that the hood wouldn't stay down. Found some wash line at the villa and tied it down for the remainder of vacation. Same car that the rental agency tried to charge us for a damaged lock that was damaged when we got it. Well, I'm wondering what I going to get from Leslie. Time will tell! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Photos from the top are: "Red Bullet" in St. Thomas, Sebring in St. Croix, "Larry" in Turks and Caicos, right had driving in "Larry", white Ford that got flooded in St. Thomas, speed bump car in St. Martin, small Chevy Spark right-hand drive car in Barbados, and Toyota that I tied the hood to keep it from coming open.