Running a gauntlet was not unique to North America. It was a punishment and even a means of execution used by Roman soldiers and, afterwards, various armies in Europe.
The word itself comes from the Swedish gatlopp, a street race or run, with some influence from the French word gauntlet - a glove worn as armor or protection. God only knows why because people condemned to running the gauntlet were not allowed protection.
There’s an excellent description of running the gauntlet in the nonfiction book, Follow the River, by James Alexander Thom, and of course you can see it in the movie The Last of the Mohicans, with Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeleine Stowe.
Why do I bring this up? Because every damn day I drive Jake to puppy camp I must run the gauntlet.
I swear every tourist in town is after me. In fact, my husband, who always poo-poos my stories of near collision, almost got Jake killed when he was driving my car home from a hike and had to swerve to avoid an idiot who changed lanes right into him. He ended up on the median and Jake smacked his head on the side of the car. He said the woman drove off and never even looked back.
We live on the west side of town. Puppy camp is on the east side of town. So every time Jake goes to puppy camp I must avoid cars driving the wrong way on the one-way streets. Cars pulling away from the curb without looking. Cars changing lanes without looking or signaling. Cars running stop signs. Pedestrians, bicyclists, runners, strollers, tour groups stepping running rolling in front of my car without warning, usually against the light, or where there is no crosswalk.
Yesterday a driver stopped at a red light and just as I was about to drive across the street on my green light he drove right on through the intersection, forcing me to slam on my brakes. Apparently red lights are the equivalent of stop signs in the minds of tourists. (Rental car.) You brake. You don’t look. You go.
This morning when I was making a left turn, a woman turned left from the right lane (the go straight lane), right into me, forcing me into oncoming traffic and she didn’t notice!!! Just kept driving. Arizona license plate.
Afternoons are always awful because the tourists have been out wine-tasting. Of course we welcome the tourist dollars, but man, these people need to learn how to drive.
Yup. Running the gauntlet. Poor Jake.
yeah, yeah, bloody women drivers, we’ve all heard these stories before
stop being a conventional American nut job and stop taking the bloody dog to play school, sheesh woman…. and look poor ‘I’ out minding his own business when a ‘woman’ nearly kills him and Jake, you make my point for me (but, my lurv is still unconditional xxxxx)
Heeeee….I’m laughing at Tom’s comment!
Gorgeous wine country + clueless tourists + too many cool things to look at while you’re driving, like hot air balloons and beautiful vineyards = running the gauntlet every day for Julia and Jake. :^( I TOTALLY know how you feel. Only in Boston it’s not tourists, it’s the natives who drive like absolute sh*t…..I drive very carefully because I know that everyone else is insane and self-absorbed and feels entitled. The funny thing about Boston drivers…when they’re pedestrians, they feel entitled. But when they’re in their cars, they feel entitled. You can’t win.
Loved “Follow the River”. EXCELLENT book! I must go pull it off the shelf and re-read it. Thanks for reminding me.
I’m pretty sure it’s not tourists, because we live in a small town in the middle of nowhere, but the last few weeks people have been stepping in front of me, crossing in the middle of the block (then strolling as slow as they can or stopping to chat), and just plain getting in my way. Now, I don’t mind waiting for a pedestrian to cross, but I think they could hurry if I’m waiting. I’m reminded of a bumper sticker we saw in Las Vegas years ago. “So many pedestrians, so little time.”
Crazy…I can’t imagine dealing with that all the time. Oh wait I drive in MA all the time.
Sounds like you live in the wild west. I’d be afraid to drive. Hope Jake’s head is okay now. Nice writing!
Oh boy, I’m glad you are ok..People just need to be more careful.
Poor Jake! I’m glad everyone is okay. And bad, distracted driving is universal. I spend more time than I used to fending off near misses. It’s scary, especially when I’m teaching younger son to drive.
Hi Casey. Jake’s fine, but I was really worried for the first 24 hours. I’m pretty sure he had a concussion. I think he does have a pretty hard head. Yes, bad drivers seem to be the majority of drivers on the road around here.
I agree, Savannah. Actually they need to learn how to drive if they’re gonna drive!
I do kinda live in the wild wild west, Diana. Definitely west.
Amber, I know everyone thinks Boston area drivers are insane, but man, I didn’t think they were half bad when I was out there. The worst? Minneapolis. Hands down.
Hey Stephanie, what is it with people walking out in front of cars without even looking? I almost hit two runners they other day when they ran out in front of me from behind a parked delivery truck - against their light. I couldn’t see them until they were in the middle of the street.
Anny - it is a good book, but don’t you wonder what really happened to her infant? I do…
Penny - ha! You would say that. Yeah, too many things to look at, drink, eat, do… so distracting!
My dear Tom… I’ll have you know I was taught to drive by my father who was taught to drive by his father who was a stunt driver. I got my license at 14 at which point my mother handed my younger sisters off to me to chauffeur around! Lucky for them…
Seriously - My grandfather was a great driver and my father is a great driver. He taught me, I taught my youngest sister (my mom taught my middle sister - god help us all) and I taught my kids.
Hey, if you had this dog you’d take him to puppy camp too! The most hyperactive dog I’ve ever been acquainted with. The German shepherd version of a Jack Russel.
We have much the same problem and downtown it’s people who don’t know how to cross the street and think that you won’t care if they run in front of you and cut you off. Or, since downtown the beer trucks delivering to the bars park on the medians the tourists believe you can see them thru the beer trucks and cross without looking popping out from behind the truck directly into traffic. And, then there are the cars from that country up north,….
I had lots of incidences where people pulled in front of me as if I wasn’t there. This problem improved when I started driving with the headlights on even in the day.
The things we do for kids and dogs.
Maybe you should schedule a puppy play date at your house and hide treats in your garden for them to find. Or not.
Have you driven in Mexico? I swear that the STOP/ALTO signs translate into PAUSE/SOMETIMES.
Marylin -
He goes to puppy camp so he’s off with a specific play group. I do know what you mean about driving in Mexico. It’s best to caravan and let the largest vehicle take the lead!
Hi Marie. My car always has the headlights on, just a fixture of Toyota, I guess. I think our downtown is confusing with its one-way streets and myriad cross streets.
Apparently we haven’t cornered the market on idiots, Steph.
I actually got into an accident that very way, Julia. Screwed my back up good. I always look twice, now before I go through I any green light. Just. In. Case. Yes, I kinda drive the way Penny does. Better safe than down on the couch for six months. Ugh.
Oh awful, Julianne! I don’t trust any other drivers. I assume they are going to run a stop sign or a stop light.