PART 1

You know those days when it feels like the universe is against you and nothing you do seems to go smoothly. This trip was the epitome of that.

Not long after the bell dismissed them for the summer, two best friends, Freya and Margo, set off in Freya’s shiny new Toyota Corolla for a weekend in Yellowstone National Park. Neither of these adventurous young teenagers had ever taken such a trip so far from home. Great efforts were taken to convince their parents. They were eager for some life experience and little did they know this trip was prepared to provide just that in the purest of forms.

They survived the unforeseen two hour line up to the gate of the park, albeit impatiently, after underestimating its popularity. The sun was now below the horizon and after a long day on the road, the girls were exhausted and ready for a hot meal and a good night’s rest. Margo drove cautiously through the winding, pothole ridden roads. Making sure to adhere to the speed limit as she took note of the various animal warning signs. Only a handful of meters in front of the car were visible before the road disappeared into a dark abyss.

“There must have been hundreds of cars at the gate. Where the hell did they all go?” Said Margo, clutching the steering wheel.

“It’s a big place. They’re probably staying in different areas of the park.”

“Speaking of, are you sure we weren’t supposed to take one of those turnings back there?”

“Um, I don’t think so, we’re still a while away from the south end,” said Freya, getting her phone out to check.

In the interest of getting an authentic Yellowstone experience, they opted for camping instead of reserving a lodge. The sites were not as obviously marked as some of the larger establishments.

Margo kept her eyes peeled, scanning the road in front. “This place isn’t exactly well sign posted. Bison and bear warnings aside.”

“Uh oh,” said Freya.

“What?”

Freya points her phone at Margo. A blank page with the words ‘no signal’ written across.

“There’s no internet here, I can’t check where we are on the map.”

The beginning stages of panic started to creep up on Margo. A generation that grew up with the comfort of the internet, the ability to look up anything at anytime, lack the basic problem solving skills required in a situation like this.

“Just keep driving south,” said Freya, reaching into the glove compartment. “I think my mum put a map in here.”

She unfolds the map, spanning it across the dashboard.

“Let’s see, we passed the first intersection back there, I should be able to -“

Before Freya was able to finish her sentence, the car began to vigorously shake. Margo clung to the steering wheel, attempting to bring the car to a controlled stop as it rumbled underneath them.

“What is that?” Said Freya. “Pull over!” She pressed the hazard lights as the car came to a stop, perched precariously next to a small ditch in the middle of a bend.

Margo jumps out of the car to examine it.

“Is it a flat?” Asked Freya, sticking her head out the window.

“More like a complete massacre,” replied Margo.

Freya got out to see. “Jesus.”

The front left tire was shredded. Entire chunks left scattered on the road.

“Yep, that’s a burst tire if I’ve ever seen one,” said Freya.

“So you’ve dealt with this before?”

“Nope.”

“Wonderful.” Margo checks her phone. “No cell service either. We can’t even call for help. Any chance you know how to change a tire?”

“I’ve seen my dad do it once. How hard can it be?”

For the next hour, under the watch of the moon and sparkling stars, Freya and Margo tried everything they could to get the busted wheel off, but it was screwed so tight they didn’t have the strength or equipment to get the damn thing off. It was now nearing midnight and not a soul had driven past them. Eventually, they gave in.

PART 2

They sat on the asphalt, backs leant against the side of the car, legs hanging over the ditch, looking out at the caldera.

“Well, we came here for an adventure, right?” Said Freya.

Margo laughed at her optimism. “Certainly not likely to forget this.”

“I’ve always wanted to rough it in my car.”

“Looks like your dream is about to come true,” replied Margo.

They sat in silence for a moment, watching a hoard of bison in the distance.

“Bear,” said Margo.

“What?”

“Bear!”

Margo dragged Freya up by her arm and they scrambled into the car. A young looking black bear sauntered out from the bush and, a mere few feet from the car, started playing with the spare tire, rolling it with his paw. The girls watched in admiration. After a moment, the bear casually crossed the road, barely paying them any attention. They both exhaled a sigh of relief that turned into hysterical laughter.

PART 3

After spending what remained of the night in the car wrapped in their sleeping bags and munching on power bars, the early hours of dawn brought hope when a park ranger drove by and with his sat phone called one of the park’s auto repair shop. The universe wasn’t quite done with them yet when they had to drive on said spare tire across the park to another auto shop that could fit them with a permanent one.

There were a couple lessons in this experience: one - the best memories are often spawned from mishaps, two - learn to change a tire.