VFC

Some time ago I saw a postcard on PostSecret talking about long car journeys. The sender said that when travelling long distances and noticing another vehicle keeping pace with you for a long time, it was like you were automatic car buddies. As is often the case with the revealed secrets it struck a chord.
I wanted to add that postcard to this post, I googled and googled but it was not to be found anywhere.

I've always felt that camaraderie with other vehicles on the road as we travel along together. A brief vehicular friendship.
Unless they drive too close, in that case we are sworn enemies.
Or they don't use their lights in poor visibility.
Or they fail to indicate.
There are strict rules on my vehicular friendship apparently.

I do have a point...I'm just taking a somewhat circuitous route to get to it.

So, last week, I took a drive over to Wales to see some friends for the day.
I love being in my car and I love to drive. I love my music and the road beneath my wheels. It was a really nice drive, then I got stuck behind someone doing 40 in a 60. (This is an automatic ban from any vehicular friendship.)
As I waited for an opportunity to overtake, a blue van approached behind me, settling just a fraction too close for my liking - getting close to not being allowed into my vehicular friendship club (let's say VFC for short, it's one hell of a mouthful else).
The moment arose, a clear stretch of road opened up, I dropped down a gear and whizzed past the slowcoach.
I continued my journey and a little while later, the blue van reappeared in my rear view mirror.
I offered my mental congratulations on their success in also separating from the slowcoach.
On we went. As the miles passed and we took the same roads time and again, the blue van was a fully fledged member of the VFC. I'm not sure how long we hung out together, maybe an hour. At each turn I willed the blue van to keep following. How long could we possibly go in the same direction?

Finally, my google sat nav instructed me to turn left at the next roundabout. I put on my indicator.
Oh no!
Blue van was going straight on!
This was it, we were to be separated. I had a moment of sadness, then, sensing our imminent separation, blue van's lights flash-flash-flashed. Blue van was bidding me farewell! I held up my left arm and waved emphatically. 
It was a two-way friendship!
Goodbye blue van friend!

I sighed and carried on.
And then....

Then I discovered google had royally shafted me and sent me to the wrong place.
I should have gone straight on at the roundabout.
Google separated me from my blue van friend too soon, too soon.

I'd input the whole address of where I was going, but google had seen fit to override the post code and send me somewhere with a similar first line to the address, but whilst I'm sure it was lovely, I had no desire to visit a large organic farm. I wanted to see my friends!

I changed the address to just the post code and set off again. This time alone, no blue van friend to accompany me.

I miss you blue van friend, I hope your day was as lovely as mine.