I Just arrived in Miami from South America and now I’m looking for a flight back to Europe. But then I hear of a severe tornado in Kansas and I wonder if I should call my friend Donna who lives there to see if she is OK. Have not heard from her for several months. I call, she says the Tornado is not affecting the region were she lives. She asks me to come for a visit. Why not, “a little” detour to Kansas wont hurt. Since I have spent most of my money in SA, I need to find a cheap way to get to Paola where she lives. Hitch Hiking would be the first thought, but that would take ages.                                                                  

So I opt for – Drive Away: It works like this example: you are the car-owner, living let’s say in Miami. You want to move to Detroit for a few weeks and you would like to have your car there, but don’t want to drive it yourself. That’s where Drive away comes in. They find a driver who drives your car there. It costs nothing for the driver except for Gasoline. The car owner pays a fee to the Drive away firm.
So I search around but can´t find a transfer to Kansas. But, I`m offered to drive a car from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago. Its not perfect but hey, it gets me closer to Kansas. I take it. They ask for a copy of my passport and drivers license and a 200$ deposit in cash. Also, full tank on pick up full tank on delivery. Finally I receive the car. It’s a brand new Chevrolet Caprice Classic. Extremely long, super comfortable and runs like driving on clouds. The route is predetermined and also the time is limited. In 3 days I have to hand it over in Chicago. That’s alright, because I am also interested to get there directly and quickly. So I drive the most direct route passing Atlanta, Nashville, Louisville, Indianapolis, to Chicago. The first night, halfway already behind me, I sleep in the car. The second night, just before entering City Limits of Chicago I don’t want to risk sleeping in the car so I check in to a motel. In the morning driving to town I stop at a Gas-station to fill up the tank and to buy a city map. With that, continuing, looking for the garage where I’m suppose to deliver the car. I find it only after two hours driving around town because the designated road suddenly ends in a dead end and continues only after a huge detour, one Block away. On arrival the car is being inspected for damage – everything is alright and I get a confirmation paper with which I need to go downtown to the Drive Away office to get my 200$ deposit back. Okay, I grab my backpack, and take the city bus to the center. The office is located in a high-rise building downtown. I get my money. Back on the street I take an Airport bus to O`Hare. The flight to Kansas City costs around $ 30.
A few hours later, Donna picks me up at KC Airport 1.5 hour drive and we arrive in her home. dead-tired after this monster-journey I just need a bed.