What do you mean by "restricted area"?

So yesterday I took an early flight out of Atlanta back to Maryland. I had to get back as early as possible both so I could work and so Andy could pick me up from the airport and still get to work at a decent hour. It meant I only had three hours of sleep. Remember that when I tell the rest of my story.

I leave the house running a little late to pick Andy up from work. I'm hoping to make up a little time when about 5 miles into my drive, it starts pouring down rain. POURING down rain. You know, the kind where people put their flashers on and pull over to the side of the road. I wasn't one of them. I power through. I can see only a few feet in front of me, and seeing as how I've only been to Andy's office a couple times, signs are pretty important. I can't see them. And remember, I was sleepy.

Somehow I find my way to this roundabout but I can't really see the signs. I think I remember that I need to take the third exit. I immediately realize this isn't the case, but I'm committed so there's no turning back. I decide to hop off the first exit I see. It isn't actually an exit. But remember, I was tired :)

Now I'm on a one-way road surrounded by concrete, so there's no turning back. It's pretty rugged and I'm thinking this is some sort of access road for trucks. I call Andy in a bit of a panic. He has no idea where I am. But it doesn't take long for me to realize I am at Fort Meade and in a restricted area. Did I mention I didn't get much sleep the night before?

I pull up to the visitor center and see the one-way road going the other way with a big NO U-TURN sign. I don't see anyone around ... and I think for a minute about doing a U-Turn ... but I think better of it and pull forward. I still don't see anyone, so I sort of crawl through wondering how in the hell I'm going to find my way back. Turns out it would be by police escort.

"STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" So the guard runs out of the office at my car. I, of course, immediately stop and roll my window down in full panic mode.

"I am so sorry. I am so lost."

"Do you know where you are and do you realize you're in a restricted area?"

"Yes, I think I'm at Fort Meade. But I meant to be on 198. I'm so sorry. I got turned around on the roundabout back there, panicked, and then took what I thought was the first exit. Then I got stuck."

She was really nice after that and even laughed at me a little. But apparently there's paperwork involved when you attempt to access a restricted military fort. Who knew? ;)

She took my license and registration and told me that I needed to wait for her partner to get back so she could escort me off the property. Some 30 minutes later, I finally got escorted back to the roundabout. About 10 more minutes later I arrived at Andy's work. He laughed at me. Good times.

Remember, I was tired.