After a group river run some mysterious force arranged for the shuttle drivers to be comprised of all of the "gentlemen" in the group, with the wives, girlfriends and children all left waiting at the take out.

The "gentlemen" had driven a hundred yards or so when one of our number declared that he needed to use a rest room. "Oh, look, there is a tavern!".

A warm, cozy tavern ("Let's just stay for a beer and warm up"). With cheap pitchers ("Well, maybe one more"). And free shuffleboard ("I'll play the winner"). Great juke box ("We can't leave yet, I've still got three songs left").

When we finally departed we were shocked (shocked I tell you) to discover that it had gotten quite dark (we have since calculated that this is to be expected when you go into a bar at dusk and come out two hours later).

We might have gotten away with this if we had coordinated our stories. Unfortunately, when we finally arrived back at the take out (to a very cold reception, not meaning the weather) we all blurted out a differing variety of excuses ("We had a flat", "We had to wait for a really looong train to pass" "We were abducted by aliens" "It wasn't my fault, they made me do it").

Since that episode there is an unwritten understanding that the "gentlemen" are not permitted to run shuttle without a lady present. And the "gentlemen" seem somewhat anxious when the wives and girlfriends occasionally declare "Oh, we'll run the shuttle, you boys just wait right here".