Whirlwind at Niagara Falls

"Want to go to Niagara Falls for the weekend?" As a small town girl from Missouri, I never expected to hear this from one of my best friends. I couldn't say no. We left Kansas City, MO at 4 am. Filling up on donuts and gas at a small station we then started east, figuring the estimated 16 hour drive would be fine and go by quickly. Once we were past city limits I could watch the stars as Kris drove, about halfway across Missouri I watched the sun rise through the front windshield. I hadn't told anyone where we were heading because a 2,000 mile round trip in 3 days might sound a little crazy to most people and so throughout the day I posted city name related hints, "We are 'Medway' there", "Just saw Pocahontas", and "2nd Springfield in 2 days" to see if anyone could guess the direction. Then the worst possible thing happened - the driver started having cramps. We were near the Pennsylvania/New York border and I had to start driving. This doesn't seem like such a bad thing (it's just a car right?) until you take a couple of facts in:
1. Kris is VERY protective of her new car and didn't really want anyone else to drive.
2. I only have a permit, and while I can drive responsible well (with a licensed driver in the car), most people assume that I can't drive better than your average 16 year old.
3. It was raining in this state so very far from home.
So, my first time driving her very nice, new, expensive car was on a toll road in New York, in the dark, during a rain storm after 15 or more hours on the road. I might have been a little concerned. We ended up arriving at the hotel about 10pm that night, after asking directions both at a Toll Booth and from a very nice hotel clerk who had never heard of the motel we were staying at, but who had access to internet maps. There was no one around when we went to open the room, the key was hidden under the doormat. Which I would have never figured even a Mom and Pop motel would do anymore, but made us feel welcome. Neither of us had really given thought to how tiring 18 hours on the road would be, but we were proud of that drive we accomplished, even if we would have to repeat it in under 48 hours, because for the first time we both got to see Niagara Falls.