The Strange World of Package Delivery

Recently I had two online purchases delivered to my house.  The each originated in a different city but both used the common UPS to USPS delivery; that is, UPS contracts the USPS to make final delivery.  Using the online tracking features of each service I was able to watch the progress of my packages as they made their way from origin to destination.  I was surprised, shocked, confused and a little perturbed by what I saw.

I made a map and chart of each package as they traversed back and forth across the country.  They zigged, they zagged, they crisscrossed and doubled back like a wily elk trying to confuse a hunter.  One package came within 18 miles of my house on the first day of its trek, but spent four more days traveling before it was delivered.  The other went from Billings, 290 miles from home, to Memphis, 1500 miles away, and languished there for five days.