Text 11735, 75 rader
Skriven 2008-08-09 10:46:57 av Carol Shenkenberger (18042.cooks)
     Kommentar till en text av Michael Loo (17240.cooks)
Ärende: Traffic 647
===================
    
Well, I made my trek up there and back with little trouble overall.  The
route was close to what mapquest suggested but not identical.

I took the slow route up 13 to the outskirts of Wilmington's beltway near
Philly.  Construction was common as well as small towns where you have to
slow to 35mph but most of it was 55-65 and the stoplights were not too bad. 
Lots of interesting little towns and eateries but on the way out, I was more
concerned with trying to get past Wilmington at a decent hour.

The most expensive toll is the Chesapeke Bay bridge Tunnel.  26 miles and
12$.  I considered routing around it on the way back but it's the only way to
skip the terrible traffic on the other bridges to the north.

Diverging from Mapquest, which wanted me to take some 4-5 different 'exits'
and beltway loops to get to I-95, I noted 13 and I-95 intersect.  I just
stayed on Route 13 and followed sighs to I-95 itself.  Probably added a few
miles (5 or so) but much easier.  Had stopped in Dover for a simple meal and
to check my map out before Wilmington.  I-95 lead me to I-476 which lead me
up nicely to I-81 where the construction kicked in again.  Worse was just
around the NY State line with an accident apparently on the south bound
section.  The North bound was ok enough and no real way around it that I saw
at that time.

Got to the hotel after getting quite lost. Mapquest has bad directions for
Binghamton.  Probably some streets changed.  Once I saw route 11, I took it
then ended up driving by the Clarion by accident.  Got ourselves checked in
and was too tired after some 10 hours driving with but 45 mins worth of
stops, to do more than crash.

Almost made the whole trip on one tank of gas.  Averaged 35mpg.

Once there, we found the farmers market was at the backside of our hotel so
we all met up there, got goodies, then loaded Ron and Janis in my car and
headed off for the picnic.  Poor Ron!  He had to prop up on the vertisserie
which I'd forgotten was back there or would have had Charlotte swap seats!

Ron's route out was different from the one I later used and probably more
efficient but we needed to stop by the local Asian grocery so treked over
that way.

A nice little store, mostly China products but had everything I needed except
we didnt find the kelp ties.  I vaguely suspect the proprieter thought we
wanted Pandan leaves as his directions lead to those.  Got plenty of other
neat stuff though and adapted the dashi-miso dish to suit the next day.

Oversleeping on Saturday, we got there after the bread and italian dishes
were done, just in time to eat'em all up.  Charlotte gorged on meatballs with
sauce.  I swear, that kid had a plate bigger than her head!  Ate all of it
and licked the plate <g>.

I deviously snagged Janis a few times for a smoke break so she'd rest a bit
(heheheheh).  Good chat all around and Janis and I would have bored some of
you to tears with our Fidonet sysop chat but we had a good time.  Sunday was
a slower day but just as much fun.  You got tagged as a chef for several
things all weekend and it was all glorious!  Work called and i had to head
straight back, bypassing a potential trip to the Shipp's for a Smithsonian
visit but we'll go some other time.

Since Dave noted it was an accident on the I-81 that caused the jam up, we
decided to try the straight route down it, keeping in mind the side road if
we got stuck.  It was fine.  Constrcution but not too bad.  Same route down
except a little sidelink toll road (route 1) used to chop a bit of route 13
off.  Made tracks on the way home and got there in just a hair over 8 hours
with only 1 stop just south of Dover.  Getting to Norfolk area would have
been just at the peak of evening rush so we opted for the Bay tunnel and it
was a good choice.  Smooth ride all the way to VB then an accident on
Independance but only 2 cars in front of us so we were able to sidle by
before the traffic built (fender bender, no injuries, cops were right there
because of another accident on the northbound independance.  Doubtless a
lookee-loo accident).  Got home and Cash-pup and Daisy-cat wouldnt let us out
of their sight for the next 2 days!
            xxcarol
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 * Origin: Shenks Express (1:275/100)