The Romance of a Roadtrip
Roadtrip. It just brings up certain thoughts. You and your buddies on the road to the beach for a weekend of fun. Or you and your special someone driving up to the mountains for a romantic little weekend get away. Or maybe it's just you, and the open road, going some place different. It all sounds so fun, romantic, intriguing doesn't it?
Let me introduce you to the reality of a roadtrip. It's long, it's boring, and the traffic sucks.
Okay, I was invited to a pool party in northern NJ by this couple I know. And for some reason, I thought a roadtrip would be fun. Just me in the car, the sun roof open, and some good music to keep me company. It sounds good, doesn't it?
I'm not quite sure when was the last time I drove north on I-95, but it's horrible. When you head south from DC on I-95, there is some traffic, but you really don't hit a big city until Miami. Sure I worry about hitting traffic in Richmond, but come on, it's Richmond?!? Heading up on Friday I left Rosslyn and went around the beltway. Stop and go traffic at 1PM on a Friday afternoon. Please explain that to me. Then I hit the whole toll plaza mess at the tunnel in Baltimore. North of Baltimore, I came to a complete stop THREE times traffic was so bad. Then you get into DE and it's all about the tolls. I don't mind paying a fee, but is there some way to charge it all up front and not have to deal with the mile long backups at the multiple toll plazas? Then it was the NJ turnpike. More tolls, more back ups. It took me 5.5 hours on Friday to drive up. It took me 4.5 hours to come back.
Next time, I either fly or take the train.
Let me introduce you to the reality of a roadtrip. It's long, it's boring, and the traffic sucks.
Okay, I was invited to a pool party in northern NJ by this couple I know. And for some reason, I thought a roadtrip would be fun. Just me in the car, the sun roof open, and some good music to keep me company. It sounds good, doesn't it?
I'm not quite sure when was the last time I drove north on I-95, but it's horrible. When you head south from DC on I-95, there is some traffic, but you really don't hit a big city until Miami. Sure I worry about hitting traffic in Richmond, but come on, it's Richmond?!? Heading up on Friday I left Rosslyn and went around the beltway. Stop and go traffic at 1PM on a Friday afternoon. Please explain that to me. Then I hit the whole toll plaza mess at the tunnel in Baltimore. North of Baltimore, I came to a complete stop THREE times traffic was so bad. Then you get into DE and it's all about the tolls. I don't mind paying a fee, but is there some way to charge it all up front and not have to deal with the mile long backups at the multiple toll plazas? Then it was the NJ turnpike. More tolls, more back ups. It took me 5.5 hours on Friday to drive up. It took me 4.5 hours to come back.
Next time, I either fly or take the train.