April 13, 2008Hit the road -- which road? -- Jack!I hate backroads. With all those twists, turns and slowdowns for small towns, I can't open up the little buggy. I've never been into scenic routes. I want to get where I'm going. Last week's wayfaring took me to Pennsylvania, following Mapquest directions that were heavy on the dreaded backroads and finishing up with some interstate. A former colleague who travels annually from Pennsylvania to Virginia suggested that I try her all-interstate route on my return trip. I knew her route would take me out of the way, but I thought I could make up the time because I'd be on the interstate. Halfway into her alternate route, I realized that my "all-interstate" route would take me more than 100 miles out of the way and more than an hour longer to get home. I was in too deep to turn around, so I kept knocking. Call me stubborn, but I still prefer interstate driving. What about you? Are you a backroader or an interstater? s |
About this blog In her signature plainspoken style, Michigan native Shanna Flowers peels away the layers and gets to the heart of the issues. No pretense. Just straightforward perspective. Shanna writes about local people whose circumstances reflect decisions made as near as City Hall or as far away as the halls of Congress. Other times, she weighs in on a topic because it is incredibly ridiculous. Or heartening. Or fascinating. Read Shanna's column three days a week, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at roanoke.com
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Comments
[April 15, 2008 7:53 AM]
mapuserHATE interstates! But they are difficult to do without. Consider I-81 north from Roanoke: VA 42 is too long and slow and just not close enough to the desired route. US 11 has been turned into a 45 MPH, 2-lane road above Buchanan. US 340 is slowed by urban development and rural farmers.
My next Baltimore-Roanoke trip will probably be I 70 (but it's 3 lanes!) to Frederick, US 340 and 15 to US 29, and US 460 from Lynchburg. I hope that helps the nerves without killing the fanny.
mapuser, u've made my pro-interstate case for me.
[April 15, 2008 3:58 PM]
Bev Bishop : →http://www.myspace.com/secondseason2I love the back-roads when I have time to take them for there are some great places to see and actually to eat at...however, when in a rush I drive the interstate to get to where I am going on time...and yes, as most do I hate dealing with tractor-trailers, the wagging car pulling a u-haul and the driver who is near asleep behind the wheel...yet, that's life as we know it now to be!!! Maybe one day we will be able to fly to where we are going in our little space crafts...laughing out loud here but we do have those days where we need to see everything around us, under us, beside us and even moreso behind us....BB
[April 16, 2008 2:37 PM]
Henry HaleI always take the quickest route, which is, more times than not, on an interstate. The PA trip would've been somewhat better by going I81, I70, and then, depending on where you're going, you could take I68 or choices of other interstates.
Check your MapQuest settings for directions next time and choose the quickest route.