Once a Roadgeek, Always a Roadgeek

[hbelkins]

I have to admit, though, over the past year or so there have been a couple of things that have dampened my enthusiasm for some of the aspects of the hobby. Certain parts of it aren't as much fun as they used to be.

Let's not go there.
[/proactivity]

Well, I hadn't really intended to, but beyond those things (which still continue to this day, not just on this forum but elsewhere), when you have to drive for hours through familiar territory to get somewhere new, that gets old. If I'm going to the northeast, it invariably involves I-79 and I-68. I've gotten tired of driving I-79, and even as scenic as I-68 is, it's losing some of its luster because of familiarity. Similarly, trips to the southeast involve KY 15/US 119/US 23. It seems to take forever to get to an unexplored road, despite how pretty the drive is. US 25E through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel, once a fun drive, is now something to dread. I-64 across southern Indiana takes forever. And so on.

I'd really like to attend the proposed Philadelphia I-95/Turnpike interchange meet, but the thoughts of the drive to get there over roads I've driven multiple times before are negatives to overcome before considering the trip. (US 220 to Bedford and then the PA Turnpike? Nope. I-81 to the Turnpike? Nope. Going through Baltimore? Forget it. Been there and done all of those before, more than once, and see no need to do so again.)

[webny99]

when you have to drive for hours through familiar territory to get somewhere new, that gets old. If I'm going to the northeast, it invariably involves I-79 and I-68. I've gotten tired of driving I-79, and even as scenic as I-68 is, it's losing some of its luster because of familiarity.

Granted, I'm still young by most people's standards, but I don't have that problem.
I couldn't even begin to count how many times I've driven the Thruway from Buffalo-Rochester and Rochester-Syracuse, yet it never bores me. Sure, it's not a super scenic road, and I can sleep if I need to, but I find the traffic flow incredibly interesting, especially when it's busy with heavy truck traffic (which is almost always, this time of year). I find myself sub-consciously building a case for six-laning, as we accelerate and brake, flirt with road rage, and attempt (and fail) to set the cruise at a decent speed!

As for other roads I travel frequently, I-390 is always interesting, and so is I-86 and to a lesser extent, I-81. In fact, the only road that truly bores me is the QEW between the Falls and Hamilton, which I have the privilege of seeing about 15 times a year, on average. It's a genuine snoozefest.

[Beltway]

US 25E through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel, once a fun drive, is now something to dread. 

Why is that?  I have never been there once, as it is so far out of the way from where I live.  Certainly in and of itself would be a high interest for me to drive.  Plus see the Cumberland Gap area.

[Rothman]

Got to the tunnel when a truck had to be escorted through.  Thought I posted the pictures on the forum somewhere.

[Beltway]

Got to the tunnel when a truck had to be escorted through.  Thought I posted the pictures on the forum somewhere.

Like a wide load that uses both lanes?  How often does that happen?

[hbelkins]

Got to the tunnel when a truck had to be escorted through.  Thought I posted the pictures on the forum somewhere.

Like a wide load that uses both lanes?  How often does that happen?

Probably some sort of hazmat that's at a level below what's prohibited. Those big red signs all over SE Kentucky, central-NE Tennessee and SW Virginia list what's permitted under escort. I've encountered stoppages for escorted vehicles before.

US 25E through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel, once a fun drive, is now something to dread. 

Why is that?  I have never been there once, as it is so far out of the way from where I live.  Certainly in and of itself would be a high interest for me to drive.  Plus see the Cumberland Gap area.

I've driven it so often. Even with the four-lane completed in Tennessee all the way to I-81, it just seems like a slog.

[Beltway]

US 25E through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel, once a fun drive, is now something to dread. 

Why is that?  I have never been there once, as it is so far out of the way from where I live.  Certainly in and of itself would be a high interest for me to drive.  Plus see the Cumberland Gap area.

I've driven it so often. Even with the four-lane completed in Tennessee all the way to I-81, it just seems like a slog.

Then looking at the whole 4-lane corridor between I-81 and I-75.  Certainly an impressive tunnel.  Guess it looks enchanting if you haven't driven it.  But I can relate with the Hampton Roads tunnels, as impressive as they are, I have driven them probably at least 200 times over the years, so they seem routine and not exciting; you see the blemishes as well.

[Rothman]

Got to the tunnel when a truck had to be escorted through.  Thought I posted the pictures on the forum somewhere.

Like a wide load that uses both lanes?  How often does that happen?

I thought it was some sort of HAZMAT.