AARoads Forum

National Boards => Road Enthusiasts Meetings => Topic started by: hbelkins on March 18, 2014, 01:59:21 PM

Title: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: hbelkins on March 18, 2014, 01:59:21 PM
Seeing all the comments about the condition of one of the streets used during the St. Louis meet tour makes me wonder what the worst streets or roads used as part of a meet tour have been.

My Pikeville meet took us across a one-lane county road across a mountain in Pike County, but the road was paved and the pavement was in decent condition.

My Somerset meet a few years ago had a short stretch of gravel and a steep incline in a place where a detour had been put into use in a construction zone between my last scouting excursion and the meet itself.

Any other nominations?
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: Brandon on March 18, 2014, 02:04:03 PM
First Street in St Louis is a definite contender.  I failed to get photographs of it, but alas, I was trying to avoid the potholes at the time as well as Steve's car.

Google Street View: https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=38.637943,-90.183013&spn=0.004835,0.010568&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.637943,-90.183013&panoid=2z4mcE8JUU_rASTV4MHO5A&cbp=12,1.38,,0,14.62
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: bandit957 on March 18, 2014, 02:36:13 PM
H.B. missed seeing that hilariously bad road just north of downtown St. Louis.
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: Brandon on March 18, 2014, 03:07:07 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on March 18, 2014, 02:36:13 PM
H.B. missed seeing that hilariously bad road just north of downtown St. Louis.

That one was so bad, I thought I was back in Chicago for a moment.  We have some streets that are more patch than pavement after this past winter.
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: bugo on March 18, 2014, 03:12:59 PM
The late Blackburn Bridge, visited at the Tulsa meet:

Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: bugo on March 18, 2014, 03:14:25 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on March 18, 2014, 02:36:13 PM
H.B. missed seeing that hilariously bad road just north of downtown St. Louis.

If Poo Street.
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: NE2 on March 18, 2014, 03:21:06 PM
Quote from: Brandon on March 18, 2014, 03:07:07 PM
That one was so bad, I thought I was back in Chicago for a moment.  We have some streets that are more patch than pavement after this past winter.
http://forgottenchicago.com/articles/wood-block-alleys/
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: froggie on March 18, 2014, 09:10:01 PM
A follow-up to one of the Maryland ICC meets brought 4 of us to the old 11th St Bridge in DC (now thankfully gone/replaced).

One of my DC meets brought the group down along the Anacostia River...
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: vdeane on March 18, 2014, 11:06:09 PM
Jones Rd in St. Lawrence County would almost qualify, except for the fact that we didn't actually drive on it during the meet, instead backtracking to Parishville after walking to the bridge.  It's about 2.5 miles of gravel and small rocks.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nysroads.com%2Fimages%2Fmeets%2Fstlaw12%2F100_7295.JPG&hash=8597c491971b44cfd41c81eda05d5d63c4899bd6)
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: Duke87 on March 18, 2014, 11:07:37 PM
Why the artificially created 7 foot height limit on that bridge? Is this some crude method of enforcing an approximate weight limit?
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: Dr Frankenstein on March 18, 2014, 11:42:52 PM
Quote from: vdeane on March 18, 2014, 11:06:09 PMJones Rd in St. Lawrence County would almost qualify, except for the fact that we didn't actually drive on it during the meet, instead backtracking to Parishville after walking to the bridge.  It's about 2.5 miles of gravel and small rocks.

In fact, we skipped it specifically because it was in an undriveable condition at the time. But had I been the driver, and in my own car, I would've done it.
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: Laura on March 18, 2014, 11:51:37 PM
Quote from: bugo on March 18, 2014, 03:14:25 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on March 18, 2014, 02:36:13 PM
H.B. missed seeing that hilariously bad road just north of downtown St. Louis.

If Poo Street.

I missed seeing it, and I was at the meet.
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: cu2010 on March 19, 2014, 07:56:29 AM
Quote from: Duke87 on March 18, 2014, 11:07:37 PM
Why the artificially created 7 foot height limit on that bridge? Is this some crude method of enforcing an approximate weight limit?
Yes. The bridge is posted at three tons. There are several more like it in the area- we drove across two more on the meet tour.

Quote from: Dr Frankenstein on March 18, 2014, 11:42:52 PM
In fact, we skipped it specifically because it was in an undriveable condition at the time. But had I been the driver, and in my own car, I would've done it.
Valerie and I had driven it two months previously...it was that bad. Never again. Constant swerving in an effort to avoid doing significant damage to my tires.

It's hardly the worst road in the area, though...I drove down one last summer that not only randomly turned into a dirt road, but got so bad that there was numerous heaves everywhere. Wasn't passable at anything more than 5mph. I'm still surprised I didn't break anything!
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: Alex on March 19, 2014, 10:03:07 AM
The worst for me was when froggie and I drove a stretch of Old US 80 west of Meridian. The road gradually went down to "one" lane of passable pavement before ending abruptly before a drop-off.

(//www.aaroads.com/forum_images/southeast/us-080_ms_04.jpg) (//www.aaroads.com/forum_images/southeast/us-080_ms_04.jpg)

So glad we did not attempt go to down this short embankment: http://goo.gl/maps/d4wXx
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: SSOWorld on March 19, 2014, 01:23:57 PM
Quote from: Laura on March 18, 2014, 11:51:37 PM
Quote from: bugo on March 18, 2014, 03:14:25 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on March 18, 2014, 02:36:13 PM
H.B. missed seeing that hilariously bad road just north of downtown St. Louis.

If Poo Street.

I missed seeing it, and I was at the meet.
That's because Steve and I warned you ahead of time :D
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: vdeane on March 19, 2014, 01:38:57 PM
Come to think of it, the upcoming Corning meet might just enter this competition: http://goo.gl/maps/tpnb0

Thankfully, it's short (you can even see the bridge we're stopping for from NY 352).  We'll probably have to end up driving it to the other end less than 1/4 mile away (http://goo.gl/maps/LQ55o).  Or flip those, though the near end is easier to find.
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: getemngo on March 19, 2014, 01:42:44 PM
Quote from: vdeane on March 19, 2014, 01:38:57 PM
Come to think of it, the upcoming Corning meet might just enter this competition: http://goo.gl/maps/tpnb0

"2304 New York State Bicycle Route 17"? You need help, Google.

If the Upper Peninsula meet ever happens, there will be a section of Former-Almost-M-35 that's about as bad. And it's a dead end.
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: Alps on March 19, 2014, 06:09:10 PM
Quote from: getemngo on March 19, 2014, 01:42:44 PM
Quote from: vdeane on March 19, 2014, 01:38:57 PM
Come to think of it, the upcoming Corning meet might just enter this competition: http://goo.gl/maps/tpnb0

"2304 New York State Bicycle Route 17"? You need help, Google.

If the Upper Peninsula meet ever happens, there will be a section of Former-Almost-M-35 that's about as bad. And it's a dead end.
And I want to drive it.
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: agentsteel53 on March 19, 2014, 06:10:41 PM
Quote from: getemngo on March 19, 2014, 01:42:44 PMFormer-Almost-M-35

what does this mean?
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: NE2 on March 19, 2014, 06:14:53 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on March 19, 2014, 06:10:41 PM
Quote from: getemngo on March 19, 2014, 01:42:44 PMFormer-Almost-M-35

what does this mean?
http://www.michiganhighways.org/indepth/M-35_huronmtns.html
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: SSOWorld on March 19, 2014, 11:39:22 PM
Go down the road off US-45 to see "the light"
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: brianreynolds on March 19, 2014, 11:58:33 PM
Quote from: Alps on March 19, 2014, 06:09:10 PM
Quote from: getemngo on March 19, 2014, 01:42:44 PM
Quote from: vdeane on March 19, 2014, 01:38:57 PM
Come to think of it, the upcoming Corning meet might just enter this competition: http://goo.gl/maps/tpnb0

"2304 New York State Bicycle Route 17"? You need help, Google.

If the Upper Peninsula meet ever happens, there will be a section of Former-Almost-M-35 that's about as bad. And it's a dead end.
And I want to drive it.

And I want to watch.
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: Dougtone on March 20, 2014, 07:01:07 AM
During the first Harrisburg, PA meet in September 2003, we had a visit to Centralia, PA as the meet was wrapping up.  While we didn't drive down that portion of PA 61 that was closed due to the underground coal fires, we had walked a portion of the old road.  It was in rough shape then and could be in rougher shape now.
Title: Re: Worst roads used on a meet tour?
Post by: Brandon on March 20, 2014, 09:46:12 AM
Quote from: brianreynolds on March 19, 2014, 11:58:33 PM
Quote from: Alps on March 19, 2014, 06:09:10 PM
Quote from: getemngo on March 19, 2014, 01:42:44 PM
Quote from: vdeane on March 19, 2014, 01:38:57 PM
Come to think of it, the upcoming Corning meet might just enter this competition: http://goo.gl/maps/tpnb0

"2304 New York State Bicycle Route 17"? You need help, Google.

If the Upper Peninsula meet ever happens, there will be a section of Former-Almost-M-35 that's about as bad. And it's a dead end.
And I want to drive it.

And I want to watch.

I want to watch...

him get stuck as well.  :spin:

Seriously though, we took university vans back there in the late 1990s.  If they can make it, the typical car should not have an issue.