Regardless of my preferences, however, it was cheaper, more efficient, and more convenient for all involved for me to borrow my parents’ minivan and drive to Wernersville a few days ago.
I wrote earlier that I actually (kind of) enjoyed this drive. That’s true. But I still don’t like to drive. This trip, inexplicably, didn’t lend itself as well to making me bonkers. Most car rides, ESPECIALLY those in which I’m driving, get to me after about an hour. My usual response (as a passenger, thankfully) is to zone out and fall asleep. I think my brain is trying to save both my sanity and that of any other passengers or drivers. Happily, my natural response was bypassed on this 3.5-hour journey. Another thing that relieved some anxiety was the simplicity of the route—I had to take only about three roadways to get there.
The largest leg was on PA State Route 322. If you’ve ever driven across Central Pennsylvania, you must be familiar with the mixed bag of delight and cruelty that is 322.
Most of this roadway wends its way quietly through hills and valleys. It’s never particularly crowded and there are plenty of knolls and curves to keep you busy. The scenery can be beautiful, too. 322 takes motorists through mountain forests, rolling farm dales, small towns, and along the Susquehanna River. Some of my favorite sights include the rock walls exposed when the road was dug out of hillsides, and the farms that roll out beside each other amidst cornfields and pasture. The best part is the Susquehanna meandering alongside as it rambles between green islets.
However. If you’ve ever driven across Central Pennsylvania, you must also be familiar with the perpetual construction zone that is 322. Several stretches of the road are lined with orange barrels, “Lane Ends” signs, and patchy pavement. I’m
forever amused by the “Merge” signs that appear along a stretch that is already one lane (why yes, the sign in the picture DOES say “Lane Ends 1000 ft”). Just where are we to merge to? And my favorite: the half-hour portion east of Lewistown that involves driving through cattle chutes—‘The Narrows,’ as it’s called. I don’t even want to get into the detours that have been developed over the years to get the traffic around the construction.
Thank heaven for the radio. I took a particular liking to seeing how many stations I could scroll through before coming back to my starting point. Not too many, but there were a few good ones. Except for the section—I’ll call it the 60 miles between State College and Harrisburg—that received nothing but Country and Christian Rock stations. Not even NPR was able to save me.
But all in all, not a bad drive. I know, that sounds hard to believe, but something rescued me. I don’t know what, but if you figure it out, let me know—I may need it again someday.
PS - Blogger, Firefox, and dial-up don't mix. DO NOT try this at home.
4 comments:
Hmm... I'm mostly concerned that you took all those pictures while driving. I'd be freaked of driving too, if I were you!
Woot woot. I agree with Mummy. I've seen the way you drive...you should keep BOTH hands on the wheel. :)
Excuse you! You learned to drive in DETROIT! "Oh my God, PICK A LANE!"
TSO, I just did that drive 2 days ago. We went from State College down to Harrisburg to have dinner with a friend and then headed back here via the turnpike, we had come in on 80. Joel had fallen asleep and there was this time when the only station I got, I had it on scan and it only found one, was a country station. I drove it at night and the construction just about drove me batty. I've been a little more cautious of a driver since my accident and driving through tiny lanes, over winding hills, in construction is just not my cup of tea. All of those things combined on the penn turnpike as well with the addition of it being one lane, and through a tunnel with the lane next to you being traffic coming toward you made for a very stressed out tizzy. :-p Needless to say, i can empathize about 322.
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