The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Goofyernmost]

This year I have been back and forth to Lynchburg VA a bunch of times. Sometimes I take I-95 and sometimes I take I-81.
Last weekend I did both. So, we went I-81 going to Lynchburg (Thurs. afternoon and evening) and Route 66 East to I-95 North on the return trip Sunday afternoon and early evening.
Northern VA's Route 66 was just miles and miles of road construction. The I-495 Washington DC beltway to I-95 North was peppered with super aggressive drivers who pass on the right and and then cut the wheel sharply to the left...then right...then left....zig zagging wherever they can to get ahead. I did not enjoy any of that! Next time I'll probably use I-81 BOTH ways.
Yet I started all this by quoting @MySmallWorldof4 's very accurate statement that I'd like to support. I-95 is fine once you start to approach NC.
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Additionally, I-81 is fine going to Lynchburg but it would be a wrong choice if ultimately going to Orlando.

Traveling from Vermont to Orlando, after the first few times going up the Jersey Turnpike and I-95 for about 10 years, I finally discovered that cross over from I-81 and since then have gone that way to and from Vermont to Raleigh or Orlando. It is a little longer but much more relaxing. That trip around DC is an adventure in living dangerously and the parking lot on I-95 for the first 15 miles from DC is frustrating and tiring. The extra mileage cutting across is well worth it when it comes to time and fatigue. So I would have to say that has been my path for 28 years now, both from Vermont to Orlando and back and Raleigh to Vermont and back. I've tried others just to save on tolls, one from Pennsylvania that came out just above Baltimore, but they all hit that bottleneck just south of DC.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

@StarWarsGirl did you hear that Nick Markakis retired today after a 15 year baseball career? We shall miss him!

I saw a headline mentioning him, but didn't have a chance to read. He had a great career! We adored him.

 

[Figgy1]

You mentioned spring cleaning, but Is there also a winter cleaning? Or, come to think of it, what about summer and fall cleaning? Are those a "thing" too? (All I know is I haven't done any of those.)

I usually deep clean 3 or 4 times a year

 

[MouseDreaming]

I usually deep clean 3 or 4 times a year

I never realized how much of a slacker I am, until I read this.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

Traveling from Vermont to Orlando, after the first few times going up the Jersey Turnpike and I-95 for about 10 years, I finally discovered that cross over from I-81 and since then have gone that way to and from Vermont to Raleigh or Orlando. It is a little longer but much more relaxing. That trip around DC is an adventure in living dangerously and the parking lot on I-95 for the first 15 miles from DC is frustrating and tiring. The extra mileage cutting across is well worth it when it comes to time and fatigue. So I would have to say that has been my path for 28 years now, both from Vermont to Orlando and back and Raleigh to Vermont and back. I've tried others just to save on tolls, one from Pennsylvania that came out just above Baltimore, but they all hit that bottleneck just south of DC.

I so agree with you.
For me to go to the I-81 route to Lynchburg is 60 miles more then if I head south on NJ Turnpike and then I-95 south in DE and MD....but as you said, the DC Beltway is not pleasant. The I-81 option is WORTH the 60 extra miles.

 

[Figgy1]

I never realized how much of a slacker I am, until I read this.

Your not a slacker my boys are just gross

 

[Figgy1]

8 days until spring

 

[93boomer]

My yard has color now!!

 

[Goofyernmost]

I so agree with you.
For me to go to the I-81 route to Lynchburg is 60 miles more then if I head south on NJ Turnpike and the I-95 south in DE and MD....but as you said, the DC Beltway is not pleasant. The I-81 option is WORTH the 60 extra miles.

Especially since you are probably adding about 1 hour to the trip, but I have personally spent over 2 hours sitting in snail speed movement on I-95 south of DC. It may be further, but it usually ends up being less time.

 

[93boomer]

More...

 

[Lilofan]

I just checked on google maps. If I take my usual way down which would be 81 to 70 to 495 to 95, it is 13 hours and 29 minutes from my house to the Universal parking lot. Going the other way is 13 hours and 52 minutes. So actually not much of a difference for me.

Don't get caught in Charlotte NC rush hour traffic If you go 81/77 to 26. . It is not good but nothing is like DC/Northern VA traffic on 95. That's insanity.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Don't get caught in Charlotte NC rush hour traffic If you go 81/77 to 26. . It is not good but nothing is like DC/Northern VA traffic on 95. That's insanity.

DC beltway and Baltimore Beltway traffic.

Now that is insanity.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I usually deep clean 3 or 4 times a year

Huh. That's better than my once every 3 or 4 years.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

The Orioles announced today that Camden yard will allow 25% capacity of fans in for games. In other words, about usual attendance.

Spoiler

I can say it, the rest of y'all can't.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

DC beltway and Baltimore Beltway traffic.

Now that is insanity.

@StarWarsGirl ,
In the past, as I head north on I-95 after getting off the DC Beltway, I eventually see an exit offered that mentions the Baltimore tunnel. Maybe it is 895?? Tell me about that please.

 

[93boomer]

The Orioles announced today that Camden yard will allow 25% capacity of fans in for games. In other words, about usual attendance.

Spoiler

I can say it, the rest of y'all can't.

Braves just announced opening with 33%.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

@StarWarsGirl ,
In the past, as I head north on I-95 after getting off the DC Beltway, I eventually see an exit offered that mentions the Baltimore tunnel. Maybe it is 895?? Tell me about that please.

So we have 695 which is a giant circle around Baltimore city. Which, as you know, there's a giant body of water there. You can either go under the water through the tunnel or over the bridge via 695. Both are toll routes. I personally avoid both because if you start up by Towson, where I am, you can get to where you need to go either going east or west on the Beltway and avoiding the tunnel. It can save you some time in heavy traffic.

So for instance, if you're in a rush to get to the airport and you're starting at Towson, if 695 west is completely backed up but 695 east is not, you can take 695 east and go through the tunnel to get to the airport and pay the toll. Usually I take 695 west and avoid the toll. 695 can get crazy, though. It took me 40 minutes from my house to get to the airport last time. I had an internship down in Glen Burnie in college, which is near the airport, and it once took me over two hours to get there in the morning. It was nuts.

The tunnel itself is about a mile long. I'll admit it's pretty cool, but I usually avoid it.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

So we have 695 which is a giant circle around Baltimore city. Which, as you know, there's a giant body of water there. You can either go under the water through the tunnel or over the bridge via 695. Both are toll routes. I personally avoid both because if you start up by Towson, where I am, you can get to where you need to go either going east or west on the Beltway and avoiding the tunnel. It can save you some time in heavy traffic.

So for instance, if you're in a rush to get to the airport and you're starting at Towson, if 695 west is completely backed up but 695 east is not, you can take 695 east and go through the tunnel to get to the airport and pay the toll. Usually I take 695 west and avoid the toll. 695 can get crazy, though. It took me 40 minutes from my house to get to the airport last time. I had an internship down in Glen Burnie in college, which is near the airport, and it once took me over two hours to get there in the morning. It was nuts.

The tunnel itself is about a mile long. I'll admit it's pretty cool, but I usually avoid it.

What do people passing thru the area on I - 95 do if they have a RV? A hazmat. Do they exit I - 95 before the tunnel and use the 695 beltway with the bridge?

 

[MinnieM123]

I usually deep clean 3 or 4 times a year

 

[donaldtoo]