The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Lilofan]

I stopped there once in all the trips I made. Even after I moved to NC I still have to pass by it on my way to Florida. I stopped once because my kids needed to use a restroom. I was buying stuff as well (raw peanuts) but it didn't matter all three of my female travelers had to pay to use the bathroom. Never stopped again, but I do still get the thrill out of seeing the sombrero way up in the air. They can't charge me for this. I really don't understand what keeps that place in business, but I hope it stays at least for the remainder of my travel years. The new signs are not as clever as the old ones.

View attachment 538778

That's true. When my parents went years ago to use the public restrooms it was not free.

 

[Figgy1]

I stopped there once in all the trips I made. Even after I moved to NC I still have to pass by it on my way to Florida. I stopped once because my kids needed to use a restroom. I was buying stuff as well (raw peanuts) but it didn't matter all three of my female travelers had to pay to use the bathroom. Never stopped again, but I do still get the thrill out of seeing the sombrero way up in the air. They can't charge me for this. I really don't understand what keeps that place in business, but I hope it stays at least for the remainder of my travel years. The new signs are not as clever as the old ones.

View attachment 538778

Yup one and done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The kids wanted to stop and I hoped there would be a coffee place nearby

 

[Figgy1]

I was semi productive today. My kitchen was spring cleaned this morning, boys are now eating first dinner

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

70 something degrees outside today. Be productive or enjoy the weather? Umbrella drinky

I hope you picked the umbrella drinky!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I would like to do a real road trip before the end of this year as well. I hope you have a great time. I stated before that a lot of people hate I-95 but I associate a truck load of happy and fun memories with that road. Even though I was only on it for about 25 miles yesterday that old feeling came back as soon as I turn onto it. I guess there are some emotions that we never get to old to have. My first time on that road I was 35 and now at almost 73 I still get the same feeling of happy anticipation.

The trip on 95 gets better once you are past VA and start seeing Pedro signs as well as the canned bean company signs.

 

[Lilofan]

The trip on 95 gets better once you are past VA and start seeing Pedro signs as well as the canned bean company signs.

I notice the very distinct Confederate flags flying high off of Interstate 95. There is a huge one by Fredericksburg VA, one in NC, SC and GA flying high in the wind.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

The trip on 95 gets better once you are past VA and start seeing Pedro signs as well as the canned bean company signs.

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.

 

[donaldtoo]

View attachment 538102

Except for the palm trees, the color of the ocean water, and the distance above the ocean water , this pic kinda’ reminds me of a snipet from one of our office drones videos of a home we designed overlooking Lake Austin...!!!

 

[MinnieM123]

I was semi productive today. My kitchen was spring cleaned this morning, boys are now eating first dinner

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.)

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

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.

You can take 81 to Orlando if you take 81 to 77 to 26 to 95. Not the best route though, but an alternative way. I like 81 but it is such a curvy road in Virginia. Don’t like it at night. Have taken 17 from 81 as well to get to 95 but it is a small road.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

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 prefer spring cleaning when it is warm enough to open the windows.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Gidget says good morning!

 

[Lilofan]

You can take 81 to Orlando if you take 81 to 77 to 26 to 95. Not the best route though, but an alternative way. I like 81 but it is such a curvy road in Virginia. Don’t like it at night. Have taken 17 from 81 as well to get to 95 but it is a small road.

I also wouldn't take hwy 77 through the Blue Ridge Mountains at night. I could hear my ears pop a little at the higher altitude of the highway. It is a nice drive during the day.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

You can take 81 to Orlando if you take 81 to 77 to 26 to 95. Not the best route though, but an alternative way. I like 81 but it is such a curvy road in Virginia. Don’t like it at night. Have taken 17 from 81 as well to get to 95 but it is a small road.

How many more hours would it take you personally to use the 81/77/26 to 95 route compared to 95 south all the way?

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

How many more hours would it take you personally to use the 81/77/26 to 95 route compared to 95 south all the way?

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.

 

[Goofyernmost]

The trip on 95 gets better once you are past VA and start seeing Pedro signs as well as the canned bean company signs.

I found that it pretty much eases up as soon as you get to Fredericksburg, VA. From there on you can pretty much stay on I-95 with no serious problems, traffic wise. Back before GPS those SotB signs made tracking the distance to the NC/SC border a snap.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I found that it pretty much eases up as soon as you get to Fredericksburg, VA. From there on you can pretty much stay on I-95 with no serious problems, traffic wise. Back before GPS those SotB signs made tracking the distance to the NC/SC border a snap.

I think it is still busy until you are south of Fredericksburg now. I hate driving through Virginia.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I found that it pretty much eases up as soon as you get to Fredericksburg, VA. From there on you can pretty much stay on I-95 with no serious problems, traffic wise. Back before GPS those SotB signs made tracking the distance to the NC/SC border a snap.

Speaking of making life easier for travelers, there was always something that frustrated me in Vermont. All the Interstate exits are chronological (1,2,3,4 etc.) Every other state has used mile markers to number exits. If you know that you need exit 310 and you are just passing mile marker 300 you know that you have 10 miles to go. It is very helpful in during trip planning. On top of that the fact that Vermont has banned billboards since 1963 has made the ride more scenic, but has made it more difficult for tourist to navigate. The fact that Vermont relies on tourist traffic as the main economic income, one would think that making it easier for tourist would be very important. It really wouldn't be that big a deal. Pass the resolution, give a transition time of around two years and they will have reached out to their primary source of outside income.

OK, I don't live in Vermont anymore, but I did live there a "wicked" long time so I know that the stubbornness of the population would rather starve to death then change anything. Independent is their middle name.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I think it is still busy until you are south of Fredericksburg now. I hate driving through Virginia.

Could be, but compared to the DC area it is deserted. I always come to Fredericksburg from the west, crossing over from I-81 via I-64 and Rte. 17. That comes out about Mid-Fredericksburg area. Even when I did go the other way from DC I always found it was comparatively pretty quiet just before I got there. However, that said, it has been a long time since I traveled that path. Maybe 10 years.

 

[93boomer]

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