And Safely Home Again

[crokett]

We are back home again as of tonight. Some things I think I thought on the drive home.

An astounding amount of earth was moved to cut I77 through the mountains, especially just south of Charleston. I wonder where it all went.

A lot of people still don't understand how long it takes an 80,000 lb vehicle to slow down on a 5% grade.

A DVD player is apparently now required if you have a minivan. Of course, we have one, and it is a lifesaver.

Honda makes a VERY nice car. That van is a pleasure to drive.

The GPS works very well, especially at finding places to stop when someone needed a diaper change.

[Alex Franke]

Welcome back -- we got back last Monday. The kids fell asleep before we even left Ohio and pretty much stayed asleep the whole time!

You just reminded me that I wanted to check out those I-77 tunnels on Google earth.

Oh, and one thing we realized on that drive: We're never again going to try to exit for fuel in Charleston. We followed a sign for gas taht said something like "Next exit; easy re-entry" and practically ended up in someone's driveway....

[crokett]

Where in Ohio? We go to Indy. I take 40 to 52 to 74 to 77 up to Charleston, then 64 to 35. If I am driving through I take 32 to Cincinatti from 35. This year we stopped up just west of Columbus so I stayed on 35. We can do the trip in a day but it breaks things up a bit and we can see some folks we don't normally get to see if we stop. If you go anywhere in the western half of Ohio I recommend taking 35. It cuts the corner rather than taking 77 up to 70 and it is a lot more interesting a drive.

[Ed62]

Glad to see you guys made it back safely. Hope you enjoyed your trips.

Ed

[Alex Franke]

Where in Ohio? We go to Indy. I take 40 to 52 to 74 to 77 up to Charleston, then 64 to 35. . . . If you go anywhere in the western half of Ohio I recommend taking 35. It cuts the corner rather than taking 77 up to 70 and it is a lot more interesting a drive.

We go up to Port Clinton -- usually take 77 to 250 through Ashland if the roads are good. Otherwise we stay on the highway. My car doesn't handle well on slippery roads...

Looking 77 through WV on Google Earth, I'd have to say that the use the rock carved out of one mountain to fill a neighboring valley. Here's an example.

[Richard in Smithville]

Glad to see you back home safe.

[Wood_workur]

Honda makes a VERY nice car. That van is a pleasure to drive.

Until you need to do a shoulder check to the left. Maybe its just me, but I can't see anything looking at my left rear in our Odyssey.

[scmhogg]

It fascinates me to read how easily you guys out east move from state to state.

From where I live its about 300 miles to the nearest state. Either Nevada or Arizona. Or about 700 miles to the Oregon line.

When my son went to Brown, I was amazed that I could traverse three or four states in an hour.

Steve

[Thalermade]

Small world.

Okay Crockett, you have piqued my curiosity - just how far west do you drive on Rt. 35? Just to Rt. 32 (Appalachian Highway), or have you ever wandered all the way across to Indiana?

The town (legally a village) I grew up in is on RT.35, between Dayton and the Indiana state line.

Alex, we were in Sandusky last weekend for my wife's family Christmas. Stayed at one of the hotels there on 250. No, not the Kaluhari or the Great Wolf Lodge.


Russ

[Richard in Smithville]

It fascinates me to read how easily you guys out east move from state to state.

From where I live its about 300 miles to the nearest state. Either Nevada or Arizona. Or about 700 miles to the Oregon line.

Steve

Where I live in Ontario, it would take me around six hours to leave the province going east and if I wanted to go west......lets just say I could visit with the Florida guys easier. Now crossing into the US is less than an hour( if you don't include customs).

[herb fellows]

'When someone needed a diaper change?!' Really, that's more info than we need!
Oh, you meant your child?! Never mind.
Emily Latella

[herb fellows]

It fascinates me to read how easily you guys out east move from state to state.

From where I live its about 300 miles to the nearest state. Either Nevada or Arizona. Or about 700 miles to the Oregon line.

When my son went to Brown, I was amazed that I could traverse three or four states in an hour.

Steve

Yes, but you can get to a foreign country a lot quicker!