Monday, July 17, 2006

Highway Curmudgeon

The Curmudgeon travelled to New York this weekend. Our travels always bring out a few curmudgeonly incidents.

To wit:

The Tank is Only Half Full

Thanks, New Jersey Turnpike administration, for giving us "full service" only gasoline at your rest stops. Full service means you wait in a long line while a couple of guys, evidently recruited from our "loser" commercials, take their time putting gas in cars whose owners could easily do a better job faster.

What I really liked was that after waiting 15 minutes, our full service guy somehow managed to fill our tank only half full. We didn't notice until a bit down the road. If the trip had been 70 miles longer, we would have had to fill up AGAIN.

Of course, gas prices are again through the roof, and headed further skyward. Thank goodness Congress, with its priorities straight, is debating a bill to protect homeowners from any interference in flying the flag. (Is this really a problem?)

Delaware's Burden on Commerce

Another favorite part of driving in the Northeast Corridor is Delaware. We only drive about 18 miles through Delaware, but we spend about the same amount of time there as in Maryland, thanks to the inane Delaware toll booth.

Delaware has the only two-way toll left on I-95. For years they liked to charge odd amounts, like $1.25, so that they could make everybody wait for change. Recently, they raised the toll without making any improvements to get rid of the perpetual gridlock. They have a couple of EZ Pass lanes, but everything is so backed up that you can't get to them.

The Delaware back-up has existed for years. We really don't think they care.

That's why the Curmudgeon won't be supporting Joe Biden in the coming presidential race.

Off My Tail

As usual, we enjoyed the testosterone cases who insist on driving 90 mph, tailgating and weaving in and out of traffic.

Fortunately, in 20 years computers will drive cars and we'll all get where we want faster and safer.

Signs of the Times

Our favorite signs along the highway (yes, we should have pictures, but we don't):

1. Information Police

(Did NSA open a branch office next to the Delaware Memorial Bridge?)

2. Slow Restaurant Food

(Quite accurate, especially if three busloads of campers arrive moments before you do.)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nothing like a good trip to bring out our curmudgeonly feelings! In Oregon, it is against the law for a patron to fill his/her own gas tank--the attendant must do it. So, if you drive up in a motor home, as we did, the attendant first takes care of all the cars waiting, because he knows it takes forever to fill a MH. We tried to make these Oregon gas stops at lunch time so I could go back to the kitchen and make lunch while husband was waiting for gas.
Happy travels....Library Lady

Anonymous said...

Greets to the webmaster of this wonderful site! Keep up the good work. Thanks.
»