Prisoner of the White Lines, part 2 − 3 April, 2007
Note: this is the final of four articles about my trip to Washington, D.C. If you're starting here at the end of the story, a better beginning is at the launchpoint.
All good things must come to an end. In my case, my trip to Washington D.C. I enjoyed my time with my wife, and I'm looking forward to the day she comes back, at the end of April. There's all sorts of stories between now and then, though.
For example, this one, the return trip.
The title of these two pieces about traveling, by the way, come from one of my favorite Joni Mitchell songs . . . the full quote is "Prisoner of the White Lines on the Freeway." It's a line that always occurs to me when I drive, and for good reason.
In this case, I don't know what happened, but it seemed like every state between D.C. and Florida decided to start up road projects that weekend. North Carolina was the worst offender -- no less than five single-lane portions, all due to bridge work.
And then there's south Georgia, of course.
I don't know what the story is. I have been living down in Florida since 1992, and I have NEVER passed through any portion of south Georgia without being stopped completely by heavy road construction. Is that even possible? In my time, I have seen completion of the roads in Atlanta, completion of the three lane project on I-75 in northern Florida, completion of many other highway improvements -- everywhere except in Georgia.
I'm beginning to think it's a racket. Maybe these constant projects are a form of "economic development" (read: pork barrel projects) for Georgia. There is simply no sane way the same stretch of roads can be under "construction" for 15 straight years. Even if we had Roman centurions herding Spartacus and his fellows along plunking down cobblestones, it would nevertheless be done by now.
So here I am, back home, finally. Next week, spring break ends and the world resumes its normal course. But things won't truly be back to normal until my wife returns.
All good things must come to an end. In my case, my trip to Washington D.C. I enjoyed my time with my wife, and I'm looking forward to the day she comes back, at the end of April. There's all sorts of stories between now and then, though.
For example, this one, the return trip.
The title of these two pieces about traveling, by the way, come from one of my favorite Joni Mitchell songs . . . the full quote is "Prisoner of the White Lines on the Freeway." It's a line that always occurs to me when I drive, and for good reason.
In this case, I don't know what happened, but it seemed like every state between D.C. and Florida decided to start up road projects that weekend. North Carolina was the worst offender -- no less than five single-lane portions, all due to bridge work.
And then there's south Georgia, of course.
I don't know what the story is. I have been living down in Florida since 1992, and I have NEVER passed through any portion of south Georgia without being stopped completely by heavy road construction. Is that even possible? In my time, I have seen completion of the roads in Atlanta, completion of the three lane project on I-75 in northern Florida, completion of many other highway improvements -- everywhere except in Georgia.
I'm beginning to think it's a racket. Maybe these constant projects are a form of "economic development" (read: pork barrel projects) for Georgia. There is simply no sane way the same stretch of roads can be under "construction" for 15 straight years. Even if we had Roman centurions herding Spartacus and his fellows along plunking down cobblestones, it would nevertheless be done by now.
So here I am, back home, finally. Next week, spring break ends and the world resumes its normal course. But things won't truly be back to normal until my wife returns.
