T-Giving 2015, Day 2: Still In Traffic

November 25th.

I was happy to find traffic on I-40 was heavy, but moving along nicely.  I even got into the dreaded Raleigh-Durham Strangler and it moved along.  Usually the stoppage starts at RDU Airport, but it was clear sailing.

Unfortunately, I started seeing the flashing signs saying that there were big delays east of Raleigh between Exits 299 and 311. That was an understatement.  This was the worst traffic jam I've ever been in.  I'd go two feet and stop and repeat and repeat and so on for miles.

It got much worse whenever other major feeder roads dumped into I-40.  It took me an hour and a half to go four-five miles.  There was also road construction, making it worse.

I finally was able to get off on Business US-70 through Clayton and actually moved until I hit a mile long backup at the first stop light.  Clayton truly deserves the name City of Stoplights and it was great when a bypass was built around it.

However, after that long wait, and that was still better than that mess on I-40, I made most all the rest of the stoplights on green and made the rest of the drive to Goldsboro, N.C. with no problems.

Definitely Not driving Distances on Day Before Thanksgiving Anymore.  --RoadDog

T-Giving 2015-- Day 2: More Fun and Games in Winston-Salem

November 25th

Usually US-52 between Mt. Airy and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is not a bad drive as far as traffic.  And, it is a limited access highway and slated to become an interstate in the future (either I-72 or I-74).  But half way between the two, traffic picked up considerably until we had solid traffic but at least we were moving along well.

Then we got to Winston-Salem where we came to a complete stop and extremely slow-going after that.  I usually take US-421 eastward from the downtown area of the city and I got off only to find it was even worse than US-52.  They weren't going anywhere.  After awhile I was able to get back on US-52, only heading the wrong way.  I went north for awhile before finding an opportunity to get off and back on to 52 going the right way.

Traffic was heavy and moving slow, but at least it was moving.  This time I drove south to I-40 and by now i was expecting the absolute worst as I-40 has a lot of traffic at all times and I imagined it definitely would be today, the day before Thanksgiving.

Maybe It Is a Mistake to Drive Anywhere the Day Before Thanksgiving.  --RoadDog

T-Giving 2015-- Day 2: Gas Gouge and Fun and Games With Traffic

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25

However, traffic continued to get heavier the whole way through West Virginia and Virginia on I-77.  Usually, the cheapest gas I get the whole trip is in Wytheville, Virginia, and I always wait until I get there to fill the tank.  Gas in Ohio was $1.85.  It was $1.86 there.  (I had gotten gas in Crawfordsville, Indiana, yesterday for $1.66.)  But, of course that was before the twenty cent gas gouge we had between then and today.

However, mind you I am not complaining about these gas prices after the prices of driving anywhere the last several years.

Driving down that eight mile grade going into North Carolina was essentially solid traffic and not much fun at all.

I didn't make my usual stop in Andy Griffith's hometown of Mt. Airy, North Carolina, figuring that traffic was only going to get worse.

--RoadDog

T-Giving 2015-- Day 2

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH.

Had a good breakfast at the Days Inn (hot oatmeal and cheese omelet) and hit the road.  Sadly, I should have bought gas last night when it was $1.66 on our side of I-70.  This morning the price was up to $1.90.  Thanksgiving driving, you know.

Easy ride through to Columbus, Ohio, and even got through the it with no problem, even though it was still rush hour.  Took US-33 through Athens, Ohio, home of Ohio University.  I was polite, even though they were the ones who beat us last night.  Had we won, we would have been in the MAC championship game in Detroit on December 4th aqgainst Bowling Green.

Then, I-77 through West Virginia where the traffic picked up quite a bit.  We had a huge backup at the first toll booths on the West Virginia Turnpike but after that that, the other two tolls weren't bad.  I got off at the Virginia welcome center and got my usual sample of Virginia peanuts.  These are the best peanuts in the world in my humble opinion.  This is always a necessary stop for me.

--RoadDog

T-Giving 2015-- Day 1: Travel

November 24, 2015, Tuesday.

Drove Il-47 south from Woodstock, Illinois, to Mahomet. I had a back up for road construction at south of Stark's Corner by Il-72 and US-20.   Glad to report that the road construction through Yorkville is finally finished after at least two years and a great, four lane stretch the whole way.  I got gas at the Pilot at Crawfordsville, Indiana, for $1.66 a gallon.  I sure love these gas prices these days.  I never saw gas over $2 today.

Took I-74 from Mahomet to Indy and through town on I-70 and then on to Huber Heights, Ohio, where I got a room at the Days Inn.  I was glad to find a Skyline Chili by the motel and took advantage, having a four-way.

Gas prices on our side of I-70 were $1.66 as well, but $1.90 on the other side.  I was thinking about filling up, but decided to wait until tomorrow to do so.  More on this decision on the next post.

Went to BW3 (Buffalo Wild Wings) and played NTN while watching NIU put forth a lame effort against Ohio University.  I left in disgust at half time.

--RoadDog