Road Ahead ... Perspectives

[Guest]

In September 2009, I road tripped along the Illinois portion of the Lincoln Highway and Route 66 from Illinois to California. That trip increased my awareness of "old routes" in general, including others like the Dixie Highway and US Route 6. Last year's journey also increased my awareness of the "road ahead". Whether the road is "less traveled" or filled with traffic, looking ahead is most-often fun, in more ways than one.


Around the Elgin area, I "exercise" my Monte Carlos on the same "old" roads west of Elgin, including US Route 20:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_20
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_20_in_Illinois

Some of those roads, particularly US Route 20, are different roads in different places. In this shot west of Starks IL, US Route 20 is a "rural" road:

Meanwhile, in Elgin, US Route 20 is a 4-lane bypass highway...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin_Bypass

...as evidenced in this shot heading east in Elgin:

Beyond that line of trees on the right hand side is the Elgin Softball Complex where my bro-in-law's Tuesday team and my Dad's Friday team play.


Starting in 2008, I've researched new "routes"...or variations of paths I've taken before. The more I've driven the same roads, the more I actually NOTICE, including how...
...different things are spotted when traveling one direction on a road vs. the other direction on the same road [the crest of a hill in one direction might reveal a spectacular site (especially at sunset or sunrise), while the crest of that same hill going the other direction may only reveal a dilapidated old barn hidden among a grove of trees]
(and)
...routes interconnect/intersect with others, such as IL RT 47's crossing several major cross-country routes, including US Route 20, The Lincoln HIghway, US Route 6 and famed US Route 66.


Thus, this year (2010), I started taking pics of the "road ahead" around here, similar to what I took along Route 66, except in some cases I added the element of "perspective". I took one pic in each direction, showing how the pathway looks different going one way versus traveling the other. Three examples....


#1 ... IL RT 47, intersection with BURLINGTON RD

NOTES
~15-20 minutes north of this intersection, IL RT 47 crosses US RT 20:
http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY15#5431275012661266562

~2+ hours south of this intersection, IL RT 47 crosses US RT 66:
http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/DriveSouthTNAL112709112909#5431282615925577026

Heading North on IL RT 47:

Heading South on IL RT 47:

#2 ... RUSSELL RD, curve east of MUIRHEAD RD

Looking to the NorthEast:

Looking to the SouthWest:

#3 ... NOLAN RD, between BOWES and HOPPS RDs

Looking South:

Looking North:

So...what have YOU noticed as you travel in your home area/state?



Cort | 36.m.IL | 5 Monte Carlos.1 Caprice Classic | pig valve.pacemaker * NoreastrTrekRT=Aug2010 *
MCs.CC | models.HO.legos.CHD.RadioShows | RoadTrips.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Life has been patiently waiting for me" ... Rascal Flatts ... 'I'm Moving On'

 

[Duffey]

It would take way to long for me to answer your question, Cort, but here's another thing to consider.
Events that take place along roads you travel also influence your perception.
An easy example from my experience:
It's a two hour drive to get to our home county in southern Illinois from Cape Girardeau. When the kids were little, we drove "home" more frequently. The drive consists of about three distinct segments. On our return one day, we witnessed a terrible accident involving a tanker truck and a smaller truck. We were about 30 seconds behind and our car only a 100 yards away from the collision. Bob pulled two of the men from the truck. Our kids were traumatized, and we were shaken. For years I associated that portion of the trip with doom and gloom. Twenty five years later, I've almost shaken that feeling, but not quite!
On the other hand, the last 20 miles of the trip always seems very comforting. It's a portion of the trip that I made almost daily as a teen-ager and I only have pleasant associations. I find the scenery to be spectacular, and the driving more relaxing.
The roadway is the same but my experience driving it has so much variation that I have to remind myself that it's not the reality of the road; it's the perception.

 

[escargome]

Cort, I can't respond to your question, but wanted to say that my husband drives an 18 wheeler and is a member of Trucker Buddy (pen-pal between elementary school and trucker). Anyway he had an elementary school in Burlington whom he corresponded with for about 5 years. He was able to go visit the class on 4 occasions and I was lucky enough to be able to accompany him on 2 of those trips. Being a born and bred California girl, I was so fascinated with the greenery and openness of the Burlington area as well as the other cities in Iowa which we passed through. My husband has always said that to him no matter how many times he travels over a road it never ever looks the same. I can only agree. Just keep showing those MC's and loving each part of country in which you travel.

 

[Greg a]

 

[Guest]

Events that take place along roads you travel also influence your perception.
An easy example from my experience:
It's a two hour drive to get to our home county in southern Illinois from Cape Girardeau. When the kids were little, we drove "home" more frequently. The drive consists of about three distinct segments. On our return one day, we witnessed a terrible accident involving a tanker truck and a smaller truck. We were about 30 seconds behind and our car only a 100 yards away from the collision. Bob pulled two of the men from the truck. Our kids were traumatized, and we were shaken. For years I associated that portion of the trip with doom and gloom. Twenty five years later, I've almost shaken that feeling, but not quite!
On the other hand, the last 20 miles of the trip always seems very comforting. It's a portion of the trip that I made almost daily as a teen-ager and I only have pleasant associations. I find the scenery to be spectacular, and the driving more relaxing.
The roadway is the same but my experience driving it has so much variation that I have to remind myself that it's not the reality of the road; it's the perception.

Wow ... that IS so very true, Mary.

As I read your experiences, I realized that many roads out here ... in fact, even the ones pictured above, have SOMETHING associated with them from my past.

One road, Shoe Factory, is one that, several years ago, another car pulled out in front of me while I was en route to work. I was able to hit the brakes and swerve to avoid hitting him, but every time I drive that road, I feel a bit uneasy about cars trying to cross in front of me..... *shudders*

Cort, I can't respond to your question, but wanted to say that my husband drives an 18 wheeler and is a member of Trucker Buddy (pen-pal between elementary school and trucker). Anyway he had an elementary school in Burlington whom he corresponded with for about 5 years. He was able to go visit the class on 4 occasions and I was lucky enough to be able to accompany him on 2 of those trips. Being a born and bred California girl, I was so fascinated with the greenery and openness of the Burlington area as well as the other cities in Iowa which we passed through. My husband has always said that to him no matter how many times he travels over a road it never ever looks the same. I can only agree. Just keep showing those MC's and loving each part of country in which you travel.

*grins*

I shall do just that, Chris! I LOVE traveling ... and wish I could be on the road 24/7/365.... *sighs*

That pen-pal situation sounds awesome. Was that school in Burlington IA or Burlington IL?



Another example....

#4 ... US ROUTE 20, curve west of Pingree Grove IL

Sign just after the intersection with IL RT 72 and IL RT 47, where all 3 roads share the same pavement for ~.5 mile:

Heading West on US RT 20:

Heading East on US RT 20:

Cort | 36.m.IL | 5 Monte Carlos.1 Caprice Classic | pig valve.pacemaker * Chicagoland Meets, 2011?
MCs.CC | models.HO.legos.CHD.RadioShows | RoadTrips.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Beginning to think that I'm wasting time" ... Dobie Gray ... 'Drift Away'