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Road Trip '06
Mike Ahlf
One of the things I do once or twice a year (about once a year on average) is drive back home to visit my parents. For many people, this is no big deal.
For me, it's the 1200 mile journey from Houston to Milwaukee. But even with gas prices as high as they are, the cost compares favorably to flying, and I get a lot more cargo space to work with, as well as not having to rent or beg the use of a car while I'm there.
A few observations on the states traveled:
Texas - I live here. It's nice enough heading up TX-59, mostly. Watch out for the construction. Oh, and about the whole "Drive friendly" thing... someone needs to remind your average Texan about it.
Arkansas - One of the things scientists have discovered is that without any concrete detail or differentiating moments to latch on to, the human brain tends to compress a given long experience into about 8 seconds in terms of memory. Arkansas, therefore, takes 8 seconds to cross. In reality, it takes about 5 hours.
Missouri - BumpbumpbumpbumpBumpbumpbumpbumpbumpbumpBumpBump.....
Illinois - For most of the journey? "I hope that's the road, and not my alignment going." In Chicago? Hell beyond hell. At least in Texas when they have a toll road, they give you the (admittedly slightly slower) alternative of driving on a working feeder. In Chicago, if you want to get to Wisconsin, you either drive a full hour out of your way, or you pay about $6 worth of tolls. Your corrupt officials at work, folks.
Wisconsin - Ah, home sweet JESUS WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO THE TOWN?! (Let's just say my old hometown's grown a bit).
Also, a Google Maps exercise.
Take Google Maps driving directions generator, and map from Houston, TX to Milwaukee, WI. You'll see that the route given goes from Houston, to Marshall, over to Shreveport, back to Texarkana, over to West Memphis, up to St. Louis, and then finally to Chicago and then Milwaukee.
Now, map in series. Map from Houston to Texarkana (cuts Shreveport out of the equation). Map from Texarkana to Milwaukee and poof, St. Louis drops out as well - the route now correctly uses I-57, which goes straight diagonally right up Illinois.
Total time saved: approximately 4-5 hours drive. Google Guys, your driving direction algorithm needs some tuning up.
Observations
In my experience Switchboard (
http://www.switchboard.com) gives the best directions and the most realistic time estimates. It is also handy for finding the closest Dunkin' Donuts at any given stop. Unfortunately, it appears to be losing the corporate struggle against MapQuest and now Google.
Good suggestions; I'm driving around Texas in a few days (Houston-Lubbock-El Paso-Houston), and that may come in useful.
Meh -- I have nearly as much driving, but it's all in-state!
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