Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Havertown PA, Longwood Gardens, Philadelphia Zoo

Route
Thomas Dambo Troll at Philadelphia Zoo
Day 1: US 15/501 North, I 85 North, I 95 North, Baltimore/Washington Parkway North, I 895 North, I 95 North,I 495 North, I 95 North, I 476 North, PA 3 East to Havertown. 
Day 2-5: Local roads, including PA 3, I 476, US 1.
Day 6: PA 3 West, Local streets, US 1 South, I 476 South, I 95 South, I 495 South, I 95 South, I 895 South, Baltimore/Washington Parkway South, DC 295 South, I 695 East, I 395 South, I 95 South, Local Roads to Montclair.
VA 234 East, I 95 South, I 85 South, US 15/501 South to Chapel Hill.

Notes
Construction for the I-95 Express Lane extension is completed to US 17, Local/express lanes are complete to VA 3 (Plank Road).

Results
Nothing new. Some new city streets in Havertown area and Dale City.


Sunday, February 04, 2024

Key West

Ravenal Bridge, Charleston SC

Route
Day 1: US 15/501 South, NC 54 East, I 40 East, I 95 South, FL 40 West to Daytona Beach. 
FL 40 East, local roads, I 95 South, I 4 West, US 192 East to hotel.
Day 2: US 192 West, I 4 West, US 27 South, FL 542 West, local road, FL 540 West, US 17 South, US 98 West, FL 60 West, Local Roads, FL 39 North, I 4 West, I 275 South, I 175 East to St Petersburg.
I 175 West, I 295 South, US 19 South, US 41 Business South, FL 64 West to De Soto National Memorial.
FL 64 East, I 75 South, CR 777 South, Local roads to Gasparilla Island.
Local Roads, FL 776 East, Local roads to hotel.
Day 3: I 75 South, local streets to Naples.
US 41 South, FL 951 to Marco Island.
Local Road, US 41 South, FL 997 South, Local street to Homestead FL.
Day 4: Florida Turnpike North, Local streets to Deering Estate. Biscayne Bay cruise,
Local roads to Biscayne National Park visitor center.
Local roads, Fl 9336 West to Everglades National Park.
FL 9336 East, US 1 South, local streets to hotel.
Day 5: Local streets, US 1 South to Key West FL.

Day 6: Local streets to ferry terminal. Boat cruise to Dry Tortugas National Park. Local streets to hotel.
Day 7: Local streets, US 1 North, Florida Turnpike North, FL 834 West to Butterfly World.
FL 834 East, US 1 South, FL 844 East, FL AIA North, US 98 West, I 95 North to Port St Lucie.
Day 8: I 95 North, FL 406 East to Canaveral National Seashore.
US 1 South, local road, I 95 North, FL 207 East, FL 312 East, FL A1A North to St Augustine.
US 1 Business South, local roads, FL 16 West, I 95 North to Hardeeville SC.
Day 9: I 95 North, US 17 North, SC 174 South to Edisto Beach.
SC 174 North, SC 164 East, SC 162 East, local road, US 17 North, local roads to Angel Oak Park.
SC 700 North, US 17 North, SC 703 South to Sullivan's Island.
SC 703 North, US 17 South, I 26 West, I 95 North, I 40 West, NC 54 West to Chapel Hill.

Notes
Much construction everywhere.

Results
Counties:
FL:  Martin, Palm Beach.
For a new total of 1247.

Mileage:
FL: Clinched FL 312, FL 406, FL 542, FL 844. Mileage on I 95, I 175, I 275, US 1, US 1 Business St Augustine, US 17, US 41 Business Bradenton, US 98, Florida Turnpike, FL A1A, FL 9B, FL 16, FL 39, FL 60, FL 64, FL 207, FL 540, FL 776, FL 834.
SC: Clinched SC 164. Mileage on US 17, SC 162, SC 700.

NPS Units:

National Parks: Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, Everglades (revisit) for a new total of 34

De Soto National Memorial

Big Cypress National Preserve

Canaveral National Seashore

Fort Sumter - Fort Moultrie National Historic Park



Monday, October 09, 2023

Oklahoma City/Saint Louis Chihuly + National Parks + Havertown




Cumberland Gap Tunnel
Route
Day 1: NC 86 North, I 40 West, US 421 North, NC 74 West, NC 8 South, Local roads, US 52 North, I 74 West, I 77 North, I 81 South, US 58 West, Local Road to Gate City.
Local Road, US 58 West, US 25E North, US 25W South, KY 727 South, US 25W South, KY 90 West, US 27 North, Local Road, KY 1577 South, KY 914 North, Cumberland Parkway West, KY 61 North to Columbia KY.
Day 2: KY 61 North, US 31E North to Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home.
Birdsong Hollow  Double Arch Bridge
US 31E South, KY 84 West, I 65 South, KY 70 East to Cave City KY.
KY 70 West, KY 255 North to Mammoth Cave NP.
Day 3: KY 70 East, US 31W North to Cave City.
US 31W South, KY 90 West, KY 70 West, I-65 South, TN 155 South, US 31E South, US 31 South, Charlotte Avenue, US 70 West to Centennial Park.
US 70S West to Bellevue TN.
Day 4: US 70S East, Local Roads, TN 100 West, Natchez Parkway South, Local Road to Tupelo MS.
Local Streets, I-22 West, US 78 West, I-240 West, I-55 North, I-40 West, I-30 West to Little Rock AR.
Day 5: I-630 West to Arkansas State Capitol.
I-630 East, I-30 West, US 70 West, US 70 Business West, Spring St, AR 7 North to Hot Springs NP.
John Coffee Memorial Bridge
AR 7 South, Oachita Avenue, US 270 Business West, US 270 West, US 71 North, I-540 East, AR 59 North, US 64 West, I-40 West to Midwest City, OK.
Day 6: I-40 West, I-235 North, Local Streets, I-40 West, I-44 East, OK 74 North to Oklahoma Lighthouse.
OK 74 South, I-44 West, I-240 East, I-35 South to Stephen Rother Shrine.
I-35 North, Local Roads to Midwest City.
Blue Mountain Tunnel
Day 7: I-40 West, I-35 North, I-44 East, I-49 South, Local Roads to George Washington Carver National Monument.
Local Roads, IL 59 North, I-44 East to Saint Louis.
I-44 West, I-55 South to Saint Louis Hampton Inn.
Day 8: I-55 North, I-44 West to Missouri Botanical Garden.
Local Roads to Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
I-64 East, I-70 East, IL 49 South to Casey IL
IL 49 North, I-70 East, IL-1 South to Marshall IL
IL-1 North, I-70 East, I-465 East, I-65 South to Greenwood IN.
Kittaninny Mountain Tunnel
Day 9: I-65 North, I-465 East, I-70 East, I-75 South to Dayton Aviation NHP.
I-75 North, OH-4 East, OH 444 East to Wright Brothers Memorial.
Local Roads, I-675 South, US 35 East, OH 104 North, OH 207 South, OH 159 North, OH 180 East, Local Road, OH 56 East, OH 374 North to Hocking Hills SP.
OH 664 East, US 22 East, SR 204 North, Local Road, I-70 East, OH 209 North to Cambridge OH.
Day 10: OH 209 South, I-70 East, I-470 East, I-70 East, PA 281 North, US 30 East, Local Road, US 220  Business North to Bedford PA.
Tuscarora Mountain Tunnel
US 220 Business South, I-76 East, I-476 South, PA 3 East to Havertown PA.
Day 11: PA 3 East to Philadelphia. PA 3 West to Havertown.
Day 12: PA 3 West, I 476 South, US 1 South to Longwood Gardens. US 1 North, I 476 North, PA 3 to Havertown.
Day 13: PA 3 West, I 476 South, US 1 South to Ridley Creek State Park. PA 352 South to Tyler Arboretum. US 1 North, I 476 North, PA 3 to Havertown.
Day 14: PA 3 West, I 476 South, I-95 South, I-495 South, I-95 South, I-895 South, MD 295 South, Baltimore-Washington Parkway South, MD 202 South, DC 295 South, I 695 West, I 395 South, I 95 South, I 85 South, US 15/501 South to Chapel Hill.

Notes
Much construction everywhere.

Results
States: Mississippi, for a new total of 48.

Counties:
AL: Colbert, Lauderdale
AR: Garland, Logan, Montgomery, Saline, Scott, Sebastian
IN: Hancock, Henry, Wayne
KY: Adair, Barren, Bell, Edmonson, Green, Hardin, Hart, Knox, Larue, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Simpson, Warren
MO: Jefferson
MS: Benton, DeSoto, Itawamba, Lee, Marshall, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tishomingo, Union
OH: Belmont, Preble
OK: Cleveland
TN: Claiborne, Lawrence, Lewis, Maury, Robertson, Sumner, Wayne
VA: Lee, Scott
WV: Ohio
For a new total of 1245

Mileage:
AL: Clinch Natchez Parkway.
AR: Mileage on I-30, I-630, US 64, US 70, US 70 Business, US 71, US 270, US 270 Business, AR 7, AR 59.
KY: Mileage on I-65, US 25E, US 25W, US 27, US 31E, US 31W, KY 61, KY 70, KY 84, KY 90, KY 255, KY 727, KY 914, KY 1577.
MS: Mileage on I-22, US 78, Natchez Parkway.
MO: Mileage on I-55, I-64, US 40.
OK: Mileage on I-35, I-40, I-44. I-55, I-235, I-240, US 64, OK 3, OK 74.
TN: Clinch US 58, Natchez Parkway. Mileage on I-55, I-65, I-240, US 25E, US 31, US 41, US 61, US 54, US 70, US 70S, US 78, US 79, US 431, TN 100.
VA: Mileage on US 23, US 58, US 421.

NPS Units:

National Parks: Mammoth Cave, Hot Springs, Gateway Arch (revisit) for a new total of 32

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP

Cumberland Gap NHP

Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail

Natchez Trace Parkway

Tupelo National Battlefield

Fort Smith NHS

George Washington Carver N Mon

Dayton Aviation NHP

Hopewell Cultural NHS

Flight 93 Memorial



Friday, August 18, 2023

Baltic Cruise

Route
Arlanda Express

Taxi - US 15/501 North, I 40 East to Airport.
Denmark: From Airport, Local Train to Copenhagen Central Station. Metro from Østerport to Kongens Nytorv. Metro from Kobenhavn H to Orientkaj. Harbor Bus from Orientkaj to Operaen. Local Bus from Fabrikmestervej to Skt. Annæ Gade. Metro from Christianshavn to Nørreport. Metro from Nørreport to Amagerbro. Local Bus from Tycho Brahes Allé to Hovedbanegårde. Metro from Kobenhavn H to Orientkaj. Local Bus from Orientkaj to Oceankaj Cruise Terminal.
Suomenlinna Ferry


Poland: Tour Bus - From Gdynia: DW 468 East, E75/DK91 South to Gdansk. E75/DK91 North, DW 468 West to Gdynia.
Lithuania: Tour Bus - From Klaipeda: K168 North, A13 North, A11 West to Palanga. A11 East, A13 South, K168 South to Klaipeda.
Hamina/Kotka: Cruise Shuttle - St372 North, E18/Vt15/MooHelVaa East, St170 East to Hamina.
Taxi - St170 West, E18/Vt15/MooHelVaa West, VT15 South to Kotka.
Bus - Local Roads, St170 East, Local Roads, St170 East, Local Roads, St170 East to Hamina.
Tallinn/Helsinki Ferry

Gdansk Tram
Copenhagen Harbor Bus

Cruise Shuttle - St170 West, E18/Vt15/MooHelVaa West, St372 South to Cruise Terminal.
Helsinki: Tram from Helsinki Terminal 2 to Erottaja. Vt4 East to Central Market. Ferry to Suomenlinna. Ferry to Kauppatori. Vt4 West, E12/V1 North. Tram from Kauppatori to Ylioppilastalo. Tram from Ylioppilastalo to Helsinki Terminal 2.
Estonia: E67 South to Old Town. E67 North to Cruise Terminal.
Stockholm: Harbor bus from Frihamnen to Ropsten. T from Ropsten to T-Centralen. Arlanda Express to Arlanda Airport.
Taxi - I 40 West, NC 86 South to Chapel Hill.

Notes
In Copenhagen, we bought a 72 hour City Pass Small at a kiosk in the airport, which covered our travel on local trains, Metro, Harbour Bus and City Bus. The system was on the honor basis. Our tickets were checked by a conductor once on the Metro and once on the bus to the cruise terminal.
The Kotka-Hamina bus driver took cash and gave change.
In Helsinki, we bought a day pass at a kiosk at the Tram stop, good for trams and the ferry to Suomenlinna. The system was on the honor basis.
In Stockholm, the harbor bus took a tap to pay credit card or Apple Pay as a ticket good for 75 minutes on the harbour bus and the T. The Arlanda Express had its own platform, where you bought tickets at a kiosk and boarded the train. There was a discount for more than one traveler. The train reached at least 205 kph.

Results
Eight new countries ( Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland [airport only] ) for a new total of sixteen countries ( three airport only ).

Estonia: Mileage on E67.
Finland: Mileage on E12, E18, St372, V1, Vt4, Vt15.
Poland: Mileage on DK91, DW 468, E75.
Lithuania: Mileage on A11, A13, K168.

National Capitols: 
    Denmark
    Estonia
    Finland
    Latvia
    Sweden



Asheville Bypass

Route
NC 86 North, I 40 West, I 85 South, US 64 West to Lexington.
US 64 East, NC 159 South to NC Zoo.
NC 159 North, US 64 East, NC 49 North, Local Roads to Chapel Hill.

Notes.
Finally got around to driving the the new Asheville Bypass and access to NC Zoo.

Results
Reclinch NC . Mileage on US 64.

Monday, July 17, 2023

Havertown PA, Longwood Gardens, Elmwood Zoo

Route
Day 1: US 15/501 North, I 85 North, I 95 North, I 895 North, I 95 North, I 495 North, I 95 North, I 476 North, PA 3 East to Havertown.
Day 2: Local roads, including PA 3, I 476 South, US 1 South to Longwood Gardens.
US 1 North, I 476 North, PA 3 East to Havertown.
Day 4: PA 3 West, I 476 North, Local Roads to Elmwood Zoo. Local Roads, I 476 South, PA 3 East to Havertown.
Day 5: PA 3 West, I 476 South, I 95 South, I 495 South, I 95 South,  I 895 South, I 97 South, MD 100 West, I 95 South, I 495 West, I 66 West, US 29 South, US 29 Business South to Warrenton Va.
US 29 Business South, US 29 South, VA 89 South, NC 89 South, Local Road, I 40 East, NC 89 South to Chapel Hill.

Notes
Construction for the I-95 Express Lane extension proceeds in the median down to VA 3 (Plank Road).
On Day 5, there were tremendous rainstorms along our path home through DC and Richmond. Our GPS diverted us south on I 97 from I 895. Approaching MD 100, it said there were Flash Flood warnings along our route and offered us a safer route. The route swung us west around DC, out I 66 to US 29 home. It was the largest diversion I have seen the router make. We stopped for lunch in Warrenton VA. I checked the routing and traffic through Richmond was a mess and showing Flash Flood Warning still. We continues home through Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Danville with much nicer weather.

Results
MD: Clinch I 895. Mileage on MD 100.
VA: Clinch US 29 Business Warrentown. Mileage on I 66, US 29, US 15 Business Warrentown, US 17 Business Warrentown.

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Havertown PA, Maryland Eastern Shore

Tilghman Island Drawbridge
Route
Day 1: US 15/501 North, I 85 North, I 95 North, I 495 North, I 95 North, I 476 North, PA 3 East to Havertown. 
Day 2-5: Local roads, including PA 3, I 476, US 30, PA 320.
Day 6: PA 3 West, I 476 South, I 95 South, I 495 South, I 95 South, DE 1 South, DE 72 West, DE 71 West, Chesapeake City Road, MD 285 West, MD 213 South, MD 286 East to Chesapeake City MD.
MD 213 South, US 50 East, MD 322 South, MD 33 West to St Michaels.
MD 33 East, MD 322 South, US 50 South, MD 343 to the Spocoff Windmill and Village. MD 343 East. local roads, MD 16 North, US 50 East to Cambridge.
Day 7: US 50 East, US 13 South. I 64 East to Chesapeake. I 64 West, VA 134 West, US 258 East, local road, I 64 West, I 664 South, US 58 West, detour on local roads, US 58 West, I 85 South, US 15/501 South to Chapel Hill.

Notes
Construction for the I-95 Express Lane extension proceeds in the median down to VA 3 (Plank Road).
The Tilghman Island drawbridge has been relocated to the entrance to the Maritime Museum in St Michaels MD.

Results
Counties: Dorchester MD, Talbot MD. For a new total of 1197.
DE: Mileage on DE 71, DE 72.
MD: Clinch US 13, MD 285, MD 322. Mileage on US 50, MD 16, MD 33, MD 213, MD 286, MD 343.
PA: Mileage on PA 320.
VA: Clinch I 664. Mileage on VA 134.

Wednesday, April 05, 2023

Baby Shower

Route

Day 1: US 15/501 North, I 85 North, I 95 North, Local road, US 1 North, VA 234 West, I 95 North, I 295 North, DC 295 North, I 95 North, I 495 North, I 95 North, I 476 North, PA 3 East to Havertown. PA 3 West, I 476 North, I 76 West, Local Road, US 202 West to King of Prussia.
East Point Lighthouse, NJ
Day 2: US 202 West, I 76 East, I 476 South, PA 3 East to Havertown. PA 3 West, I 476 North, I 76 West, Local Road, US 202 West to King of Prussia.
Day 3: US 202 West, I 76 East, I 476 South, PA 3 East to Havertown.
Day 4: PA 3 West, I 476 South, US 1 South to Longwood Gardens. US 1 North, PA 52 North, PA 926 East,  PA 3 East to Havertown.
Day 5: PA 3 West, I 476 South, I 95 North, I 76 East, NJ 42 East, NJ 55 South, NJ 47 South, Local Roads to East Point Lighthouse. Local Roads, NJ 47 North, NJ 55 North, US 322 West, NJ Turnpike South, I 295 South, I 95 South, I 895 South, MD 295 South, Baltimore/Washington Parkway, I 95 South, I 85 South, US 15/501 South to Chapel Hill.

Notes
Construction for the I-95 Express Lane extension proceeds in the median down to VA 3 (Plank Road).

Results
Counties: Cumberland NJ. For a new total of 1195.
NJ: Clinch I 76, NJ 55. Mileage on US 322, NJ 47.
PA: Mileage on I 76, PA 3, PA 926.
VA: Mileage on US 1, US 301, VA 234.