DRIVING IN THE NORTHEAST

The first time I drove in the Northeast was July, 1969. The last time was last weekend.

• Thank goodness for GPS
• New York still holds the record for the worst surfaces
• I'm thankful we weren't driving my uncle's VW Bug as in 1969
• The New Jersey Turnpike has some marvelous stretches
• People still ignore the speed limit

I distinctly remember being in the center lane on the turnpike in that VW Bug when I looked in the rear view mirror and saw the reverse of "MACK" and checked out the other two lanes that were occupied by an 18-wheeler and a bus. Peddle faster.

The portion of I-95 that crosses the Bronx was then and now full of holes, confusing, a bit of a free for all and congested. Since it is like that 24/7, how would you go about improving it?

Not like New Jersey. There is a stretch between New York and Philadelphia that is designed and built to handle the traffic. Cars have their own three lanes, trucks/busses use a separate three-lane highway. New, smooth and fast. Congrats Governor Christie if you had anything to do with it.

On a different trip, when the girls were younger, we were driving a rental from Boston south and as we went through Hartford, a 55 gallon barrel dislodged from the truck in front of us, bounced and wedged under the bumper of the ready-mix truck next to us. Close call.

This time we visited friends on Cape Cod and returned safely. Maybe next time take the train?