A little help on directions

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Maine actually has two seasons.  Depending on perspective, it's Snow or Mud; also known as Winter and August.

I've had to wear a jacket on July 4, watching the fireworks on Casco Bay (Portland harbor).  Route 2 in Winter is not for the faint of heart.  The westerly portions do have the 2 lanes, a little maneuvering coming through Deerfield - Hairpin Turn - and once you get east of Gardner on the 4-lane, you have to contend with the curves, lack of acceleration lanes, etc. coming through Fitchburg.

Last summer, when we took my Mother in Law to New Brunswick on the annual trip, I had to drive that stretch of Route 2 - three times in one day.  Got from Gardner to Kittery ME (100 miles one way), and they discovered the luggage with the medicine was back in Gardner.  The annoyance of having to drive the stretch through Fitchburg two more times was worse than the extra four hours and fuel cost.  The good part -  by the third time through the Hampton tolls, I already knew how much money to have ready.

There are no routes that are entirely without unpleasant sections.  Today's newsletter from Railway Age discussed some passenger rail activity around Hartford, citing the rush hour congestion on 84.  My answer, don't go through in rush hour - good advice in any city. 

Last month, it was snowing when we drove that stretch from Gardner to Boston, to fly home.  I grew up driving (cars and buses) in that stuff, but it was a good reminder why I live in Dallas now.

Arthur 

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Arthur,

You have my sympathies for having to run that western Rt 2 three times. Once was enough for me although the four lane section was nice enough.

I remember seeing snow four feet deep in Waltham, MA in June where it had been piled up from shoveling a walk. I was also in the Boston Navy Yard aboard three ships at different times, all in the dead of winter. Never could figure out why I was so lucky!

I'm not sure you have escaped any traffic by living in Dallas but it is a lot warmer, a lot!!

[BG6]

I just made a trip from DE as far north as NH in June and can only say it was a nightmare around NYC. The farther west you can get the better.

Yeah.  Like, say, Honolulu.

The problem with highways is that they go from city to city.

You want a GPS for immediate help, but you also want to go to a truck stop and buy the latest "Random McNalley" map book for TRUCKS.  It will show truck routes, scales, etc, as well as warning you about low bridges and other things that the guy in the four-wheeler doesn't need to know about.

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BG,

Honolulu is a lot cooler than Dallas, at least it was many years when I lived there. Mostly due to the trade winds.

Good info on the truck atlas, didn't know there was such a thing. Thanks.

GPS will give you some crazy routes so pay attention. It really throws a fit when I refuse its route too!