A Little Slice of America

This past weekend, having some free time and money, Roverine and I set off for the great white north of Canada and the allure of Niagara Falls. Some of you know that I have a rocky relationship with MapQuest, and that pillar of ineptitude disappointed yet again when I saw that it couldn't come up with any "good" way to get me to Niagara Falls. When I travel I want highway, big, broad, straight, fast, highway. What MapQuest provided me with was a smattering of Interstate, secondary routes, and rural byways. There were more unbelievable twists and turns in this route than even Dan Brown could comprehend. But, alas, it was a busy week and I didn't have the time to plot out my own route, so on Saturday morning we loaded up the car and headed North. Just North of Harrisburg we crossed over the Susquehanna River, and began to follow US 15N. It was surprisingly pleasant, cutting a path through the heart of Pennsylvania while following the curves of the Susquehanna. We past a number of rundown, but somewhat charming, river towns which contained a disturbing amount of adult video stores. It was a beautiful day, and the first leg of the journey didn't seem all that bad at all.

After sixty some miles we past Selinsgrove and the river and the roadway parted ways. Normally this would sadden me as the presence of a waterway always adds a little charm to life, but I didn't have time to be disappointed because 15N turned into some real highway and began to dive and twist and wind through the mountains of northern PA. It really was an exhilarating drive as I didn't see another car for miles and divided my time between hair raising mountain switchbacks and broad expanses of beautiful mountain highway where 85mph seemed to only be scraping the surface of possibility.

After passing Mansfield and entering New York the mountains flattened away and the signs of industry and development began to appear again. 15N eventually butted into Interstate 86 and we took a short eastbound detour into Corning for the Corning Museum of Glass. The museum itself is fairly decent, probably excellent if you are into glass spanning two thousand years, but its real charms are the glass blowing show and the "Studio" where guests create their own glass works while being guided by students of the Museum's glass blowing school. Roverine and I made flowers.

After the variety of 15N, Interstates 86 and 390 were monotonous at best, but then MapQuest threw me another curve. We left the highway for the rural routes of New York 63 and 36. With the mountains of PA and the light industry around the finger lakes gone, we settled into the gentle rhythm of farm lands and town squares. This was Americana at its best. Each town was different, yet the same. Each main thoroughfare was decorated to honor the glory of the local football team or the valor of fallen soldiers from years ago. While this was a nice change of pace, I was glad when the continual barrage of country markets and general stores ended, and I turned onto the merge ramp for I90, the New York State Throughway.

Despite having the largest toll ticket I have ever seen, the New York State Throughway also had some of the worst driving I have ever seen. I'm normally a fast lane driver. I believe that, on the freeway, speed equals power. Not insane or reckless speed, but enough speed to control your own destiny. I90 forever destroyed that myth. I was initially uncomfortable when 75 mph wasn't sufficient to keep pace with traffic. By the time I hit 80 mph and was being tailgated by a man in a minivan who was reading a book, I decided that this game was not for me, and retired to the right hand lane. Fortunately, I soon came to I290, then I190, and found myself crossing over the Niagara River with the mist from the falls in the distance. Our "romantic package" in Canada didn't start until Sunday night, so we dove off into the US before crossing the border and spent the night in some low rate motel on the American side. That brings me to the topic of my next post "Niagara Falls: Where America Get Screwed."

I really have to thank MapQuest for this one. I haven't enjoyed a drive so much in a long time. I find it a bit ironic that I found such an enjoyable slice of America on my way to Canada. My only regret is not stopping at Reptiland, but what can I say, Roverine is evil. If you ever find yourself hankering to go to Niagara, take the MapQuest Route. It will be worth your time.

If you do decide to make the trip, Here's your playlist:
15N - Redemption Songs Jars of Clay
O Brother Where Art Thou Soundtrack.
I86 and I390 - Anything Techno
NY 63, 36, and 90 - Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits.
I90, I290, I190 - Go back to the techno, or some very heavy metal.