Very early on in the drive, it dawned on me how similar this felt to my experience of driving out to Colorado for college about 4 years ago. There I found myself naively traveling a few states away to my new home with few social connections and big dreams for which I have no foundation (and turn out to be completely false). Honestly, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the only real difference between these experiences (apart from the obvious) is that this time, I can hold my liquor.
For the most part, the first day was pretty uneventful. The driving is boring but I got all the way to Nashville fueled by fast food, beef jerky and Red Bull. I did feel like I was in a video game on parts of the drive though. Parts of Tennessee definitely reminded me of Cruis'n USA. See for yourself...
They look really similar to me anyways (minus the tree tunnel).I left the next morning from Nashville around 6:30. Before heading on the highway, I decided to get a cup of coffee to keep me awake. The lady at the gas station gave me this frequent drinkers card with 2 punches (even though I only got 1 cup). I then explained to her that I was just passing through and she should give the card to the next person so they can get 2 free punches. She told me to hold onto it as a souvenir from Tennessee and then sent me on my way with 2 life changing bits of advice. "stay young and never get married." Thanks Nashville gas station lady.
Here is my "souvenir." (front and back) Notice the sophisticated method they used to reduce counterfeit coupons.
I made way through Appalachia enjoying the rolling hills and lush landscape. I noticed that atop many of these hills were pristine white steeples. This picture isn't the best example I saw but it shows how Jesus is kind of a big deal in Virginia.
And lastly, the cops in Virginia are really intense! I saw more highway patrol cruisers within 30 minutes of crossing the state line than I did on the whole trip. Virginia in my opinion has the most intense Highway Patrol and I'll tell you why:
1. It is illegal to use a radar detector at all. They hate those little devices so much that they spent time to pass a law to get rid of them? That is just ridiculous if you ask me.
2. The cops are really really sneaky. They median has many high berms which perfectly conceal the location of the patrol car until it is too late to slow down. They have built little pull outs for them to park and allow them to get moving extremely quickly. These locations had an officer waiting about 60% of the time.
3. They try and scare you into driving the speed limit through relentless signage. There were signs notifying drivers about the illegality of radar detectors, presence of speed limit enforcing aircraft, safety corridors and announcing that the "speed limit is STRICTLY enforced." here are a couple examples...
What is a safety corridor? That is such bullshit! They should call it by its real name "Income Generating Corridor." Ultimately it seems the Highway Patrol in Virginia are completely supported by the citizens which I guess means that they are on God's team; and that's what makes them the scariest.
So that was my road trip, feel free to leave some comments at the bottom and check back soon for my next post which includes pictures of the Presidential squirrels and other DC oddities. Please also visit my other site "The Ignorant American," just click the link on the right side of the page!
-Darren
