It's automatic when us old touring riders get together that the talk eventually turns to roads travelled, and within the time it takes to eat that second burger, the talk turns to favorite places. And instinctively we talk of great roads ridden, the Million Dollar Highway, PCH-Highway 1, Skyline Drive-California or Virginia, take your pick, or the Natchez Trace. It always brings back great memories, and the roads get better as the evening gets older. But I cannot remember in a long time talking of roads we just hated-places to be avoided at all costs. Seems the trained GPS in our mind-pride-will not allow that we ever chose a wrong road, or made a wrong turn. The following are offered to assist-you in your planning and me in my humility. Be warned and plan accordingly.
1-Route 22 in New Jersey. An anachronism of old businesses and of genius planning-as it gets closer to New York City, it goes from three lanes to two-instant traffic jam. And can anyone explain the routes 1-9-35-22-78-Garden State Parkway-Jersey Turnpike interchanges? Or the Flagship?
2-While avoiding New Jersey, stay off the Turnpike. Pot holes, big trucks, and they charge you for the right to drive on it. An X Files road if there ever was one.
3-Interstate 80 in Illinois-a toll booth every eight miles. Only 80 cents per toll you say, last time it took me almost $8 to ride it into Rockford. From the land of pay to play-avoid.
4-I-10 in west Texas. In particular through Junction, number one speed trap in the state. Got caught there doing 76 in a 70 zone. Sheriff and deputy were across freeway and writing another ticket before I could get my helmet back on to leave. Besides it is ugly high desert. And driving it only takes forever, slightly less at night.
5-Any road leading into Dodge City, Kansas. The whole town stinks-like a huge butcher shop. Roads leading out not much better, take example from Lot's wife and don't look back-or upwind. YUK!
6-US 50 or New York Avenue in Washington, DC-horrible ghetto neighborhoods with standard scary characters stationed at every red light, which never work in your favor. Keep bike in gear ready to escape-may be second to any road in Detroit-I've heard and avoided. Not quite as bad with a Democrat president-your tax dollars at work.
7-US 395 out of Burns, Oregon-ugly, flat, hot in summer-ugly, flat, freezing in winter. The highlight is the sterile lake that greets you. No place to stop or fuel for a 100 miles, like you would anyway. There is a reason no one lives in these parts-now you know why.
8-I-40 between Barstow and Needles. No matter which way you take it-avoid it! Hot-I have been in 124 degree heat on it, and Needles is hell on earth as far as I can tell. Barstow at least has Carlos and Toto's, good Mexican food. 140 miles of ugly desert, hot temperatures and broken dreams. This is the road that broke the Joads back-it by-passed old Route 66.
Eight roads to avoid, you have been warned. A gift from me, to you. And like Jesus says, it is not too late to change the road you are on. Sometimes we find ourselves on the wrong road in life, just one bad decision and we have a whole set of nightmares. But as God did for Lot, He got him out. God always leaves a way out, but not one which we can see. He wants us to contact Him, prayerfully, and let Him guide us out. By the way, there are good roads parallel to almost all the bad roads I mentioned, it just takes faith to try one. And that is what God asks us to do, trust Him. Use that little bit of faith and travel where you have never been, to places you didn't know existed, and see things God has promised, but missed by not obeying His leading. If faith is the substance of things not seen, try His guidance. It took the Israelites only 40 years to travel 400 miles, a true testament to disobedience. Are you lost if you still have gas? The road you are on doesn't have to take that long. Or go nowhere. You can stop and ask directions now-it's ok men. And women. But God-who offers freely will offer guidance and a road trip second to none.
Both Skyline Drives parallel freeways. Sorry, can't get you out of Texas any faster-except heading east. Take old route 66 instead of the freeway. You see you can change the road you are on, it is called repentance. A military term meaning changing direction, but more importantly meaning getting back on course. Some roads will look tempting, but end up getting you lost. Like one night in eastern Ohio, in the rain a sheriff found me after I got lost off of I-80 and told me this is the kind of area people get lost in and never return. Maybe that is why God says the path is straight and narrow-just like Red Mountain Pass with curves added for emphasis. Inches wider and it is a 1000' down.
The road you choose will tell a lot more about your final destination than where you think you are headed. Make sure you never travel without your GPS-God's Perfect Son as your map. Anything else may look good on paper, but leads to heartache later. Ride your own ride-with Jesus. A road captain who knows all the best roads, places to eat, and great destinations. A routing service no AAA can match-see you on the road-just not on the eight mentioned above. Ride by faith, not by sight-He knows-oh boy, does He know!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
1-Route 22 in New Jersey. An anachronism of old businesses and of genius planning-as it gets closer to New York City, it goes from three lanes to two-instant traffic jam. And can anyone explain the routes 1-9-35-22-78-Garden State Parkway-Jersey Turnpike interchanges? Or the Flagship?
2-While avoiding New Jersey, stay off the Turnpike. Pot holes, big trucks, and they charge you for the right to drive on it. An X Files road if there ever was one.
3-Interstate 80 in Illinois-a toll booth every eight miles. Only 80 cents per toll you say, last time it took me almost $8 to ride it into Rockford. From the land of pay to play-avoid.
4-I-10 in west Texas. In particular through Junction, number one speed trap in the state. Got caught there doing 76 in a 70 zone. Sheriff and deputy were across freeway and writing another ticket before I could get my helmet back on to leave. Besides it is ugly high desert. And driving it only takes forever, slightly less at night.
5-Any road leading into Dodge City, Kansas. The whole town stinks-like a huge butcher shop. Roads leading out not much better, take example from Lot's wife and don't look back-or upwind. YUK!
6-US 50 or New York Avenue in Washington, DC-horrible ghetto neighborhoods with standard scary characters stationed at every red light, which never work in your favor. Keep bike in gear ready to escape-may be second to any road in Detroit-I've heard and avoided. Not quite as bad with a Democrat president-your tax dollars at work.
7-US 395 out of Burns, Oregon-ugly, flat, hot in summer-ugly, flat, freezing in winter. The highlight is the sterile lake that greets you. No place to stop or fuel for a 100 miles, like you would anyway. There is a reason no one lives in these parts-now you know why.
8-I-40 between Barstow and Needles. No matter which way you take it-avoid it! Hot-I have been in 124 degree heat on it, and Needles is hell on earth as far as I can tell. Barstow at least has Carlos and Toto's, good Mexican food. 140 miles of ugly desert, hot temperatures and broken dreams. This is the road that broke the Joads back-it by-passed old Route 66.
Eight roads to avoid, you have been warned. A gift from me, to you. And like Jesus says, it is not too late to change the road you are on. Sometimes we find ourselves on the wrong road in life, just one bad decision and we have a whole set of nightmares. But as God did for Lot, He got him out. God always leaves a way out, but not one which we can see. He wants us to contact Him, prayerfully, and let Him guide us out. By the way, there are good roads parallel to almost all the bad roads I mentioned, it just takes faith to try one. And that is what God asks us to do, trust Him. Use that little bit of faith and travel where you have never been, to places you didn't know existed, and see things God has promised, but missed by not obeying His leading. If faith is the substance of things not seen, try His guidance. It took the Israelites only 40 years to travel 400 miles, a true testament to disobedience. Are you lost if you still have gas? The road you are on doesn't have to take that long. Or go nowhere. You can stop and ask directions now-it's ok men. And women. But God-who offers freely will offer guidance and a road trip second to none.
Both Skyline Drives parallel freeways. Sorry, can't get you out of Texas any faster-except heading east. Take old route 66 instead of the freeway. You see you can change the road you are on, it is called repentance. A military term meaning changing direction, but more importantly meaning getting back on course. Some roads will look tempting, but end up getting you lost. Like one night in eastern Ohio, in the rain a sheriff found me after I got lost off of I-80 and told me this is the kind of area people get lost in and never return. Maybe that is why God says the path is straight and narrow-just like Red Mountain Pass with curves added for emphasis. Inches wider and it is a 1000' down.
The road you choose will tell a lot more about your final destination than where you think you are headed. Make sure you never travel without your GPS-God's Perfect Son as your map. Anything else may look good on paper, but leads to heartache later. Ride your own ride-with Jesus. A road captain who knows all the best roads, places to eat, and great destinations. A routing service no AAA can match-see you on the road-just not on the eight mentioned above. Ride by faith, not by sight-He knows-oh boy, does He know!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com