Not A Scary Drive At All

Happy Halloween, everybody.

Made the ride in just less than 30 minutes without speeding too much.

Wow.

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Departure Time: 7:00
Arrival Time: 7:29
Weather as I call it: Cold, frost on the windshield, 30s
Shady Gas Price: $2.55
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope

I Saw The Bird

Not sure why, but I saw a middle finger from one of my fellow drivers this morning. I don’t think it was meant for me…but it could have been.

It happened at the Drum Hill Intersection…formally the Drum Hill rotary.

I was waiting at a red light and there was a woman behind me. I think that this guy was trying to get around us. Now, I didn’t move…so I am guessing his beef was with the woman behind me…but I heard a horn blast and then a middle finger pressed against a window.

Good morning to you too.

Tried to get it under 30 minutes today…not quite.

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Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:34
Weather as I call it: Cold...sunny...30s
Shady Gas Price: $2.55
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nah

Beating The School Bus

I have figured that happiness is beating the school bus. When I am passing kids waiting for the bus...I know I have beat the bus.

That's a good thing.

Saw a yellow, new school Mustang trying to pass people on a one lane road. He tried but failed.

I was looking at an old gas receipt from last month. I was paying a whole dollar more for a gallon of gas.

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Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:38
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, but some sun breaking through by the end. 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.57
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Gray Day And Ride

Pretty smooth ride. More cars than yesterday. Lots of red lights.

I am feeling a little more awake...but the darkness is affecting me a bit.


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Departure Time: 7:06
Arrival Time: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Gray, some fog, cool, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Need To Wake Up

A little groggy at the wheel this morning. There was no dosing off but I was feeling some heavy lids.

I think I got into a little coffee dependancy this weekend.

Need to break out of it...do some jumping jacks. Wake up without stimulants.

We gain an hour of sleep this weekend. That'll help too.

Drive was good. Pretty normal for a Monday.

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Departure Time: 7:09
Arrival Time: 7:43
Weather as I call it: Sunny, Cool, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.65
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

I Like Traffic Lights

I must have hit every red light today....and I got behind a tractor.

Nice...but traffic was light and I was quick and agile.

Have a nice weekend, everybody.

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Departure Time: 7:05
Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Sunny...a litte frost on the car. 30s
Shady Gas Price: $2.72
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Looking Forward To Winter

No slick roads today.

No slow pokes.

No school buses.

No blinding sun either.

Just some other travelers and me on the back roads. The trees are starting to look a little bare.

Winter is going to be interesting...

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Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Cloudy. 35F
Shady Gas Price: $2.74
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Slick Roads

Had a little bit of a close call this morning because of slick roads. Wet asphalt mixed with drenched fallen leaves makes for a slippery ride.

A few cars braked unexpectedly in front of me...causing me to slam on my own brakes.

I skidded a bit. It wasn't too terrifying, but enough to get my blood a pumpin'...

It reminded me to be ever vigilant on the roads. You gotta keep your head in the game.


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Departure Time: 7:08
Arrival Time: 7:44
Weather as I call it: Rainy and cool. 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.75
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: A little bit.

I Dislike Slow Pokes

If there is one thing about back roads, it’s the increased chance that you will get behind a slow driver. I got behind one today. Not only was this person slow, but ultra-courteous. They stopped for people who were just thinking of crossing the street. They made up their mind once my slow-moving friend stopped for them.

I support being courteous. I support going the speed limit…but driving below the speed limit and stopping for every little thing is overkill…and something I cannot support.

Thankfully, they turned off before too long…just long enough to get mentioned in the blog.

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Departure Time: 7:06
Arrival Time: 7:39
Weather as I call it: Sunny...extreme sun! Blinding at times.
Shady Gas Price: $2.77
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: No

End Of The Season

Not just baseball...at least for the Sox...but any trace of summer either. We had our first frost last night.

I had to scrape my windows and windshield for the first time in a long time.

It added some time to my trip. It took me a while to get all the windows cleared.

Roads were pretty good, a little busier than usual due to my late start.

Gas seems to be tumbling down too...for now.

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Departure Time: 7:11
Arrival Time: 7:43
Weather as I call it: Sunny...cold. 30s
Shady Gas Price: $2.81
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

I Stay On The Road

I don't care if you are not supposed to pass on the right.

I stay on the road.

Just play nice and we'll be all right.

I'm trying to get to where I'm going.


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Departure Time: 7:05
Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Sunny. 45F
Shady Gas Price: $2.93
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

Honking Horns and Blinking High Beams

...will never hurt me. We had a little rain this morning...so naturally people were driving much slower.

Somewhere in Bedford, Route 4 is wide enough for two lanes of traffic...but it is not marked with white dashed lines.

A car was stopped at a light...we'll call them "the first car" Right behind them, there was someone who had their blinker on to turn left. I made a proactive move and shifted right...and drove up to the white line of the intersection and proceed to wait right next to the first car at the red light.

When the light turned green, I pulled away. "The first car" took offense and beeped their horn. They then flashed their bright headlights at me to emphasize that they were not pleased with my move. I tapped my gas pedal with three quick pulses...to tell them "I Don't Care."

Silly First Car. I did nothing wrong.

Look at the time compared to yesterday. No coffee and muffin to slow me down...just rain and slow traffic.

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Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:39
Weather as I call it: Light rain in spots, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.99
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Timing is Everything

I think I have learned that if I leave close to 7:10, I am behind school buses. If not, it's pretty free and clear.

I even stopped for a little coffee and muffin at a local breakfast n' lunch place. The time I took to get my sweet treats has not been omitted from my trip duration.

Still, pretty good time.

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Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:39
Weather as I call it: Mostly sunny, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $3.02
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Buses And Gas Prices

Back to the back roads and it was busy. There were a lot of early risers driving along with me.

I got behind and in front of some school buses. It slowed some of my ride down.

I might add another shady gas price to the template. We'll see.


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Departure Time: 7:05
Arrival Time: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny - mid 40s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Thanks Chris

Just enough people have the day off today so that my drive to work was as problem free as possible.

It amazing how much time is cut from the trip when you ride with 25% of the cars you usually ride with.

It's good to know. Back to back roads tomorrow. It will be awful.


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Departure Time: 7:06
Arrival Time: 7:26
Weather as I call it: Mostly sunny, 50s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope

Nice Country Drive

Back roads are the way to go if you can wake up early enough to get in front of the buses.

With the leaves changing and little traffic on the roads, my drive to work reminded me of a leisurely drive in the country...Vermont maybe...

I do not have Columbus day off. I will be taking the highway (if I don't see any snarls before I leave the house) since the traffic will be light...I should compare times...since it doesn't get any better than this...


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Departure Time: 7:03
Arrival Time: 7:34
Weather as I call it: Sunny...very bright in some spots...40s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nah

What Slows Me Down Now

Now that I am Mr. Back Roads Guy, I have a few things that slow me down in the morning.

People driving cautiously for whatever reason...
School buses...
A traffic light or two.

If I can handle these things, I will be ok.



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Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Sunny and mild. 50s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Traffic Again

I must have been lucky the first few weeks of my new job. I was lulled into an understanding that the merge of Route 3 and 95 wasn't so bad...

The past two days, it's been awful. I am about to give up and take backroads from now on.

It's tough...because the highway..when it is cooperating...is the faster drive.

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Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:52
Weather as I call it: Sunny...colder 35F
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nope

Rollovers

I saw it on the traffic report this morning, there was a rollover on 128 North in Lexington. I felt I was ok…since I use 128 South for one exit…

I did not realize that Route 3 would be affected in a major way. It was. I was in dead stop traffic for a while.

I learned my lesson. Anytime there is an accident in the area, find a different way to get to work. Backroads are just as good.

I hope the people involved in the accident are ok.

UPDATE: There was a fatality...Boston.com reported.

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Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 8:06
Weather as I call it: Sunny. Very sunny..but cold. 37F
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: No

Landmarks

I got a pretty early start today…all things considered. I was very tired this morning and I was bumping into things just to get out of the door.

There needs to be some landmarks that I can report for each post.

I am still trying to figure it out.


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Departure Time: 7:10
Arrival Time: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Cloudy and cool. I gotta start wearing a jacket.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

Light Traffic Friday

Or at least on the back roads...I was able to drive with the greatest of ease...

Not too many people on the road...No buses to hold up traffic. It went extremely well.

I think Friday may be the day to drive the backroads to work.

Have a good weekend. Should be a good one to get out and enjoy the autumn weather.

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Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Sunny...but cooler...45F Yikes
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope

It's Hard To Compare

So today I took some back roads to get onto Route 3 a little further south from where I usually pick it up. I don't think it matters. It's hard to compare, but my trip took longer today than it did yesterday.

Even though it's hard to compare, I feel like the fastest way to work is rolling down the highway the whole way...even with the traffic.



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Departure Time: 7:05
Arrival Time: 7:44
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny. Cool. 50s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Someday He Will Be Caught

Do ever drive down the street with a guy in a black pickup truck who thinks the rules of the road apply to everyone else but him? Yeah?

That’s what I encountered this morning. This guy felt like turn-only lanes and red lights were for the rest of us.

Do you ever hope that this guy will continue to do this type of stuff until they drive by a cop? Yeah?

That’s what happened today too…but he straightened up right before his passed the trooper’s car.

Too bad. Soon though, he’ll be caught…


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Departure Time: 7:10
Arrival Time: 7:45
Weather as I call it: Light rain...cool
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nah