Trip Routed via I-70 East to exit 6 in PA,then I-70 West back to I-270 South to I-70 West and to home.
I got off work at my EMS shift at Midnight.I was bored(as is the norm when I take these trips).I went home and changed clothes and off I went.I got onto I-70 and headed east.I had already gotten Gasoline earlier in the day,so I didn't need to get any.The trip was basically uneventful at the start.I found some friends of mine on the 146.760 Ham Repeater and started chatting with them.Marilyn was wondering where I was at and where I was going.I told her I'd know when I got there.I ran into my first cop over near US 42 in Madison County.He seemed to be having a quiet night so the radio traffic on the scanner indicated.With it being between 1 and 2 AM,I could go straight through Columbus without incident.I made it through there and was still chatting with Marilyn when lo and behold,Keith(who I normally chat with in Cincy) came in.He was coming in from his house and getting into the repeater in Columbus(The CORC repeater is well set up and has numerous receive sites.They have a great system).I chatted with them until I got over to about the 171 MP East of Zanesville.It was there that I lost them.I also had not really run into any cops but for the one at I-70 and I-270 on the east side of Columbus with a stopped vehicle. Traffic was light as well all the way over.I got over to Cambridge and saw that gas was $1.67 a gallon.I didn't need any at that time,but figured I'd get it on the way back(Boy was I wrong!Read on...)I got over past I-77 without incident and was feeling great.A note about I-70/I-77 interchange....It was in the Guiness Book of World Records at one time as being the longest highway interchange in the world.The ramps are about a mile long.I got over to the US40/SR285 exit and saw that they must have closed the old Shenandoah Truck stop.Go mart was open,but they weren't.Another item as well.They have at exit 193 a big sign in the air that says,"Adult".We all know what that is about.These places have a right to exist,but I tend to think that is a bit of bad taste to be advertising next to the interstate where families going on trips go by and have to see that sign.Let alone having their kids ask questions about it if any.If you need stuff like that,then you are one in need to be in touch with the Lord.I got over into Belmont County and found it to be quiet as well.Exit 218 for Mall Road/Banfield Rd. had a sign that says "Ramp Closed".Looked like it was open to me.Hey ODOT,ya need to remove that sign!I thought about taking I-470,but wanted to go through the tunnel in Wheeling.I got across the river and through Wheeling ok.The Weigh station as usual was closed.I decided that since it is only 14 miles across W.Va.,I'd go into Pennsylvania for the sake of it.I got off the exit at exit 6 in PA.I went into the Exxon with the idea I was going to need gas(By now I was near "E").When I saw the price of $1.88 a gallon,I decided NOT!I got a bottle of Powerade and left.I wanted to get back to Ohio and get gas,but I was on "E".Therefore,I got off the exit at Dallas Pike and got gas there.$1.82 is not what I wanted to pay,but I had no choice.I got gas and started back West.I was going to go back I-470,but didn't.I stayed on I-70.I got back into Ohio and at MP 212 found a State cop in the median.From East of Zanesville to PA to now,the Ham Rig had been quiet.I had been chatting to truckdrivers on the CB and was having a decent time.The Cop seemed like he was having a decent night,but a minute or two after I got by him he came on the scanner that he had someone stopped.Sorry for that person.I got just about out of Belmont County when I started a conversation with a truckdriver.We chatted until I got over to the Buckeye Lake exit.I then got off and went to McDonald's to get some breakfast(Should have went to the Duke Truckstop,but my mind wandered off to the idea of McD's).I hit Columbus just about 7:30 AM(Talk about Rush Hour!).I decided to take I-270 South because I didn't want to go fight traffic in the downtown.When I got to the Brice Road exit,I neded to get over to get on to the ramp for I-270.Well,the ramp from Brice Road is also part of the ramp for 270 and it was filled!People wanting on to I-70,and me wanting on to I-270.Finally I made it onto I-270 and started around the south end(Thank goodness they caught the sniper).All was ok until I reached the construction,then the "nutcases" appeared.Finally I got back onto I-70 West and headed back towards home.Between SR 29 and US 42 exits(80&79) there was a cop in the median.He wasn't bothering anyone.Then I got down to the 74 MP and there was a deputy with an oversize load.I don't know if he was helping him or doing an inspection,but he was there.Time to get in the left lane(Ohio has a new Law....Move over or slow down for emergency or public safety vehicles.Please help us emergency workers out!).I made it back into Clark County and to home about 8:30 AM without any trouble.I was tired,but I had enjoyed this trip as well.I don't know when my next trip will be or where I will go,but you can bet when I get the cash and the gas money I'll be hittin' the road again!--Kaci