Once a week, sometimes more, I drive 13 miles north to teach near Fulton, Maryland. It is straight up Route 29, and usually takes 25-30 minutes during afternoon traffic before the worst of rush hour.
The road is divided highway with three lanes in both directions most of the way. There are some interchanges but also a number of stop lights. It's the shortest way by distance, and the shortest by time unless there is a particular traffic problem.
A couple of weeks ago I went up via I95 instead. That adds 3-4 miles, but there are few stoplights and, if traffic is flowing well, higher average speed. Still, the diversion - first a few miles east, then north and back to the west, is uncomfortable for me. I'm much more at ease on the straight path, even if traffic is a little slow. It feels safer, being headed in the right direction.
Last Saturday I was at the studio for a photo shoot, and decided to come back via a back road. I could have, but didn't, look closely at a map. I knew generally where it went, and figured it would connect somewhere familiar. With no time pressure, I felt free to explore.
The two lane road wound through pretty country, quite hilly. It crossed the Patuxent River, and went for a few more miles before coming to a stoplight. New Hampshire Ave. Oh, that's easy. Turn left and head southeast a few miles to connect back up with Rt 29.
Tonight I went up again on short notice to sub for a sick teacher. I decided to go back that way. The first pleasant surprise was that traffic on New Hampshire - also a 3 lane each way divided road - was much lighter than on Rt 29. The second was how much more relaxed and pleasant the drive was. Though longer, and slower, it was much prettier and less stressful. I still arrived with plenty of time to spare.
I'm so prone to find one way that works, and then keep repeating it - becoming comfortable and secure with it - and not wanting to take a chance on doing something different. Breaking that habit makes life much more interesting.
No comments:
Post a Comment