September 9th, 2005
on schedule: Departed 10:00 AM from Reading. Arrived in Binghamton, NY at around 3:00PM.
At this point I no longer need to drive fast on this trip. Today, being outright sick of spending more on toll roads than on gasoline I dodged the turnpike. I planned to take 81 up and Dad recommended I drive up 183 to get to 61 and then 81. It was a good idea. Nice drive through the countryside over the hill and on into Pottsville. Pottsville is where they brew Yuengling beer, America's Oldest Brewery as the claim goes (1829). I picked up a case to share with my friends back in San Francisco who moved out from the Philly area. (Even BevMo does not have Yuengling there).
Once on 81 I tried finding some historic site which ended up with me doing a half hour loop around Hazelton. Nothing really lost, nor gained. Never found the site and ended up back on the highway without effort. At one point the speed limit was 55 on 81. I set cruise control at a leisurely 62. That pissed off everyone. Truckers, cars towing boat trailers. They all blew right by me as if I was a broken down vehicle. No one really saluted or honked or anything, but it was an interesting exercise in enjoying my drive while everyone else seemed in a hurry to get somewhere.
One interesting moment came when, being in the right lane as I was, a crazy ass in a Pontiac passed me on the right using an exit lane as if it were a passing lane. Incredible. That stunt really takes some elite idiocy. "Hello, 911? Yeah I'm here by exit 162 and this idiot tried passing me in the exit lane. Well, he didn't make it. Might want to send a chopper over." Fortunately he did make it. Barely.
Here is today's data!
Total miles: 180
Overall Average MPG : 31.50 - what a difference slowing down a bit makes ;-)
MPG Based on: 183 miles from Bedford, PA to Bernville, PA; 5.809 gallons
Gas price range: $2.979 (Bernville, PA - only fill-up)
Gallons purchased today: 5.809
GPS readings:
N40°41.062 W076°11.534 Pottsville, PA
N41°06.131 W075°57.583 Rest area near Wilkes Barre, PA
N42°05.046 W075°54.602 Binghamton, NY
More Photos!
Blue Marsh Lake
view from Dad's deck
Brewer's Outlet Beer Distributor
Pottsville, PA
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