Back Roads Driving is NOT for the Faint of Heart

We started our trip along the scenic US Route 6 across Pennsylvania early from our campground in Gardiner, New York. We had been dissatisfied with the route getting to that campground because the road was narrow, curvy, and in need of some repair. In our driving around this area we had discovered state route 208 which was not far from our campground and it intersected with I-84 allowing us to also miss the awful road New Yorkers refer to as the “New York Thruway”. Since we had driven route 208 we knew there were a couple small towns in which the road narrowed as well as two left hand turns. All in all, 208 was far superior to any of the other options to the interstate.

Guess it doesn't matter which road goes
where since the road is closed anyway.

We were driving along minding our own business and everything was great—the sun was shining, the traffic was light, and all was well in our world. Well, Peanut was a little unhappy but he is always a little unhappy at the beginning of a drive. Our first left hand turn in town had worked out fine. At the second town we were about the 3rd car from the light. In the oncoming lane on the other side of the light was a tractor-trailer. He was also about 3rd from the light. When the light turned green all the cars went on their way. We were on the downhill side of the intersection so we were much slower getting to the intersection than the tractor-trailer. He, without using blinkers to indicate the direction of his turn, made a wide turn facing his left. That was great since we were turning left we continued on toward the intersection. All of a sudden he turned his cab in the opposite direction and swung out all over the intersection and made a right hand turn. Fortunately, we were on the downhill side and had, with the help of gravity, time to stop, but the shock effect was intense.

As luck would have it, we got to town just as school was starting. This is a rural community and children from all over the county come here to learn their ABCs and 123s. There must have been 20 school buses on this narrow, Main Street, as we turned the corner after the tractor-trailer. Our hearts were still pounding when we noticed the paraplegic driving his electric wheelchair along the side of the street in the line of oncoming school buses. Of course, all those buses moved across the yellow line into our lane to avoid hitting this poor man. Once again we were able to stop before anything awful happened.

It is our practice to refuel the truck at times when we don’t have the trailer attached. But today, the cheapest price for diesel was at the TA Truck Stop at the interstate. So we had waited. Now, I don’t know how truckers are paid and I guess it really depends on the company they drive for, but I have noticed that speed seems to be an important issue with most professional drivers. I understand they don’t like RVs coming through the truck lanes at the truck stops because it just slows them down. So whenever possible we try to use the pump designated for RVs at the truck stops. We approached the TA, saw the sign “Cars and RVs”, turned right into the drive and then noticed the sign further down the drive attached to a steel beam over the drive stating, in large letters, “CLEARENCE 12 feet”. We need at least 13 feet. Fortunately, we were out of the road and had room to straighten up in the drive to allow for cars to pass. We got out of the way of others, then tried to collect our thoughts. I got out to look and I felt like we could get under the sign. Gene got on top of the trailer, I got behind the wheel, and we inched forward until it was obvious we wouldn’t lose an air conditioner. Since we know we are taller than 12 feet, we were curious about that sign meant. Perhaps it was the height of the canopy over the pump. Our decision was made, we were turning around and going to the “big boys” pumps.

When we exited the interstate onto Route 6, our troubles started anew. We had 30 miles to travel to our campground in Honesdale. The directions were simple—stay on route 6 to route 191, right on 191 then left on 670 to the campground. Early on in the drive a tractor-trailer pulled out in front of us—this one hauling a light pole. I don’t know how long those things are, but it seemed just to keep coming. We barely got stopped in time. Fortunately, a little further down the road we had a few more stopping feet to our advantage when the lady walked across the street in front of us carrying a baby in her arms. When we got to the junction of 191 the road was closed forcing us onto a detour where we eventually missed our turn requiring a U-turn.

In this 100 mile stretch, all of our driving nightmares had come true. God worked hard all day long keeping us safe. Thank you, Lord! We spent the rest of the day looking for a way to move the Montana over interstates and exploring Route 6 with only the truck.