QOTD: What Stretch of Asphalt is Your Little Secret?
Growing up a million years ago in Canada’s most eastern province, everyone – young, old, tall, short – had a primo spot for their favored recreational activity. Fishing? We all did that … and you’d better believe there was a location or two better than all the others. The old folks used to go berry-picking and everyone knew not to muscle in on Uncle Eli’s favorite blueberry patch.
Me? Then, as ever, I enjoyed driving cars … and I had a favorite spot for that, too.
After snaking its way through the timber woods of Balsam Fir and Black Spruce, the good part of Route 330 opens up to a terrain filled with marsh and lowland trees, tilted at crazy angles in the direction of the prevailing winds. Skirting the frigid North Atlantic along the rocky Newfoundland shore between Musgrave Harbour and Deadman’s Bay, it is dominated by long sweeping curves and straight stretches from which the area earns its name of Straight Shore. Either by design or happy coincidence, this ribbon of tarmac rewards anyone piloting an engine attached to wheels, be it two or four.
Headed west, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean lie to your left, often filled with pack ice well into the month of June. Bring a scarf or hat if you’re planning to drop a convertible top: it’s not uncommon for gale-force northeasterlies to exceed 60 miles per hour.
But none of that matters one whit, not when you’ve a powerful engine, a willing chassis, and the space to wind them out (within legal speed, natch). The pavement isn’t perfect but it’s above average around here. A few dips simply keep you alert, right? At least, that’s what we tell ourselves. Space abounds to haul over to the side and enjoy the scenery or a quick snog with your favorite girl. It’s not like anyone’s around to see what you’re up to. During the sparse summer months in this part of the world, that’s about as good as it got for this young gearhead.
What’s your favorite driving road? There’s plenty of ‘em. Or – like Uncle Eli’s blueberry spot – are you guarding your bit of four-wheel nirvana as a well-kept secret?
[Image: Google Street View]
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US 1 from Homestead FL to Key West. In the 70's the bridges linking the Keys were very narrow as they were built on the original railroad trestles. Fun driving in a wide 74 Gran Torino and meeting traffic.
When we lived in upstate NY there was one stretch I always enjoyed -- unless I was behind someone puttering along under 55. That was NY-30 from I-88 to NY-67. Near the south end was a long, straight, gentle hill and apart from the slowdowns for a couple of hamlets just a pleasant country drive. And then if you were driving at night, you'd crest the hill and suddenly see the twinkling lights of Amsterdam in the valley below. The Stewart's Shops at the intersection with US-20 for grabbing half-gallons of Crumbs Along the Mohawk ice cream on the way home just made it sweeter.