Dave and Tara embark on The Atomic Tour, covering highways from New York City, through New Jersey, and into south Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Thrill to their tales of Virginia plates, toll gate mishaps, souvenir magnets, Dollar Generals, and so very much more!
P.S. Tara didn’t know the difference between “stars and bars” and “stars and stripes”. Give her a break, she’s from Canada!
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June 12th, 2008 at 2:18 am
From Kim “The Answer Lady” Reed:
Dollar General is based in Goodlettsville, TN, according to their website. I think the stores are franchises. There is even one in my home town, and there is NOTHING in my home town. I love the DG.
The American flags on the Jersey turnpike are actually not maintained by the gov’t.
http://www.t3consortium.com/drafts/overpass_flagman.php
Thanks Kim!
June 12th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Love it — yay! Glad you sound like you’re having a good time. I apologize on behalf of America for our disappointing tunnels.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Today’s update’s going to blow your mind.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
In my defense, I was already sick when I got to NYC, and I’ve heard that once you already have a bug you are no longer contagious. I blame Seattle!
Also? I would totally watch Char Case.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Too late, we’re finished.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Some stream of consciousness backatcha. Don’t tell me — one of them sneaky “lake effect snows” got you, didn’t they? Devious little buggers. If you remain stuck in Pittsburgh (as I’m afraid so many, many people do), two suggestions are touring the themed rooms in the Cathedral of Learning on Pitt’s campus, and the Warhol Museum. Incidentally, “Mr. Belvedere” was set near Pittsburgh, and I think Marsha Owens would sometimes randomly declare she was popping out to, like, the grocery store or mall in Harrisburg. As should now be clear to you, that Made. No. Sense.
Speaking of sitcoms, the podcast made the premise of the trip much clearer to me now: you want to visit the sort of tourist attractions the Arnold family from “The Wonder Years” might have visited. I dunno, I’d thought maybe you were hunting for places where everyone still resembled “The Wonder Years” (some neo-Amish 20th century cult?) or maybe just for doo wop architecture in the style of those old swirling atom icons.
I grew up in central Pennsylvania, and I’ve been to Funck’s! But no, not that Funck’s, the (world’s only) other Funck’s, 20 miles south and oh, like, 20 years ago. Hangout for cheap eats in high school. I was so thrilled our paths came thatclose to crossing that only hours later did it dawn on me that Tara was standing in the center so her head would eclipse the “n” in the sign. Joke sailed right over my head. Then I looked at the photo again.
The tunnel you’ve been dreaming about since grade school (no, the other tunnel) was probably the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, one of three options for cutting through Baltimore on Interstate 95 heading up or down the coast near D.C. It’s 1.4-miles long, four lanes wide, and opened in 1957. The double wide (eight lane) and slightly longer (1.5 mile) Fort McHenry Tunnel opened in 1985, become the “the world’s largest underwater highway tunnel.”
But it’s still a skosh shorter than many NYC tunnels. And apparently, if you want to drive nightmarishly long tunnels, two words: Nor. Way.
Northbound on I-95, you’d continue on I-95 for the Fort McHenry Tunnel, branch to I-895 for the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel or branch again to I-695 for the third option, the (Francis Scott) Key Bridge. I think maybe it’s the I-95 route that also grand jetes across some overpasses that provide a rather sweeping panoramic view near Inner Harbor.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Mike, next time we’re picking you up along the way and you’re going to show us all the good stuff. :)
Could have used a Pittsburgh native today as I was “stuck” in Pittsburgh without having time to do proper research. You win this round PA!
July 9th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
The Blizzard fan club: http://www.blizzardfanclub.com/
July 25th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
So I’ve found myself do this twice now without even thinking about it: “Char Case” has become my new adjective of choice (at least with friends who also listen to the podcast). Sample usage: “Flashpoint is SO Char Case.” You’re making a real impact out here!
July 25th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Hee hee, nice. Micromeme confirmed!