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Road Trip

Just got back from South Carolina....3400 miles round trip in six days - with two dedicated to family stuff and sightseeing. I feel like standing up all day!

Got to drive through the Smokey Mountains, along I-40. On the way it stormed up a storm! Couldn't see past the end of the car's hood! Neat man! Neat! The Smokeys are beautiful and the fog just adds to the ambiance.

Time with family is of most importance, and we got two days to visit and enjoy each other. Met one son's girlfriend and got to harrass her for a while. She's a sport so she passed.

As good as the trip was, there were some issues that developed, and I'd like the states involved to fix these before my next road trip:

The interstate system was made to get lots of traffic from point A to point B quickly. The idea of a maximum speed of only 70 is pointless. My cars will easily do more than a hundred, and so let's look at boosting that speed limit some. Is there really any difference between the interstates or the traffic in say, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma? None. Zilch. Nada. So, it'd be nice if the two slow states could get with the program and at least meet New Mexico's and Arizona's speed limits.

What's the deal with Arkansas drivers that camp in the left lane? I thought only Louisiana drivers did that. Guys, if you have a line of cars behind you that stretches to the next state, MOVE OVER!

On a similar note, I'd like to propose a federal law that would require anyone in the left lane to be moving at least five miles an hour faster than the folks in the lane immediately to their right. Enough of these road blocks because "I'm going the speed limit" or "I have my car on cruise." Pretend like driving requires some actual mental activity and awareness of what's going on around you.

Thank you.

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