Okay, so at some point early this season, when the Blue Jackets were acting as our secondary, back-up reserve tranny brides, we decided to plan a road trip to Columbus. We checked our schedules, checked their schedule, tried to estimate when, during the season, we’d be looking for a vacation, and picked a random, far-off date in March. The Devils weren’t going to be in Columbus then, but who cared? We were going to see the cute, fun Blue Jackets in person!
Five months later, on the eve of our scheduled trip, we were like, “Wait, we’re going where? To see what??”
But hey! Road trip!
Ah, interstate driving. It’s the life.
We hit the road late this morning, after a bit of a false start in which we left the house, drove as far as the bagel place in town, and realized we had neglected to pack our tickets for tomorrow’s game. Yeah, we’re very married to those long-ago secondary, back-up reserve tranny brides. What is interesting to know about driving from New Jersey to Columbus is that it’s completely gorgeous almost the entire way.
We just can’t stop ourselves from taking pictures, even when we know they’re going to suck!
It’s all bucolic farms and rolling hillsides and beautiful, ornate barn architecture…
…And the occasional barn billboard.
You would be surprised how many Mail Pouch Tobacco barn billboards we passed. It seems to be a very popular product with cows around here.
Because we are very cool people who lead very exciting lives, the highlight of our eight-hour drive was the tunnels.
The entrance to the Allegheny Mountain tunnel is quite pretty. You’d never know it from this picture.
Now, we didn’t realize there were mountains between New Jersey and Columbus, so when we came upon the first under-a-mountain tunnel on I-70, we were stunned. How totally cool! You know how many times before today that we’ve driven underneath mountains in our lives? Zero (that we know of)! And you know how different an under-a-mountain tunnel looks on the inside from a mundane, dime-a-dozen under-a-river tunnel? Not at all!
Under the Hudson River, or under the Allegheny Mountain? You be the judge!
Nevertheless, we were enchanted. It was a perfect day for driving, and a perfectly lovely drive. It was also maybe 45 minutes longer than we really wanted to be in the car. Good thing there was an easy-to-get-to restaurant waiting on the other end, just a stone’s throw from our hotel, serving pulled pork sandwiches, sweet-and-spicy french fries, and cold beer.
Rick Nash’s pre-game meal.
So, we’re hockeyless for the next couple of days but for the Blue Jackets/Blackhawks game tomorrow, but we’ve got all of exotic Columbus to explore. Thanks, early-season impulse, for booking this trip we would never have thought to go on if you’d asked us yesterday to make plans! This is going to be awesome!
I’m 99% sure that I went through that tunnel when I went to Philly last year. Except, my memory of it was less “pretty” and more “terrifying.”
And holy flirking schnitt, Sabres. You did not deserve that.
Those mountain tunnels scare the hell out of me. My first encounter was when I went to West Virginia with some friends from Ohio. Our conversation went something like this:
Me: “Where does the road go up ahead?”
Friend: “Through the tunnel.”
Me: “Tunnel?”
Friend: “The tunnel through the mountain.”
Me: “Excuse me?”
Friend: “Don’t you have mountains in NY?”
Me: “YEAH! WE GO AROUND THEM!”
Oh, and if the playoffs only consisted of the last two minutes of every game, the Sabres would do quite well I imagine.
Except, my memory of it was less “pretty” and more “terrifying.”
Hahaha. See? It must be an upstate NY thing. :)
Yep, I see no reason why we can’t just go over the mountain or around the mountain. We definitely shouldn’t be going through the mountain. Who are these crazy people?
I’ll bite. What are sweet and spicy french fries?
And I drive through a tunnel every day to get to work. This one goes under an airport runway. It’s a ton of fun when you’re sitting in the middle of the tunnel and a plane rumbles along over your head.
this game just gets weirder and weirder
This one goes under an airport runway. It’s a ton of fun when you’re sitting in the middle of the tunnel and a plane rumbles along over your head.
Is that the one that got flooded earlier this fall?
Okay, now I’m a little relieved I’m no longer in Buffalo because I’m pretty sure the Canadiens will be burning the city to the ground tonight.
Okay, now I’m a little relieved I’m no longer in Buffalo because I’m pretty sure the Canadiens will be burning the city to the ground tonight.
I’ve already got the 4x4s nailed to the windows and the cat and I are hiding under the bed.
Whoa, Amy, a tunnel under a runway?! Awesome! Now I want them to build airports on the mountains before our trip back to NJ.
Friend: “Don’t you have mountains in NY?”
Me: “YEAH! WE GO AROUND THEM!”
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I think I’d rather be in a mountain tunnel when it collapses than in an under-a-river one. I dunno. I don’t think I want the last thing I see to be an onrushing wall of Hudson River water. I don’t think about shit like that when I’m driving under a mountain. :D
The sweet-and-spicy fries were tossed with balsamic vinegar and hot pepper flakes, I think, and topped with some kind of cheese. I was delirious with hunger when I read the description on the menu, so don’t quote me on that. :P
I’ve already got the 4×4s nailed to the windows and the cat and I are hiding under the bed.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I just realized I can start listening to the Goo Goo Dolls “Better Days” without crying myself into convulsions now!
Okay, now I’m a little relieved I’m no longer in Buffalo because I’m pretty sure the Canadiens will be burning the city to the ground tonight.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::
That was a tough one. And I really like Vincent Price, too.
Yeah, the Jackets were a lot cuter at the start of the season. I’m only a few hours away in Kentucky, and I’m not sure I’d take a road trip to see them right now.
Okay, I totally would, but I’m a sucker! Poor little china doll Mason.
years ago i spent a couple months working in Denver and would randomly drive into the mountains on weekends. first experience going through one of those tunnels the absolute beauty of the contrasting scenery between the before and after tunnel made me cry.
dont tell anyone though, i dont want people to think i’m a softy.
I’m only a few hours away in Kentucky, and I’m not sure I’d take a road trip to see them right now.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Well, we haven’t had to actually interact with the Blue Jackets yet, so so far, the road trip is a success. We’ll see how we feel after tonight’s game… Heh.
dont tell anyone though, i dont want people to think i’m a softy.
It’s our secret, Ken!
WOO!!!
…I’m the only one here, aren’t I?
Now, we didn’t realize there were mountains between New Jersey and Columbus
Seriously? Were the Appalachians never mentioned in school?
Seriously? Were the Appalachians never mentioned in school?
I think the most we talked about the Appalchians was when Daniel Boone went through the Cumberland Gap to open up the “West”- Nashville, Columbus, Detroit. Guess thought there would be another Gap further north.
We are watching since Stars don’t start until 10:30 EST.
Major funfetti.
Paul Martin is fired for letting he who must not be named win the puck battle. Chico is fired too for saying he who must not be named and in a positive light.
That’s two rather douchey moves back to back by Parise.
*looks, confused, at the scoreboard*
…-Ookies, can you please move to Columbus? I think the Jackets are trying to woo you. Don’t break their hearts!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Devils
Myra is giving Clarkson a big thumbs up for his assist on Elias’ goal.
Jeebus Mottau… one good play, two bad plays.
That’s at least two great plays where Skoula cleared the zone and fed someone for a breakaway.
Scheiße
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Langenbrunner- He must have seen the Columbus score and trying to make sure the Ookies come back to NJ.
Ralston Fail
Damnit. Who told Marty we were playing Carolina?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can’t let up that goal when the Ookies are being wined and dined by the Blue Jays.
Pennsylvania is such a terrible drive. It’s Pittsburgh on one side, Philly on the other, and Alabama in between.
I got home JUST in time to hear the game be tied up, what is this? I disapprove.
I love tunnels! They are scary and super cool. I think I like mountain tunnels better than river tunnels too.
And YAY Columbus! It’s a wonderful city, lots of fun. (and you picked a good night to see the Blue Jackets.. who knew?)
If you’re feeling Museum-y, you should totally check out COSi- which is the coolest hands-on science museum I’ve ever seen. It takes a long time to check it all out, so be sure you plan ahead. Something else that is neat is a replica of the.. oh dear, I think it’s the Santa Maria.. one of Christopher Columbus’ ships, which is right downtown on the Olentangy River.. you can take a little (and I do mean little, that thing is TINY for an Ocean crossing! tour of the ship.)
Otherwise, just enjoy the city. There are many fine little establishments there. :) And lots of lovely people.
OK, first of all, Devils? You suck. But you can’t kill my buzz! That Columbus game was INSANE!
…-Ookies, can you please move to Columbus? I think the Jackets are trying to woo you. Don’t break their hearts!
I KNOW! I knew we were in for a treat when Mikey C scored a minute in. He must have known his only two fans were in the building! :D Also, Columbus is a fabulous town so I’d be all over moving here and getting an adorable brick house in the German Village. Far, far away from the stupid Devils. No, wait, keep the buzz alive! The Blue Jackets game was awesome!
Sam, thanks for the tips! I think we’ve got the rest of this trip planned out, but I can definitely see coming back here again, so we’ll have to add those to the list for a future visit!
I think it’s very telling that the Devils lost the last game we saw them play in person 1-0 to the Blues, and the BJs were romping like crazy mofos all over their conference’s top seed when we see them in person. VERY telling. :P
Seriously? Were the Appalachians never mentioned in school?
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::: I didn’t realize they were in Pennsylvania! I’m sorry! I’m stupid! I can’t help it! :P
Sure sure, just spreading the Ohio love. I lived in Dayton (only an hour away) for 16 years so I spent some time up in C-bus myself and my sister lives there.
Enjoy the rest of your trip, and do come back! :)
Woah, apparently the BJs really want to make this tranny marriage work. Yikes. (Aside to the Blackhawks – WTF?!?!???!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!)
Woah, apparently the BJs really want to make this tranny marriage work. Yikes. (Aside to the Blackhawks – WTF?!?!???!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!)
Heh. Yeah, we just have that kind of effect on hockey teams. :P
Heh. Yeah, we just have that kind of effect on hockey teams. :P
Dear Stars,
Time to show the Ookies what you have for next season. We need the firepower that their presence brings.
You would think that with all the gunshows here there would be no need for more firepower, but alas there is.
You would think that with all the gunshows here there would be no need for more firepower, but alas there is.
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