Final "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" For 2006

As promised, I have produced the final episode of "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" for 2006.

This episode features various and sundry Florida road scenes from December 23-26, 2006.

Please click here to view. (NOTE: DSL-or-faster connection recommended.)

This will be my final entry for 2006, so again, I thank you very much for reading my blogs and watching my videos, and may you and yours have a happy, safe, and prosperous New Year.

Reflections On 2006... And Cars

This has been a very good year for "The Georgia Road Geek".

From what started one year ago October as simply a blog, I had decided to make it a full-fledged roadgeek website complete with Special Feature Pages highlighting some of the trips and other road-related things that interested me, plus my series of road videos I produced into "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!". Look for more blogs, "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!", and perhaps another new feature I am thinking about adding to "The Georgia Road Geek".

Roadwise, I clinched Georgia's I-185 and I-575, plus clinched all of I-85 from Montgomery, AL, to Petersburg, VA, plus driven hundreds more interstate miles in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

Countywise, I clinched several more counties in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and even the District of Columbia.

Next year, I hope to clinch I-20 and I-520 within Georgia, plus some counties and interstate miles in Arizona.

What amazes me the most is the number of people who have read my blogs and watched my videos. Many of these people have even requested my "Georgia Road Geek" magnets and I have mailed several of them to people throughout America. I can never thank you, dear reader, enough for your visits to my blogsite and your support will never, ever go unappreciated.

Last, but never least, I have to give a major, major "thank you" to my biggest fan and best friend in the whole wide world... my wife Mary.

One final thing before completing tonight's blog...

Mary and I finally broke out the "Cars" DVD and watched it. The computer-animated movie, created by Disney/PIXAR (whose other creations include "Toy Story", "A Bug's Life", and "Finding Nemo"), features the voices of Paul Newman, Larry The Cable Guy, Richard Petty, Dale Jr., and a whole bunch of other famous folks. It also features excellent songs such as "Life Is A Highway" and the legendary Bobby Troup-composed song "Get Your Kicks On Route 66".

I appreciated the movie's story line, its glorification of the "mother road" Route 66, and its excellent animations of roads, expressways, and roadsigns. There was a moment in the movie that tugged on my "heart strings" as James Taylor (one of my all-time favorite singer/songwriters) sang "Our Town", a lament of the old towns along the road falling victim to the Interstate (in this case, a ficticious western town "Radiator Springs", which fell victim to I-40). After watching "Cars", I soooo want to go back westward and visit parts of this venerable old highway. If you haven't watched the movie yet, then IMHO, you've missed out on one of the greatest movies made in the past few years. :)

Overall, I feel that 2006 has been a very good year and again, I thank each and every one of you for all your support of my work on "The Georgia Road Geek", and may you and yours have a very happy, safe, and prosperous new year.

P.S. I got material for one more "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" and I'll try to get it produced and uploaded for y'all this weekend. Thanks again!

"ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" - I-75 Northbound 12/26/2006

Here's another episode of "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" for you.

This time, we compiled and edited videos taken on I-75 northbound between GA 27 (Exit 112) and I-475 (Exit 156).

Please click here to view it. (NOTE: DSL-or-faster connection recommended.)

Stay tuned for the next episode, which will contain other Florida road scenes taken over the Christmas weekend.

Thanks for viewing and hope y'all enjoy.

"ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" - Florida's Polk Parkway

As promised yesterday, I deliver to you, dear readers, my Polk Parkway (Toll FL 570) edition of "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!". Please click here to see it. (NOTE: DSL-or-faster connection recommended.)

The footage was shot on Christmas Eve as Mary and I were traveling the eastbound section of the parkway from Harden Boulevard (FL 563) to its eastern end at I-4.

A very special thanks to my wife Mary for financing the tolls and always for supporting my "roadgeeking". :)

Thanks in advance for watching and I hope you enjoy it.

A Salute To C.W. McCall

Last month, I found and bought online a Mannheim Steamroller (MS) CD "American Spirit", featuring the legendary C.W. McCall. It can be ordered directly from MS by clicking here.

As Mary and I were heading to and from Florida, we listened to this CD and it really struck a chord in my "roadgeekness" with the songs "Wolf Creek Pass", and of course "Convoy". :)

Now you may wonder, "What does C.W. have to do with Mannheim Steamroller (and vice versa)? Here's the story...

In 1972, Chip Davis ("Mannheim" creator) and Bill Fries (a.k.a. "C.W. McCall") were both working for an Omaha advertising firm. Together, they created the ficticious trucker C.W. McCall, and created some local commercials around this character.

In 1975, Davis and Fries released the first C.W. McCall album "Wolf Creek Pass", and one year later (1976), they released the song "Convoy", a ficticious story of truckers "Pig Pen" and "The Rubber Duck" (C.W.'s CB "handle") crossing the nation in a huge convoy and defying the "bears" (police) while talking on to each other on their CB radios. "Convoy" was the catalyst for the 1970's "CB craze", and soon enough, Americans were buying CB's (originally with 23 channels, later expanded to 40) like hotcakes.

I was 12 when "Convoy" came out, and my dad bought us a 23-channel Cobra CB at the Naval Air Station Atlanta's PX while he was in the Naval Reserves as an aviation electronics tech (2nd class petty officer). Once he got it hooked up in our car, I couldn't wait to get on. I even had my own "handle" ("The Rattler", a name that I thought was cool at the time). We had a great time going between Atlanta and Florida giving/receiving "smokey reports" (reports of police cars spotted along the road) and "ratchet-jawing" (talking) to other CBers. Little did I realize at that time how "Convoy" would influence me as a roadgeek. :)

Radiowise, I gravitated away from CBs by 1980, but in 1987, I studied for and earned my Amateur (Ham) Radio license (callsign KC4AZO), which I have proudly held since. Ham radio and roadgeeking have since become 2 intertwined passions of mine.

BTW, my dad bought the CB rig when the FCC still required licenses for each rig. All you had to do, though, was fill out the application, mail it to the FCC (as opposed to taking a test), and they mailed you back a CB callsign. Our CB callsign was KAMX 5963. Soon afterward, the FCC dropped CB licensing requirements, and sadly, CB became an anarchistic "free-for-all". :(

Roadwise, I will be forever grateful to Mr. Davis and Mr. Fries for "C.W. McCall", for their songs "Convoy" and "Wolf Creek Pass". Everytime I hear them, especially "Convoy", I always pine for traveling up and down the highways that have changed America and, in their own way, contributed to the prosperity of this great nation and allowed us, as roadgeeks, to explore this nation in ways the common folks could never do as they do now.

God Bless America, God Bless America's Roads, and God Bless the Great American C.W. McCall!!!

LET THEM ROADGEEKS ROLL, 10-4!!! :)

I-75 Northbound Shut Down!!!

After nearly 12 hours on the road, we're back from Florida.

We had a wonderful time with her folks and even worked in some "roadgeek time" around Lakeland and Polk County for some video shots of the Polk Parkway (Toll FL 570) for its own episode of "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!".

I also shot some potential "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" video footage in other various spots between Atlanta and Lakeland, enough to produce at least 2 additional episodes (one for Georgia and another of various Florida road scenes). My goal is to put these together this week and have them ready for y'all by New Years Day.

Now, here's the story about our journey tonight between Macon and Atlanta...

On our way home this evening, I-75 northbound was absolutely shut down due to all lanes being blocked at Exit 205 (GA 16/Griffin/Jackson). We encountered the traffic jam just before Exit 193 (Johnstonville Road) in Monroe County, and exited I-75 at Exit 198 (High Falls Road). The whole mess eventually resulted in a traffic jam that extended from Exit 218 (GA 20/81/McDonough/Hampton) all the way down to I-475!!!

To get around it, we took High Falls Road east to GA 36 east, which took us into Jackson. From Jackson, we took US 23/GA 42 through Jenkinsburg, Locust Grove, and into McDonough. From the McDonough town square, we proceeded west on Jonesboro Road, which took us back to I-75. I will admit, however, that I enjoyed riding these "roads less travelled" and enjoyed going through these quaint old towns that the Interstates by-pass. :)

For now, here is a special "blog reader only" video of I-475 southbound near Macon. (NOTE: This will not be available via "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" or elsewhere on the website.)

Hope y'all had a Merry Christmas, thanks for reading, hope y'all enjoy the video clip, and please come back again.

Merry Christmas 2006

"Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?"

How many times have you been asked (or asked by others) that particular question?

Well, dear readers, my wife and I have definitely finished our shopping and are getting ready to make the annual Christmas trek to Lakeland, Florida, to visit her parents. Regretfully, we will not be able to see her sisters, Polly and Becky. Polly, who lives in Orlando, has the flu and Becky has to be back in Tallahassee by the time we get down there. We'll miss them terribly. :(

Polly, Mary and I wish you a speedy recovery.

Becky, Mary tells me that you've visited my blogsite (thanks for doing so) and almost ordered one of my official "Georgia Road Geek" magnets. Yes, I really do send them to folks, and many a magnet have found a home in places all over America. In fact, I'll go ahead and mail you one ASAP. :)

If we get some spare time, and the weather cooperates (60% chance of thundershowers according to The Weather Channel), we might get some more Florida "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" footage.

We, the staff at "The Georgia Road Geek", wish you and yours safe travels and a very Merry Christmas.

Thanks for reading and please do so often.

I-185 To Albany and Tallahassee?

According to Albany's WALB-TV, the Georgia DOT is getting ready to pay approximately $500,000 to consultants to study the feasibility of extending I-185 from Columbus/Fort Benning to Albany, Thomasville, and Tallahassee. For the article and news video clip, please click here. (URL provided by Brian Holt via the Yahoo! seroads newsgroup.)

During the 1980's, GDOT already spent millions of dollars to 4-lane a stretch of road from Columbus to Albany, Tifton, Waycross, and Brunswick (GA 520 - South Georgia Parkway) as part of its Governor's Road Improvement Program (GRIP) for the same reason that the I-185 extension proposal is being made... economic development. In fact, the proposed I-185 extension, if built, would follow GA 520 from Columbus to Albany, then follow US 19/GA 300 (Georgia-Florida Parkway), and then US 319/GA 35 down to Tallahassee, all 3 routes that already have been 4-laned as part of the GRIP program.

According to the article, there is already heated debate within Southwest Georgia as to whether or not to extend I-185 through their region. Thomas County leaders have gone on record as being in opposition, saying that they already have enough "federal roads"(US 19, US 84, and US 319, all GRIP corridors BTW).

Here's how I sum it up.... if you already have spent millions of dollars 4-laning existing roads and you are not seeing the benefits, then I seriously doubt that sinking more into upgrading them to Interstate standards are going to help (long- or short-term). Furthermore, the limited amount of road funds we already have (federal, state, and local) need to be concentrated more on areas with real traffic problems such as Metro Atlanta (the economic engine of Georgia and the South) and the improvement of I-75 and I-95 (significant Eastern U.S. major north-south traffic corridors).

Here's an idea... if Southwest Georgia wants a new limited-access highway so bad, then why don't they try to convince a private outfit to engage in a "public-private partnership" with GDOT to build a toll road (similar to Virginia's Dulles Greenway). Heck, I'll even draw up a route free of charge, under the condition that this road be named the "Steve Williams Southwest Georgia Turnpike". If you think that such a road can pay for itself with collected tolls (especially from trucks that could use it to bypass I-75), then, design it and build it. If not, then just put the whole thing to rest and be satisfied with what GRIP and our tax dollars already got you.

But the "roadgeek in me" says that, if I-185 ever does get extended (which I doubt will happen anytime soon), that would be more Interstate miles for me to "clinch". :)

That's my $0.02 for today. Thanks again for reading and please do so often.

The Map Dot Saga Continues

First of all, dear readers, I must acknowledge fellow Georgia road enthusiast Stanley (SC) of Sandy Springs for his observations regarding where Johns Creek should be recognized along US 19/GA 400 northbound.

In his comment posting, he suggested that Johns Creek should be recognized at Exit 10 (GA 120/Old Milton Parkway/Alpharetta). Good call, Stanley, and thanks for your input. :)

And now, the infamous Georgia highway map dot saga continues...

This past week, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published an article stating that the Georgia DOT decided to "put back" those places that were removed for 2007 into the 2008 map... but only if they have a zip code. Please click here to read the full article.

The article lists all the places that were removed for 2007, and would you believe that Sandy Springs (yes, the new City of Sandy Springs) is one of the places to be removed. Now I may understand some of the places that GDOT decided on removing from the map, but, for crying out loud, Sandy Springs... one of Georgia's largest cities?!!!! Duuuude, what were they thinking?

IMHO, Sandy Springs, a place that fought for over 30 years to become its own city and was finally granted its charter last year, is being insulted by this omission. Again, Sandy Springs is one of Georgia's largest cities (population 87,000, which makes it roughly the same size as Albany and Roswell). Sandy Springs's leaders fought long and hard for their "independence" from Fulton County, thus the least the state could do is acknowledge their very existence on Georgia's official maps.

In other Georgia road news...

- I-85/GA 316 interchange design image now available from GDOT. Please click here to see it.

- GDOT has completed environmental and historical impact studies for Bartow County's US 411 Connector, a limited-access facility which will connect the US 411/GA 20 4-lane from its current trumpet interchange at US 41/GA 3 directly to I-75 at GA 20 (Exit 290). Right-of-way acquistion is expected to begin late next year (2007).

- On I-285 at Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (GA 141 -Exits 31A-B), I recently observed signs for a program called "Revive 285". According to the website, it's a joint GDOT/Georgia Regional Transportation Authority program aimed at addressing the "top end" from I-75 in Cobb County to I-85 in DeKalb County and I-75 from I-285 to Windy Hill Road. It'll be interesting to see what comes of it. :)

And finally...

To celebrate the Christmas, Hannukah, and Kwanzaa holidays, and in appreciation to you for reading my blogs, I yet again offer official "Georgia Road Geek" magnets free of charge. All you have to do is e-mail me your postal address (webmaster at georgiaroadgeek dot com), and I'll pop you one in the mail ASAP. (Limit one per person, please.)

That's all for tonight. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend... and Happy Hannukah to all our Jewish friends. :)

Jammin' Road Videos

This morning, I watched another episode of "Dashboard Cinema" from New York road enthusiast C.C. "Comrade Mister Yamamoto" Slater... and, dude, the video I watched just had me "jammin', mon"!!! :)

This particular video was shot while he was driving through Poughkeepsie, NY. You gotta see it, and please click here to do so.

I was so inspired by Slater's video, that I dug up some early footage I shot while I was driving on I-285 near Dunwoody on my way home from work and made it the latest episode of "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!". Please click here to see it.

Kudos to Slater for his excellent road videos and I hope you enjoy mine as well.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading and please come back again.

Map Dots And More New Cities

This past week, there was a story on WSB-TV regarding communities that were removed from the 2006 official Georgia highway map. Please click here to read (and see).

It got me to thinking about the new North Fulton County cites of Johns Creek and Milton and where their dots would be on the next release of the Georgia map. Here is a comment I posted to a misc.transport.road discussion "Demapped In Georgia"...

Speaking of Georgia cities, it will be interesting to see where the dots for the new cities of Johns Creek and Milton (which officially became cities last Friday, 12/1) will go on the 2007 official Georgia roadmap. Sandy Springs, Georgia's other new city, always had a dot on the map, so that was not a question.

Both these new cities were created out of sections of extreme north Fulton County that didn't have squat as recent as the early 1990's. Like Sandy Springs, the folks in this section of Fulton County (mostly Republicans) wanted their "independence" from a government that just took their taxes and gave them virtually nothing in return (as least compared to the primarily Democratic southern end of the county).

Even with these new cities being created, there is still the possiblity of the "resurrection" of Milton County (which was merged into Fulton in 1932 due to the Depression). In the next session of the Georgia General Assembly, there's a possibility of a proposed state constitutional amendment that, if passed by the majority-Republican General Assembly, signed by Governor Sonny Perdue (an ex-Dem-turned-Republican), and approved by the voters statewide, will "resurrect" Milton County. (I assume at this point that Alpharetta would again be its county seat as it was in the old days.)

For all you "county clinchers" out there, it would be a potential opportunity. I would "clinch" it immediately since I drive through there everyday via US 19/GA 400.

If you are a registered Georgia voter and want another county to "clinch", just go to the polls when the referendum comes and "Vote Yes For Milton County". :)

Now that Milton and Johns Creek are officially cities, here is how and where I would mention it on the roadsigns...

US 19/GA 400 Northbound (From Roswell):

Exit 11 - Windward Pkwy/Milton (since Alpharetta is already mentioned at the prior 3 exits and you would have passed downtown by that point).

Exit 12A - McFarland Pkwy East/Johns Creek

US 19/GA 400 Southbound (From Cumming):

Exit 13 - GA 141/Johns Creek/Norcross

Exit 12 - McFarland Pkwy/Milton

From Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (PIB) I would change the overhead sign at the GA 141/PIB split near Norcross to read "Johns Creek/Cumming" instead of "Cumming/Dahlonega".

Since these cities already have significant populations (Johns Creek: 63,000, Milton: 20,000), they truly have the right to have their names mentioned so that people can easily reach them via our highways. Hopefully, GDOT will give them their dots as well. :)

BTW, I have spotted the first Milton city limit sign at GA 9 and Windward Parkway, but did not see one on GA 9 as you enter from Forsyth County.

Congratulations to the residents of these new cities on their incorporation and may they truly have a local government that will work only in the citizens' best interests.

When will Milton County be "resurrected"?

That's all for now. Thanks for reading and please come back again.

Roads In My DNA?

Last Thanksgiving, as we (the Williams family) were gathered around the table at the Blue Willow Inn enjoying our dinner, my dad talked about how my grandfather would rent a beach house in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and make the drive down there, wife, kids, and all.

Back in his day, there were no Interstates, just the US and state routes such as the legendary US 41. The particular comment he made was how he'd drive all night to get everyone back to Atlanta in time for him to go to work and how hardcore he was about driving.

On the Memorial Day weekend of 1997, my dad and I went down to the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base to take a "tiger cruise" on my brother's sub, the USS Maine. That's a story in and of itself, but we sort of had the same deal where we had to be back to Atlanta. If I recall correctly, we left sometime around 9 PM and drove all night up I-95, I-16, and I-75. While my dad listened to a "book on tape", I pulled the "allnighter" by doing the driving. After that experience, my dad paid me one of the greatest compliments he ever paid me by dubbing me "The Road Warrior". :)

I'm no scientist, but these experiences have begun to make me wonder if my grandfather had roads in his DNA. If he did, then I feel honored and privileged that it got passed down to me.

I never really knew my grandfather for a long time (he died of a heart attack at age 65 and I was 10 at the time), but the few memories I do have of him during my early childhood in Snellville are those that I treasure. My siblings, cousins, and I knew him as "Papa" and today, my nieces and nephews know my dad as "Papa", so the honor has been passed down, in different ways, from my grandfather to my father (the "Papa" thing), and the "road DNA" got passed to me.

"Papa", thank you for the "road DNA". When I get to Heaven, I hope to be eternally crusing with you on their golden highways on the ultimate roadtrip. I know we'll have a great time doing so! :)

That's all for now. Thanks for reading and please come back again.

This column is dedicated to the memory of my grandfather, Frank "Papa" Williams (1909-1974).